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(Chionochloa rubra)
Red Tussock Grass (Chionochloa rubra)
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Kate McAlpine
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Kate McAlpine
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Kate McAlpine | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Kate McAlpine | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2020-10-30T10:01:33-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Chionochloa rubra, commonly known as Red Tussock Grass, is an evergreen perennial grass native to New Zealand, where it thrives in subalpine and alpine grasslands as well as in lowland tussock grasslands. It typically grows to a height of 1–1.2 meters in its preferred moist, fertile soils, with seed heads that may reach even taller. The plant’s form is characterized by its slender, arching leaves that clump together, creating a distinctive tussock shape. The foliage color varies from a lush green to a dominant rustic bronze or red, particularly striking when backlit by the sun. This color variation, along with its flowing form, makes Red Tussock Grass a visually appealing addition to gardens.
Red Tussock Grass is valued for its textural contrast and vibrant color, especially in mass plantings where its arching leaves can create a sea of movement. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its excellence for garden use in the UK. This grass is adaptable to a range of garden settings, including borders, water features, and as a specimen plant. It prefers full sun to part shade and requires moderate watering, thriving in soils with medium to fast drainage. While generally low-maintenance, it may need protection from excessive winter wetness in colder climates.CC BY-SA 4.0
Red Tussock Grass is valued for its textural contrast and vibrant color, especially in mass plantings where its arching leaves can create a sea of movement. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its excellence for garden use in the UK. This grass is adaptable to a range of garden settings, including borders, water features, and as a specimen plant. It prefers full sun to part shade and requires moderate watering, thriving in soils with medium to fast drainage. While generally low-maintenance, it may need protection from excessive winter wetness in colder climates.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 1-1.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Border Plant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
native to New Zealand, where it thrives in subalpine and alpine grasslands as well as in lowland tussock grasslands
Other Names
Common Names:
Scientific Names: , Chionochloa rubra, Chionochloa rubra var. rubra, Danthonia antarctica var. minor, Danthonia raoulii var. rubra,
GBIF Accepted Name: Chionochloa rubra Zotov