Tufted Hairgrass

(Deschampsia cespitosa)

Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Deschampsia cespitosa, commonly known as Tufted Hairgrass or Tussock Grass, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the grass family Poaceae. It is native to a variety of habitats including moist meadows, grasslands, and open woodlands across temperate regions of the eastern and western coasts of North America, parts of South America, Eurasia, and Australia. This species typically grows to a height of 2-3 feet and a width of 1-2 feet, forming dense clumps of fine-textured, arching leaves. The delicate, airy flower panicles appear in summer, ranging from silvery-green to purplish-bronze, and are highly ornamental. Tufted Hairgrass is valued for its graceful form, texture, and movement in the landscape, as well as its adaptability to a range of soil conditions.

Tufted Hairgrass is a versatile ornamental grass that is used in a variety of garden settings, including meadow plantings, borders, and as ground cover. It provides winter interest and is often left standing until early spring for its aesthetic appeal. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring medium amounts of water and thriving in part shade to full sun. It prefers well-drained soils but is tolerant of different soil types. The cultivars ’Goldschleier’ and ’Goldtau’ have been recognized for their exceptional beauty with the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. While generally disease-free, it can suffer from rust in wet conditions. It is not known for being invasive but can self-seed in ideal conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Grass
  • Height: 2-3 feet
  • Width: 1-2 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: N/A
  • Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
  • Leaf Retention: Semi-Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Moist meadows, grasslands, and open woodlands

Other Names

Common Names: Tufted Hair Grass, Tussock Grass, Small-Flowered Ticklegrass, Mose-Bunke, Rasenschmiele, Rasen-Schmiele, Grama Del Monte, Nurmilauha, Aire Gazonnante, Canche Flexueuse

Scientific Names: , Deschampsia cespitosa, Aira caespitosa, Aira cespitosa, Deschampsia turczaninowii, Deschampsia cespitosa var. aurata, Deschampsia cespitosa var. varia, Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. hispanica, Avena cespitosa, Deschampsia cespitosa var. flavescens

GBIF Accepted Name: Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P.Beauv.