Tufted Hairgrass

Deschampsia cespitosa

Plant Details:

Plant Type: Ornamental Grass

Plant Family: Poaceae

Plant Description: The neat mounds of this native grass’ finely textured green leaves are topped with hair-like flower stalks growing 2-3 feet above the foliage. Fall turns the plant an attractive gold which sticks around into winter. A useful shade plant for stabilizing soil as well as an important larval food plant for several butterfly species.

Maintenance:

Maintenance Type: Ornamental Grass - Small

Plant Care: Ornamental Grass - Small (showy non-turf grasses that go dormant in winter, under 3' tall): Gather dried seed head stalks in one hand and use hand pruners to cut and remove 2/3 of the total grass height. For warm season grasses (more common), this is best done in late winter to early spring. For cool season grasses apply the same maintenance practices in the late fall, once the plant is dormant.

Video: Cutting Down Small Ornamental Grasses - Spring Cleanup

Plant Attributes:

Mature Size: 1-3' tall x 1-2' wide

Utah Native: Yes

Nativar: No

Plant Select: Unknown

Pollinator Friendly: Yes

Localscapes: Infill Plant

Evergreen: No

Foliage Interest: No

Foliage Colors: Green

Bloom Colors: Tan, Green

Bloom Seasons: Early Summer

Bloom Period: Jun - Jun

Erosion Control: Yes

Ground Cover: Yes

Foodscape: No

Growing Conditions:

Hardiness Zone: 4 to 8

Light Requirement: Full Shade (0-4 hrs sun), Part Shade (4-6 hrs morning sun), Part Sun (4-6 hrs afternoon sun)

Irrigation Requirement:

Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days)

Salt Tolerant: Unknown

Deer Tolerant: Unknown

Garden Location:

Commercial Concepts
- JVWCD Building West
- JVWCD Flag Pole
- JVWCD Parking
- South Property Line

Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter