Tufted hair grass
Deschampsia cespitosa · Poaceae
📷 Christian Fischer · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant tufted hair grass: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen, fine and graceful
- Flowering
- June to August, light and airy spikelets
- Mature height
- 60 to 80 cm (foliage) + inflorescences up to 120 cm
- Growth
- Fast and vigorous
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -20 °C
- Origin
- Europe, Asia and North America
- Soil type
- Moist, poorly tolerant of drought
- Root system
- Dense and fibrous, forming beautiful clumps
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Hair grass appreciates moisture (but not trampling) and prefers light shade where it stays greener longer. Cut short in late winter before growth resumes.
The common mistake
Planting it in scorching sun and dry soil: it becomes white, stiff, and unattractive.
The pro's trick
In dry climates, install it under the light canopy of trees: it will keep a green hue and a more supple form.
Seasonal watch
August-September: if it dries heavily and the spikes flop over, water in the evening to help it recover.
Care
Watering
Tufted hair-grass loves constantly moist soils and is perfect for marshy areas or streamside locations. Keep the soil moist during the spring and summer growing season. Once established, it tolerates water variations better, but will suffer during prolonged drought.
Exposure
Plant tufted hair-grass in partial shade to dappled shade to optimize its development. It tolerates full sun if the soil remains sufficiently moist. In deep shade, growth slows down and flowering may be less abundant.
Soil and planting
Enrich the soil with compost or potting soil before planting to improve water retention. Tufted hair-grass adapts to many soil types as long as they are moist: acidic, neutral or slightly alkaline soils. Avoid overly compacted or dry soils.
Pruning and tidying
Cut back the clump in early spring (February-March) to remove old dried leaves and encourage new growth. Cut to 5-10 cm from the ground. You can leave the inflorescences on the plant until winter for a dried ornamental effect.
Fertilizing
A light application of balanced fertilizer in spring is generally sufficient. If the soil is rich in organic matter, fertilizing is not essential. Avoid over-fertilizing which would promote overly loose growth.
Diseases and pests
Tufted hair-grass is generally robust and rarely susceptible to disease. Excess stagnant moisture can lead to root rot. Ensure good drainage of the soil in heavy soils. Pests are rare on this ornamental grass.
Did you know?
Tufted hair-grass is a pioneer grass highly appreciated by gardeners in wet areas since the early twentieth century. Its delicate, airy inflorescences, which shimmer in sunlight and dance in the slightest breeze, make it a beloved feature of Anglo-Saxon natural style gardens. Its name 'tufted' comes from its very dense, clumping habit, forming compact vegetation cushions from which graceful spikelets emerge.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Wavy hair-grassAvenella flexuosa
- Purple moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Reed canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
- Common quaking grassBriza media
- Creeping soft-grassHolcus mollis
- Rough reedgrassCalamagrostis arundinacea
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.