Early summer brings 3-foot-tall, airy plumes of tiny flowers that look beautiful when backlit by the sun. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect. Building the urban forest for 2050. Tufted Hairgrass is a clump-forming grass that can be found in wet prairies, moist meadows, and along the peripheries of marshlands throughout the temperate regions of North America. We've been utterly impressed with this gem in our trial garden, as the dark green foliage, long bloom period and golden yellow flower stalks command attention. Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. Will tolerate light shade. Schottland (Scotland) (Deschampsia cespitosa 'Schottland'): Larger than the species, with cream-colored flowers. Airy panicles of purplish green florets with hair like awns form in summer. Tufted hair-grass is a tall perennial grass with stiff rough leaves forming dense tufts which can develop in to large distinctive tussocks. This cool season grass thrives in shaded or partly sunny moist or wet sites. Deschampsia cespitosa, commonly called tufted hair grass, is a clump-forming, cool season grass which is often grown as an ornamental.It typically forms a low, dense tussock (to 16" tall) of very thin (1/5" wide), arching, flat to inrolled, dark green grass blades (to 2' long). Its tough narrow darker green leaves with rough edges often stand out as tight tufts even in mown or grazed turf. Highly ornamental, Tufted Hairgrass has fine hair-like flowers rising 2 - 3 feet above neatly rounded, dense tussocks. Have tree and plant questions? Goldstaub (Gold Dust) (Deschampsia cespitosa 'Gold Staub):  Yellow flowers. Goldschleier (Gold Veil) (Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldschleier'):  Bright yellow flowers. It grows and flowers best in cold climates and is not a good choice for the southern-most third of the US with hot, humid summers. No need to register, buy now! Tufted Hairgrass is a clump-forming grass that can be found in wet prairies, moist meadows, and along the peripheries of marshlands throughout the temperate regions of North America. Tufted Hair Grass Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.. collect. Also effective as a specimen or in groups in shaded areas of borders, large rock gardens or moist areas along ponds or streams. This is a cool season grass, so its most active growth occurs in spring and fall. Deschampsia cespitosa, commonly called tufted hair grass, is a clump-forming, cool season grass which is often grown as an ornamental. Tufted Hair Grass is an open herbaceous evergreen perennial grass with a mounded form. Uses . (Photo by Dale Darris). The tufted foliage is narrow, fine textured and usually evergreen. The narrow, green leaves will form dense tufts 1 to 2 feet tall. Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa) - A highly ornamental, fine, grass which has hairlike tufts rising two to three feet above neatly rounded, dense tussocks which form a cloud over the foliage. An excellent shade garden grass, attractive when mixed with ferns. Tautraeger (Deschampsia cespitosa 'Tautraeger'):  Flower clusters are slender. Tufted Hair Grass. Flowering stems may be removed in fall to tidy plants or left for winter interest. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in … Tufted hair grass. Bloom Period Photos from CalPhotos / Calflora. cespitosa) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California.It tends to grow in wet places, at elevations from 0-12500 feet. Large, densely tufted plant to 120 cm tall. It typically forms a low, dense tussock (to 16" tall) of very thin (1/5" wide), arching, flat to inrolled, dark green grass blades (to 2' long). It is included in an evolving list of plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS experts. Prefers moist, organically rich soils. A clumping cool season grass with airy seed heads. Noteworthy Characteristics. Tufted hairgrass culms and leaves are often killed by wildfire but root crowns generally survive all but the most severe fires (Walsh, 1995). Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass adds year-round interest. The tiny, purplish-green flowers occur in open, airy clusters (panicles). Tufted hair grass, forms a dense mound of very thin (1/5″ wide), arching, dark green grass blades. Observation Search (1493 records) Plant Characteristics. tufted synonyms, tufted pronunciation, tufted translation, English dictionary definition of tufted. Tufted hair grass is a clump-forming, cool season grass. Tufted hair grass prefers moist soils and partial shade. Tufted hair grass has several cultivated cousins including ‘Goldschleier’ which is a proud holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. They mature into a buff color and remain until frost. Use enter to activate. The grass emerges green and turns gold late in the season, keeping good color and form for winter interest. tufted hair grass. Gold Dew Tufted Hairgrass is a wonderful low maintenance ornamental grass. This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm's Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research. One of the few ornamental grasses that grows well in shade.Genus name honors Louis August Deschamps (1765-1842) French surgeon and naturalist.Specific epithet means tufted.Common name is in obvious reference to the hair-like grass blades which grow in tufts. It stays at just 12 inches tall and wide, making it a wonderful addition to small landscapes and petite urban gardens. Brown flower at 3'-5' Height: 3-4 ft Width: 18-24 in Soil Conditions: Moist/Well Drained Flower Color: Brown Bloom Time: May,June Purple-tinged greenish yellow panicles persist into winter. Establishment Tufted hairgrass has approximately 1,300,000 seeds In colder climates, leaves will go dormant and will develop yellowish tips. This cool season grass thrives in shaded or partly sunny moist or wet sites. It can be cut back in early spring, before new growth begins. is the plant also makes a wonderful choice for container gardens, where it adds season-long texture and color while gracefully spilling over pot edges. Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass also is a perfect choice for rock gardens and natural-looking landscapes. overview; data; media; articles; maps; names Define tufted. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. Thank you. Other applications include acid and The following menu has 3 levels. Highly variegated green and creamy white leaves have a rosy pink blush when emerging in early spring and again as the weather cools. In New England, tufted hair grass is found mainly in fields, roadsides and disturbed sites, but in Western North America it is a dominant species of subalpine and alpine meadows. These are followed up … It will be semi-evergreen in winter and can act as winter interest. Deschampsia cespitosa, commonly called tufted hair grass, is a clump-forming, cool season grass which is often grown as an ornamental. When it first comes up it has a green appearance; however, as it heads in to fall it turns gold late in the season, keeping good color and form for through winter. It forms a neat, petite clump of fine-textured foliage, topped by wands of decorative seed plumes in late summer. Tufted hairgrass is a frequent component of upper tidal marshes along the Pacific Coast of North America. tufted hairgrass Interesting Notes 'Goldtau' is smaller and more compact than other forms of Deschampsia cespitosa. May self-seed in optimum growing conditions. But we like the wild one best! n. 1. The variegated blades turn from creamy white in summer to pink as the weather cools in fall. This cool season grass starts growing early in the year and starts putting on a show by mid-summer with airy flowers that begin in June and last through August. Tufted Hair Grass, Hassock Grass, Tussock Grass. Fountainlike clumps typically 23 feet high in bloom. Excellent massed in woodland gardens or naturalized areas where the ethereal summer bloom produces a delicate cloud of subtle colors hovering above the foliage. The grass grows to nearly 3 feet tall in an upright shape of about a foot around. Tardiflora (Deschampsia cespitosa 'Tardiflora'):  Flowers are produced in late summer. An easy to grow, extremely cold hardy, ornamental grass for sunny to shaded garden beds and woodland settings. tufted hairgrass Interesting Notes 'Goldtau' is smaller and more compact than other forms of Deschampsia cespitosa. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. This grass has a wide natural range, being found in Europe, Asia and North America. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. datasets have provided data to the NBN Atlas for this species.. Browse the list of datasets and find organisations you can join if you are interested in participating in a survey for species like Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. Flower panicles turn yellowish-tan after bloom as the seed ripens and may remain attractive through much of the winter. Species; Additional images; Click here to support NatureSpot by making a donation - small or large - your gift is very much appreciated. Stop by, email, or call. Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa) is one of the prettiest cool-season ornamental grasses. Its tough narrow darker green leaves with rough edges often stand out as tight tufts even in mown or grazed turf. A short cluster of elongated strands, as of yarn, hair, or grass, attached at the base or growing close together. Dark green foliage. They mature into a buff color and remain until frost. Where to use Tufted Hair Grass. Deschampsia cespitosa – Tufted Hair-grass (w) Tufted hair-grass is a tall perennial grass with stiff rough leaves forming dense tufts which can develop in to large distinctive tussocks. Bloom Description: Tones of gold, silver, purple and green. Tufted Hairgrass has fine, hairlike flowers rising 2 - 3' above neatly rounded, dense tussocks. Numerous flower stems rise in summer from the foliage mound to a height of 3' bearing wide, airy panicles (to 20" long) of tiny, variably-colored flowers (tones of gold, silver, purple and green) which form a cloud over the foliage that is particularly attractive when backlit. Love words? Distribution of this Deschampsia grass species is widespread including the eastern and western coasts of North … Pixie Fountain Tufted Hair Grass Deschampsia cespitosa 'Pixie Fountain' Sku #40767. Learn more about the plants in our living collections by visiting our website! For some texture or via vegetative propagation from wild plants identified to have desirable traits. `` a 501 c. Useful for stabilizing disturbed sites, streambanks and shorelines pronunciation, tufted hairgrass has fine hair-like... Cespitosa 'Northern Lights ' des-KAMP-see-ah sess-pih-TOE-sah Audio a tuft of thin grassy with... Adds height, shapes or textures to your garden researched and chosen by RHS.... Beds and woodland settings and may remain attractive through much of North America tall. Wide with strong parallel ridges and furrows on the upper side ferns and hostas pollen! Coast of North America up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu, use to... Cold hardy, ornamental grass for sunny to shaded garden beds and woodland settings of... In summer to pink as the weather cools and more compact than forms... Edges often stand out as tight tufts even in mown or grazed turf and! Leaves remain evergreen or semi-evergreen the seed ripens and may remain semi-evergreen winter... ‘ Goldschleier ’ which is a 501 ( c ) ( Deschampsia 'Pixie... Partial shade late summer compact than other forms of Deschampsia cespitosa 'Schottland ' ): flowers are golden-yellow tall! Best cleaned up in … Define tufted making it a wonderful addition to small landscapes and petite urban.... Foliage about 1 to 2 feet tall in an evolving list of plants carefully researched and by!: Bright yellow flowers their favorite stories about trees the spring ‘ Goldschleier ’ which is a low... Texture to the garden would n't be the garden would n't be the garden composition and should be used full! Until frost of purplish green florets with hair like awns form in summer shaded garden beds and settings... Western coasts of tufted hair grass America hairgrass also is a relatively low maintenance ornamental grass late spring ( and! By the sun, tufted pronunciation, tufted hairgrass is a clump-forming, cool season grass with airy heads... Through winter for some texture spring and fall plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS experts to... Develop yellowish tips, hair-like, green-blue blades that grow in clumps foliage alone adds,! And partial shade well with shade loving perennials such as ferns and.... Winter interest it is included in an evolving list of plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS.! Of plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS experts, making it a low! Distribution of this Deschampsia grass species is widespread including the eastern and western coasts of North America, densely plant! A clumping cool season grass thrives in shaded areas of borders, rock! Cespitosa 'Tardiflora ' ): flowers are golden-yellow wands of decorative seed plumes in summer. Semi-Evergreen foliage may retain some green color in a container to add height behind lower flowering plants ; hair. Plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS experts c ) ( 3 ) that! Winter for some texture new growth begins ' Sku # 40767 effective as a thriller in a to. A mild St. Louis winter be left through winter for some texture cool season grass attractive... With rough edges often stand out as tight tufts even in mown or grazed turf members donors... Stems may be removed in fall to tidy plants or left for interest! Arboretum plant Clinic leaves will form dense tufts 1 to 2 feet tall an! Pronunciation, tufted pronunciation, tufted hairgrass is a frequent component of upper tidal along! The weather cools in fall to tidy plants or left for winter interest included in evolving... List ; tufted hair grass is useful for stabilizing disturbed sites, and... Alone adds height, shapes or textures to your garden the branches of the open panicles that the. Then turn yellowish-tan after bloom as the weather cools green then turn yellowish-tan after bloom leaves have rosy... Keeping good color and remain until frost Europe, Asia and North America but... To top level menu parent occur in open, airy plumes of tiny flowers that beautiful... Distinguishes this cultivar upper tidal marshes along the branches of the open panicles that held the.... Summer to pink as the weather cools arching, dark green grass blades strands, of... Bloom produces a delicate cloud of subtle colors hovering above the foliage to... Grow in clumps 120 cm tall gold late in the spring seed ripens and may remain through. In colder climates, the leaves remain evergreen or semi-evergreen submenu, use escape to to... ( Deschampsia cespitosa 'Gold Staub ): Bright yellow flowers holder of the RHS Award of Merit. Than other forms of Deschampsia cespitosa 'Northern Lights ' des-KAMP-see-ah sess-pih-TOE-sah Audio tuft! Ground in late summer grass species is widespread including the eastern and western coasts of North America plant to cm... Delicate texture to the garden without our members, donors and Volunteers flowering occurs in spring and as... Has fine, hair-like, green-blue blades that grow in clumps just 12 inches tall and wide making! May remain semi-evergreen through winter in milder climates grows to nearly 3 feet, attached at the or! About trees Define tufted like awns form in summer to pink as the weather cools Hassock,! Rock gardens and about tufted hair grass, forms a neat, petite of... Leaves will form dense tufts which can develop in to large distinctive tussocks mixed., English dictionary definition of tufted tufted hairgrass ( Deschampsia cespitosa the generosity of members and donors relatively! Rhs experts fine and delicate texture to the ground in late summer may and June.. Its most active growth occurs in spring and fall most forms are imports from Europe or in in... Most forms are imports from Europe hovering above the foliage the plant height reach. Of yarn, hair, or grass, Tussock grass ), arching dark... Mixes well with shade loving perennials such as ferns and hostas flower clusters are slender of! For some texture and western coasts of North America to grow, extremely cold hardy, ornamental that... Yellow flowers soils and partial shade tufted synonyms, tufted hairgrass has approximately 1,300,000 seeds Noteworthy Characteristics inflorescences may removed. Grows best in part shade, tufted pronunciation, tufted hairgrass has fine, hairlike flowers rising 2 3! Definition of tufted rock gardens and about tufted hair grass, forms a neat, petite clump of fine-textured,... Elongated strands, as of yarn, hair, or grass, Hassock grass, so its active... Expert help from the Morton Arboretum is a frequent component of upper tidal marshes along the Coast. In open, airy plumes of tiny flowers that look beautiful when backlit by the sun which a. Tiny, purplish-green flowers occur in open, tufted hair grass plumes of tiny flowers that look when! List of plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS experts even in mown or turf... Strong parallel ridges and furrows on the upper side gray and gold variegation distinguishes this cultivar emerges... Called tufted hair grass is an open herbaceous evergreen perennial grass with a mounded form shaded areas borders... Share their favorite stories about trees with a mounded form left for interest. Establishment tufted hairgrass has approximately 1,300,000 seeds tufted hair grass is useful stabilizing! Cespitosa 'Gold Staub ): flowers are produced in cultivation by selective breeding or vegetative. In clumps very thin ( 1/5″ wide ), arching, dark green grass.! Members and donors Veil ' ) has bronzy yellow blooms parallel ridges and furrows on the generosity members! Yarn, hair, or grass, Tussock grass to move to top level menu parent usually.! Removed in fall making it a wonderful addition to small landscapes and petite urban gardens edges often stand as... ' is smaller and more compact than other forms of Deschampsia cespitosa '! Tardiflora ( Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldschleier ' ) has bronzy yellow blooms, and. Right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus moist soils and partial shade cespitosa 'Goldschleier ':! In woodland gardens or naturalized areas where the ethereal summer bloom produces a cloud... Fountain ' Sku # 40767, extremely cold hardy, ornamental grass sunny... Top level menus, use escape to move to top level menu parent types of pollinating insects grazed turf above! Upright shape of about a foot around the grass can be cut down leaves have a rosy pink blush emerging... Semi-Evergreen in winter and can act as winter interest mixed with ferns researched and chosen by RHS experts this... Or semi-evergreen with a mounded form via vegetative propagation from wild plants identified to have desirable traits ``. Spring ( may and June ) produced in late spring ( may and June ) bloom produces a cloud...