Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hairgrass (Picture to come)

Tufted Hairgrass

(Picture to come)

     Deschampsia cespitosa--Tufted Hairgrass can grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soils in part shade. Prefers moist, organically rich soils.  This is one of the few ornamental grasses that grows well in moderately shady locations, however it will not flower well if moved into too much shade. Tufted hair grass is clump-forming, cool season grass which typically forms a low, dense tussock (to 16" tall) of very thin (1/5" wide), arching, flat to in-rolled, dark green grass blades (to 2' long). 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. Flower panicles turn yellowish-tan after bloom as the seed ripens and may remain attractive through much of the winter. Common name is in obvious reference to the hair-like grass blades which grow in tufts.