Deschampsia, Hassock Grass, Tufted Hair Grass, Tussock Grass 'Northern Lights'

Deschampsiacespitosa

Family
Poaceae (poh-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Deschampsia (deh-SHAMP-see-uh)
Species
cespitosa (kess-pi-TOH-suh)
Synonym
Deschampsia caespitosa
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Good Fall Color
Height
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Cream/Tan
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Ornamental Grasses and Bamboo
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for drying and preserving
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
Seed Collecting
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

San Jose, California

Littleton, Colorado

Bolingbrook, Illinois

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Albany, Oregon

Millersburg, Oregon

Renton, Washington

Birchwood, Wisconsin

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

4
positives
1
neutral
0
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
C
ROSLINDALE, MA | September 2014 | positive

As the name suggests, this species is a clump-former and does not spread. The flower scapes can reach 3', but the foliage is only about 1...Read More

A
Birchwood, WI (Zone 3b) | September 2014 | positive

This is not a big burly grass here in Northern Wisconsin - but it is still hardy and very pretty, with slender leaves and very tall lacy...Read More

C
Albany, OR | July 2008 | positive

My grass receives about 3 hours of mid-day sun. The soil gets quite dry between waterings in the summer, but the grass looks great. In ...Read More

J
Littleton, CO (Zone 5a) | June 2008 | positive

I got a sad-looking specimen for cheap last fall from a nursery's "clearance" table. We planted this grass on the northwest edge of sever...Read More

C
Austin, TX (Zone 8b) | April 2008 | neutral

I just bought one of these tufts of grass from Lowe's...our BB garden center / home supply store in Texas for 7. I've never seen it off...Read More

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