About

A tuft-forming evergreen perennial with dark, bluish-green leaves. It produces golden-yellow flowers with a silvery sheen from late spring to summer that are followed by long-lasting plumes giving good autumn display.

About the genus

Deschampsia can be deciduous or evergreen, tufted grasses with linear or thread-like leaves and open flowering panicles in summer

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPrairie planting, Cottage and informal garden

Care notes

CultivationGrows well in well-drained to moist but well-drained, humus-rich soils in partial shade or full sun if the soil is not prone to drying out. See also ornamental grasses cultivation
PruningRemove faded flower stems in early spring and comb out damaged foliage. If necessary try renovating by cutting back close the ground in early spring before growth resumes
PropagationPropagate by division in mid-spring, divide into larger sections
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to a rust