Deschampsia caespitosa
Ornamental Grass, Perennial

USDA Zones: 4 - 9; evergreen in zone 8 and 9; prefers cold climates
Light: PartialShade
Height:  3 feet
Width:  3 feet
Flower Colors: green when young, tan at maturity
Bloom Time: late spring
Special Features:
Attractive Foliage
Fast Growing
Flowers
Winter Interest

Tufted hairgrass is one of the few ornamental grasses that prefers partial shade. It is a cool-season grass, so it greens up in late spring. Above an 18-inch-wide mound of long, narrow, dark green leaves is an 18-inch-tall rounded, airy, open tuft of lighter green flowers that turn beige or purplish with maturity. The flowers persist all winter. It grows to about 3 feet tall and wide. For best effect, plant where it is backlit by morning or afternoon sun.

Notable Varieties
'Schottland' has large flower spikes.
'Goldtau' is compact and has golden leaves at maturity.
'Bronzeschlieier' tolerates mild clinmates better than the species does.

Care
Cut near the ground in late winter or early spring, before new growth appears.

Planting
Plant container-grown plants in spring or fall in partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. You can also grow it from seed.