grass · design plant record

Deschampsia cespitosa

Tufted hair grass

An airy grass canopy above a compact tuft for a moisture-retentive border.

Photographs show the source plant or captioned cultivar, season and setting. They do not document one of our illustrative garden layouts as a built project.

Height at maturity

0.51–0.91 m (1.7–3 ft)

Spread at maturity

0.3–0.61 m (1–2 ft)

Light

Sun / Part shade

Moisture

Moist, draining soil / Wet-soil tolerance (check details)

Source-reported USDA zones

4–9 · verify subzone and cultivar

Principal seasonal role

Summer, Autumn, Winter

Fit it to the site

Moist to periodically wet soil in sun or part shade.

Dry exposed ground can reduce performance; flowering height and basal tuft height differ.

Keep the care in the decision

Comb or cut old growth before the new season and review self-seeding.

Origin & safety checks

Northern Hemisphere. Confirm local native range and restrictions.

Pet safety and edible uses are not assessed; verify the exact botanical name with a suitable local authority.

Check current invasive restrictions with your local plant-health or extension authority. For pets, use the exact botanical name in a veterinary toxicity reference; for potential ingestion or exposure, get appropriate professional advice rather than relying on a design guide.