Tussock Grass, Tufted Hair Grass, Hair Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa

Family: Poaceae or Gramineae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Late spring. Form: Rounded.

Deschampsia caespitosa is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Damp woods and meadows, usually on badly drained clay soils.

Temperate areas of Europe, including Britain, Asia, N. Africa, N. America and Australasia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Seed. No further details are given, though it is likely that the seed was ground into a flour and used as a cereal. However, the seed is quite small and its use would be rather fiddly.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

Plants form impenetrably dense clumps and when planted close together in drifts make an excellent ground cover.

Ground cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen, Woodland garden. Prefers a humus-rich acidic soil but it succeeds in most soils. It prefers a soil on the heavier and wetter side, but it also grows in drier soils. Does well on damp or wet banks or in open woodland. There are several named varieties, selected for their ornamental value. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Naturalizing, Suitable for dried flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

Propagating it: Seed - sow in situ in spring or autumn. Only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 13°c. If seed is in short supply it can be sown in a cold frame in spring, pricked out into individual pots as soon as it is large enough to handle and planted out in early summer.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover; Meadow; Bog Garden;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 5-9

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Aira caespitosa.