Tussock Grass Deschampsia cespitosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- des-CHAMP-see-ah sess-pih-TOH-sah
- Description
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Tussock Grass is a cool-season bunching grass. Variable in flower and foliage depending on soil and light conditions. It self seeds and is salt tolerant. Cut old foliage to the ground in late winter before new growth starts.
This grass has dark green leaves with cloud-like green to gold inflorescence in summer that turns to light golden straw color that lasts into winter. Good as cut flower. Clumped, densely tufted mass of fine, narrow leaves that are upright and open with fine texture. It prefers light to moderate shade. It will grow in full sun but reduces the quality of foliage and flower. Prefers humus-rich moist to soggy soils. Can be used as an ornamental grass.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Goldschleier'
- 'Schottland'
- 'Goldschleier'
- 'Goldschleier', 'Schottland'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Goldschleier'
- 'Schottland'
- 'Goldschleier'
- 'Goldschleier', 'Schottland'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Deschampsia
- Species:
- cespitosa
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern Hemisphere
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Salt tolerant; some cultivars are drought tolerant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 8 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Erect
- Open
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Flowers turn tan as the seeds ripen. May last into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Description:
- Cloud-like inflorescences in summer is up to 20 inches long of tiny variable colored flowers in tones of gold, silver, purple and green. Good as cut flower.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Dense clump-forming tufted foliage is narrow, fine-textured
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Pollution
- Rabbits
- Salt
