How big does Tufted hair grass grow?

About 1 m × 60 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.5–1.2 m × 30–60 cm.

What soil does Tufted hair grass grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, acidic.

Is Tufted hair grass hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Tufted hair grass flower?

Flowering: June–September, yellow, silver, purple, green.

How much water does Tufted hair grass need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Tufted hair grass cost?

It sells for roughly €4 to €8 in local shops, depending on size.

Tufted hair grass

Deschampsia cespitosa

Tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) is an ornamental grass that reaches 1 m × 60 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €4.

Illustration of Tufted hair grass — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Tufted hair grass forms a dense dark green tussock topped in summer by airy clouds of golden and silvery flower panicles that stay decorative into winter. It is one of the few ornamental grasses that is happy in part shade, as long as the soil stays moist and rich in humus. It grows in the cool seasons, struggles in hot dry summers, and seeds itself around if you leave the flower heads on.

Watch out for

It is a cool-season grass: in the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it browns, thins out and may be short-lived in full sun, so plant it in part shade and moist soil and water it in drought. Rust can appear on the leaves; it is unsightly but does not kill the plant. In good conditions it self-seeds freely: cut off the flower heads in autumn if that bothers you.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 1 m × 60 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–September, yellow, silver, purple, green

Group	Ornamental grass
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1 m × 60 cm
Ultimate size	0.5–1.2 m × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Acidic
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	June–September, yellow, silver, purple, green
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	45 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €4

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
10-15 cm	approx. €5
15-25 cm	approx. €4
25+ cm	approx. €8

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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