Deschampsia cespitosa 'Schottland'
Overview
Uses: Woodland edges, shade and part-shade borders, mass plantings under high canopy, moist meadow plantings, transitional areas between lawn and woods.
Benefits: One of the very few ornamental grasses that flowers properly without full sun, which makes it useful in exactly the places most grasses cannot go. The panicles open green and ripen through gold, producing a haze of movement rather than a solid plume. Foliage stays dark and tidy at the base all season.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Sun/Shade
Life Cycle: Hardy Perennial
Growth Habit: Clumping, Arching — tight basal tuft with tall airy panicles
Bloom Color: Green to Golden Yellow
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Mature Height: 2–3 ft.
Mature Width: 1.5–2 ft.
Bloom Season: Early to midsummer
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Tufted Hair Grass solves a genuine problem: almost every ornamental grass worth growing wants full sun, and most gardens have a shaded middle distance that needs something with the same movement and light. 'Schottland' is a selection made for heavier flowering and stronger stems, and in early summer it throws a cloud of panicles two to three feet high that catches every bit of light reaching it.
The base of the plant is a tight, dark green tuft that holds through most winters rather than collapsing, so the clump has presence even out of season. Flowers open a cool green and ripen through gold over several weeks, holding on stiff stems that do not need staking and do not flatten in a summer downpour. Cut and dried, the panicles keep their shape for months.
It wants cool, moist ground more than it wants shade, which is the key to placing it. In the North it will take a full day of sun given consistent moisture; further south, afternoon shade and a mulched, evenly damp root run matter considerably more. Hot, dry soil is the one combination it will not accept.
Care
Tufted Hair Grass Care
Plant Tufted Hair Grass in partial shade to full sun in evenly moist, humus-rich soil that drains but never bakes. In cooler climates it takes more sun; in warmer zones give it afternoon shade. Acidic to neutral soil suits it best.
Water regularly through establishment and during dry spells thereafter. This is not a drought grass — it thins, browns, and flowers poorly on dry ground. A mulch layer helps hold moisture and keeps the root zone cool.
Feeding is optional. On lean soil a single spring application of slow release fertilizer improves flowering; on decent garden soil it is unnecessary and encourages floppy growth.
Leave the foliage and spent panicles standing over winter. Comb out dead blades by hand or shear lightly in early spring rather than cutting hard to the ground, since the tuft is semi-evergreen and a hard cut sets it back. Divide every three to four years if the center thins.
Size
What Size is the Tufted Hair Grass for Sale Online?
Our Tufted Hair Grass ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Tufted Hair Grass Grow?
Tufted Hair Grass forms a foliage tuft about a foot tall and eighteen inches to two feet wide, with flower panicles carrying it to two or three feet in early summer. Clumps reach mature size in two to three seasons.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is usually sold as Tufted Hair Grass, and also appears as Tussock Grass or Hassock Grass. All three refer to Deschampsia cespitosa.
How much shade will it really take?
It flowers acceptably in about four hours of sun and does best in bright dappled light or morning sun with afternoon shade. In deep, dry shade under a dense canopy it will survive but flower thinly. Moisture matters more than light level.
What makes 'Schottland' different from the straight species?
It was selected for heavier flowering, stiffer stems that stand up better through summer weather, and a somewhat more compact, darker basal tuft than typical seed-grown plants.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, deer browse it very rarely. Our Deer-Resistant Perennials and Grasses collection covers more options for open, unfenced beds.
Does it stay evergreen through winter?
The basal foliage holds through mild winters and partially browns in colder ones, so it is best described as semi-evergreen. Either way the clump keeps its form, which is why it is sheared lightly in spring rather than cut to the ground. More options in our Ornamental Grasses collection.
