Grass · Poaceae family
tufted hair grass
Deschampsia cespitosa
In short a 10-second read
Tufted hair grass (grass) grows to 0.6–1.2 m tall and 0.4–0.6 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to shade, in soil from dry to moist. Hardy to −32 °C.
× spread 0.4–0.6 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to shade, in soil from dry to moist. Hardy to −32 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
dry to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, humus-rich, clay
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
cut back to the ground (March)
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–October
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −32 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −32 °C
- Evergreen — green in winter too
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does tufted hair grass tolerate shade?
Yes, it tolerates full shade.
How much space does tufted hair grass need?
At maturity 0.4–0.6 m wide and 0.6–1.2 m tall; recommended spacing 50 cm.
Does tufted hair grass survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −32 °C.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 10 expert sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (10)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- RHS Plant Finder
- Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Finder
- Info Flora (CH) — národná botanická autorita
- Bamberger Staudengarten (Strobler), katalóg
- Gärtnerei Strickler, katalóg
- Foerster-Stauden, katalóg
- sarastro-stauden.com
- Iowa State Extension - How to Plant Perennials
- RHS - How to grow ornamental grasses
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