Tufted Hair Grass

Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa) brings a soft, flowing texture to gardens that lean natural or ecological. This cool-season bunchgrass thrives in meadows, along streambanks, or at the woodland edge—places where moisture lingers a little longer and filtered light provides relief from intense sun. Its fine-textured foliage forms tidy clumps, while tall, airy seedheads emerge early to mid-summer, shimmering in shades of gold to bronze as they mature.

While not a fan of drought, this species excels in cooler, moist spots—especially when planted in rich, organic soil. It is an ideal native, ornamental grass to supplement an existing flowerbed that receives more regular watering. It’s semi-evergreen in milder winters, and its early-season blooms support a variety of native pollinators. A gentle cut-back in late winter or early spring helps refresh the clump for the season ahead.