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Deschampsia - (L.)P.Beauv.

Common Name Tussock Grass, Tufted Hair Grass, Hair Grass
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Damp woods and meadows, usually on badly drained clay soils[17].
Range Temperate areas of Europe, including Britain, Asia, N. Africa, N. America and Australasia.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Deschampsia Tussock Grass, Tufted Hair Grass, Hair Grass


Deschampsia Tussock Grass, Tufted Hair Grass, Hair Grass
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Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Late spring. Form: Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Deschampsia is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Aira caespitosa.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Seed[105, 161, 177, 257]. No further details are given, though it is likely that the seed was ground into a flour and used as a cereal. However, the seed is quite small and its use would be rather fiddly[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Plants form impenetrably dense clumps and when planted close together in drifts make an excellent ground cover[200].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen, Woodland garden. Prefers a humus-rich acidic soil[200] but it succeeds in most soils[1]. It prefers a soil on the heavier and wetter side[1], but it also grows in drier soils[162]. Does well on damp or wet banks or in open woodland[1, 162]. There are several named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[200]. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Naturalizing, Suitable for dried flowers, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in spring or autumn[162, 175, 200]. Only just cover the seed[175]. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 13°c[175]. If seed is in short supply it can be sown in a cold frame in spring, pricked out into individual pots as soon as it is large enough to handle and planted out in early summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Deschampsia caespitosaTussock Grass, Tufted Hair Grass, Hair GrassPerennial1.0 5-9 MLMHSNMWe103

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

(L.)P.Beauv.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

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