Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

1-3 Feet

Mature Spread

12 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 10

Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa) is one of the prettiest cool-season ornamental grasses. The variegated blades turn from creamy white in summer to pink as the weather cools in fall. Sometimes, foliage alone adds height, shapes or textures to your garden. Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass adds year-round interest. Plant it as a thriller in a container to add height behind lower flowering plants.

Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass also is a perfect choice for rock gardens and natural-looking landscapes. The grass grows to nearly 3 feet tall in an upright shape of about a foot around. The foliage is pretty blowing in breezes even in winter after the blades have dried. The low-care grass produces its creamy-white color again in spring as new blades grow.

Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass Care

All the gardener has to do is cut Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass in early spring, as soon as new growth appears. Cut the clump nearly to the ground and watch the grasses grow until temperatures warm to about 75 degrees. Northern Lights stays healthy in summer but stops its growth until days cool in fall, when it begins to turn pink. The only other care it needs is average watering to thrive as a perennial in zones 4 through 10.

Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass Spacing

Plant your Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass in full or part sun and be sure to space groups of the grass 8 to 10 inches apart. In containers, plant this gorgeous ornamental grass in the center or toward the back.