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Makin, Julie

Deschampsia cespitosa

Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.

Tufted Hairgrass, Tufted Hair Grass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Aira caespitosa, Aira cespitosa, Deschampsia bottnica, Deschampsia caespitosa, Deschampsia caespitosa ssp. genuina, Deschampsia caespitosa ssp. glauca, Deschampsia caespitosa ssp. orientalis, Deschampsia caespitosa ssp. paramushirensis, Deschampsia caespitosa ssp. parviflora, Deschampsia caespitosa var. abbei, Deschampsia caespitosa var. alpicola, Deschampsia caespitosa var. arctica, Deschampsia caespitosa var. glauca, Deschampsia caespitosa var. intercotidalis, Deschampsia caespitosa var. littoralis, Deschampsia caespitosa var. longiflora, Deschampsia caespitosa var. mackenzieana, Deschampsia caespitosa var. maritima, Deschampsia caespitosa var. parviflora, Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. bottnica, Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. cespitosa, Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. genuina, Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. glauca, Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. obensis, Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. orientalis, Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. paramushirensis, Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. parviflora, Deschampsia cespitosa var. abbei, Deschampsia cespitosa var. alpicola, Deschampsia cespitosa var. arctica, Deschampsia cespitosa var. bottnica, Deschampsia cespitosa var. glauca, Deschampsia cespitosa var. intercotidalis, Deschampsia cespitosa var. littoralis, Deschampsia cespitosa var. longiflora, Deschampsia cespitosa var. mackenzieana, Deschampsia cespitosa var. maritima, Deschampsia cespitosa var. pallida, Deschampsia cespitosa var. parviflora, Deschampsia glauca, Deschampsia mackenzieana, Deschampsia obensis, Deschampsia paramushirensis, Deschampsia pumila, Deschampsia sukatschewii

USDA Symbol: DECE

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)

The basal foliage clump of this cool-season, perennial grass is mostly evergreen with very fine-textured flower stalks rising 2-3 ft. The loose, open panicle is purplish-green to tawny at first but bleaches and remains effective in the landscape until late fall. Flowers have hair-like awns, thus the common name.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall when flowering.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , CT , ID , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MT , NC , ND , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: BC , NB , NS , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Transcontinental Canada, s. to NC, WV, Great Lakes, ND, mts. of NM, AZ & CA
Native Habitat: Moist, high elevation sites; sandy or rocky shores; bogs & fens

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Moist to wet (rarely on drier) soils.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Dominant grass in mountain meadows, where it furnishes excellent forage.
Use Food: Seeds of Deschampsia species eaten by indigenous Californians.
Attracts: Birds

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Umber Skipper
(Poanes melane)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed or division.
Seed Treatment: No pretreatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

When to plant grasses on Long Island, NY
December 06, 2009
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants; Are there any grass seeds that I can plant NOW, early December, on Long Island, NY? The planting environment is on and near a sandy bluff on a bayshore, where it can be windy ...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW	FAC	FACW		FACW	FACW		FACW	FACW	FACW

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

North American Native Plant Society - Etobicoke, ON
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 1218 - Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources (2006) Anderson, M. Kat
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Deschampsia cespitosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Deschampsia cespitosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Deschampsia cespitosa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-10-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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