Shade-loving tufted hair grass is a native ornamental grass that adds gorgeous texture to the garden.
Its rolled or pleated leaves grow in tufts with a stiff, wiry appearance.
In spring to midsummer, airy panicles of silver-tinted flower heads appear, offering a cloudlike appearance.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
This guide covers how to plant and grow tufted hair grass, which differs from many drought-resistant prairie grasses.
Plant tufted hair grass inUSDA Hardiness Zones4 to 8.
Use it in garden beds, containers, and naturalized areas.
It grows in sunny and shady areas depending on soil moisture and heat levels.
Avoid planting it in sunny, droughty conditions.
This plant forms clumps and doesnt self-sow excessively.
Tufted hair grass seed can be sown in a prepared garden bed in spring.
Lightly rake the seeds into the soil and water well.
Light
Choose a spot in partial sun or partial shade.
Plant in afternoon shade in southern areas of its range.
This plant requires steady water of about 1 inch a week during the spring and fall growing seasons.
In the summer, it is less active and requires only light watering.
The plant is dormant in winter and needs no water at all during this period.
Temperature and Humidity
This cool-season grass grows most actively in the spring and fall.
It tolerates temperatures from 32F to 90F but grows best where the summer temperature doesnt exceed 68F.
Although it enjoys moist-to-wet soil, it is susceptible to disease in areas of high humidity.
Fertilizer
Pruning
Cut tufted hair grass back to 4 inches in mid to late winter.
The plant dies back for the winter and reemerges in spring.
It does not require repotting annually.
In addition,aphidsand leaf hoppers affect tufted hair grass.
Instead, the best way to propagate this perennial grass isby dividing mature clumpsevery 23 years.
Use a sharp spade to divide a clump into several sections and immediately replant the divisions.
It is variegated with gray and gold streaks and matures to gold with pinkish tips.
Solomon’s Seal
Solomons seal(Polygonatum biflorum)forms attractive colonies with arching stems.
The leaves turn yellow in the fall, creating a bright spot in the garden.
It is frequently visited by butterflies and birds.
With heart-shaped, glossy leaves, the plants spread by above-ground runners.
The plant is deer and rabbit-resistant.
It is a slow-growing fern that grows well in cool, moist soil.
Theyre among the easiest plants to grow and are a perfect addition to any garden.
They act as a filler in shade gardens, and some hostas have showy, fragrant flowers.
Many hostas enjoy the partial shade and moist soil that tufted hair grass prefers.
It is very long lived.
Some stands are reportedly more than 30 years old.
The height varies by species, but the range is about 8-60 inches tall.
