Northern Lights Tufted Hair Grass

Deschampsia cespitosa 'Northern Lights'

Pronunciation: deh-SHAMP-see-uh kess-pi-TOH-suh
SKU #00539
4-9

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OVERVIEW
Description Highly variegated green and creamy white leaves have a rosy pink blush when emerging in early spring and again as the weather cools. Buff-colored flowers provide additional interest. Excellent for use as a small landscape accent, or plant en masse as a highly textural groundcover.
Light Filtered sun
Watering Keep soil moist, but not soggy.
Blooms Summer
Mature Size Moderate growing; reaches only 12 in. tall and wide.
DETAILS
Deciduous/Evergreen Herbaceous
Special Features Dramatic Foliage Color, Easy Care, Benefits Birds
Problems/Solutions Coastal Exposure, Deer Resistant, Erosion Control
Growth Rate Moderate
Growth Habit Clumping
STYLE
Landscape Use Ground Cover
Design Ideas This little grass is perfect for diminutive perennials of same stature for a lovely low patchwork of color in beds and borders. Small enough to be a super textural accent in container gardens of mixed foliage and flowers. Naturalistic grasses are perfect for a dry stream bed or in rock gardens poking out between outcroppings. In the modern garden they are excellent for geometric, perfectly spaced grids or in dense lines along pavement edge. Use to create open space in native or habitat gardens needing meadow-like setting that's walkable.
Flower Color Green
Foliage Color Variegated
Companion Plants Blanket Flower (Gaillardia); Tickseed (Coreopsis); Salvia (Salvia); Lavender (Lavandula); Coneflower (Echinacea)
CARE
Care Thrives in evenly moist, slightly acidic soil. Water deeply, regularly during first growing season to establish an extensive root system. In colder northern regions, apply a thick layer of mulch to protect root zone in winter. Leave foliage in place until early spring, then prune by two-thirds in spring. May be divided in spring or early fall.
HISTORY
Lore This plant is also known as tussock grass. It was an old Medieval practice to uproot a couple of these grasses known as "tussocks" to bring into cold English churches to provide soft kneelers and insulate the knees from the frozen stone floors.

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About Us

We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly

100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr.
in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.

We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly 100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr. in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.