Tufted Hairgrass

Tufted Hairgrass brings gentle structure and movement to gardens with moist or shaded conditions. This cool-season bunchgrass forms graceful clumps of fine-textured green leaves that remain tidy through the growing season. In early to midsummer, tall, delicate flowering stalks emerge above the foliage, bearing open, shimmering panicles that catch light and sway with every breeze.

Perfect for woodland edges, rain gardens, streambanks, or the north side of buildings, Tufted Hairgrass thrives in moisture-retentive soils and partial shade but can adapt to sun with enough moisture. Its soft habit makes it an elegant foil for more assertive flowering plants like Joe Pye Weed, Culver’s Root, or Blue Flag Iris. It also provides cover for ground-dwelling wildlife and acts as a larval host for various species of satyr and skipper butterflies.

Whether used in masses or as an accent, this versatile native grass offers beauty, biodiversity value, and ease of care in one graceful package.

• Cutback: Trim back old foliage in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges.
• Watering: Keep soils consistently moist, especially in full sun; less watering is needed in shaded locations.
• Division: Can be divided every 3–5 years to rejuvenate older clumps or prevent crowding.
• Self-seeding: Allow to self-seed if naturalizing is desired; remove seedheads if control is preferred.
• Spacing: Space 12–18 inches apart to accommodate mature clump size and airflow.