Tussock Grass is a cool-season bunching grass. Variable in flower and foliage depending on soil and light conditions. It self seeds and is salt tolerant. Cut old foliage to the ground in late winter before new growth starts. This grass has dark green leaves with cloud-like green to gold inflorescence in summer that turns to light golden straw color that lasts into winter. Good as cut flower. Clumped, densely tufted mass of fine, narrow leaves that are upright and open with fine texture. It prefers light to moderate shade. It will grow in full sun but reduces the quality of foliage and flower. Prefers humus-rich moist to soggy soils. Can be used as an ornamental grass.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Cloud-like inflorescences in summer is up to 20 inches long of tiny variable colored flowers in tones of gold, silver, purple and green. Good as cut flower.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer; Winter
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Fruit detail
Flowers turn tan as the seeds ripen. May last into winter.