Autumn Moor Grass

Sesleria autumnalis (ses-LER-ee-ah aw-tum-NAY-lis)

Family: Poaceae Non-native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Herbaceous (1-3 ft)Non-native

Lime green foliage; ideal for edging Soil: Well-drained soil; drought tolerant Form: Tufted mound

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 35 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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.

Often confused with Sesleria caerulea

Fills a similar niche Ledebouria socialis Sedum 'Birthday Party' Sporobolus heterolepis

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions

Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
USDA zones: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage: Good Drainage
Available space: Less than 12 inches
Mature size: Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance: Low
Canopy layer: 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Form & Appearance

Habit / form: Dense; Mounding
Leaf color: Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf value: Showy
Leaf size: > 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present: No
Leaf detail: Lime green foliage
Fall color: Brown/Copper
Flower color: Cream/Tan; Gray/Silver; White
Flower value: Long-lasting; Showy
Flower detail: Inflorescence: Held erect; late summer to fall; becomes silvery white
Bloom time: Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit type: Caryopsis

Wildlife & Ecology

Native status: Non-native
Origin: Southern Europe and Caucasus

Food & Medicine

Fruit type: Caryopsis

Landscape Use

Landscape location: Riparian
Landscape theme: Rock Garden
Design feature: Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags: #green roof #herbaceous perennial #low maintenance #grass #drought tolerant #tufted

Problems & Resistance

Resistant to: Black Walnut; Drought; Dry Soil; Pollution

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.

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