hairgrass

Hairgrass is a common name applied to several fine-textured grasses, typically with slender, hair-like leaves. The best known is tufted hair-grass, Deschampsia cespitosa, widely grown in gardens, but the term is used for other similar grasses such as some Aira and Calamagrostis cultivars. They are valued for their delicate, airy habit in borders and naturalistic plantings.

Deschampsia cespitosa forms dense tufts from shallow rhizomes. It is a perennial with slender culms that rise above a clump of narrow leaves. Leaves are typically fine, 1–3 mm wide, and the flowering stems bear an open, plume-like panicle of small spikelets that can give a soft, hazy silhouette when in bloom.

In the wild, hairgrasses occur in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, often in meadows, woodland edges, and moist, well-drained soils. They tolerate a range of moisture and light but prefer full sun and moisture-retentive soil. They can help with erosion control and provide habitat for insects, birds.

In horticulture they are used in prairie-style borders, rock gardens, and as groundcovers on slopes. They require minimal maintenance, thrive in average soil, and are relatively drought-tolerant once established. Propagation is by division every few years or by seed; dead foliage is usually cut back in late winter or early spring.

Many nurseries sell cultivars with different foliage color or height, including forms with coppery or golden tones. As with other grasses, avoid excessive fertilization to maintain the delicate texture.