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Grass Like

Cynosurus cristatus

crested dog's tail

Clump-forming evergreen perennial grass about 30-60cm tall, producing mounds of linear, flat, smooth mid-green leaves, and wiry stems bearing slender panicles of purple flower spikelets to 75cm tall, in early summer

Other common names

dog's grass
dog's tail grass
see morewindlestraw
rhonwellt y ci

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Semi evergreen or Evergreen
Habit: Tufted
Genus: A genus of tufted perennial grasses native to Europe, Asia and North Africa with narrow green foliage and tall wiry stems with seedheads of purple flowers
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, medium to light, well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in spring or autumn or propagate by division between mid-spring and early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildflower meadow
Ground cover

Pruning

Can be cut down after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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