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Grass Like

Deschampsia cespitosa 'Garnet Schist'

A dense, tussock-forming, evergreen grass to 1m tall in flower, with rough, rigid, linear leaves. From early to late summer it produces airy, arching panicles of brown flower spikelets. The flower spikes can be cut for fresh and dried floral arrangements

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–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: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Deschampsia can be deciduous or evergreen, tufted grasses with linear or thread-like leaves and open flowering panicles in summer
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in dry to damp, neutral to acid soil in sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Prairie planting
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Trim out old flower heads in early spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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