When does slender hairgrass bloom?

Slender hairgrass typically flowers from June through August, producing thin, airy panicles above the narrow leaf blades.

How much sun does slender hairgrass need?

It grows best with part sun but can handle a range from full sun to part shade, especially in cooler or higher elevation sites.

How much water does slender hairgrass need once established?

Established plants get by on low water and are fairly drought tolerant, though they can also handle occasional medium moisture in well drained soil.

What kind of habitat does slender hairgrass grow in?

Look for it in open meadows, dry slopes, forest clearings, and rocky or sandy soils at low to mid elevations.

Is slender hairgrass good for a low maintenance garden?

Yes, as a compact bunchgrass with low water needs and modest size, it works well in dry meadow plantings or as a filler grass with minimal upkeep.

Is Slender Hairgrass toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Slender Hairgrass as toxic to livestock.

Is Slender Hairgrass HOA-friendly?

Slender Hairgrass is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Slender Hairgrass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Deschampsia elongata

Last reviewed: September 2026

Deschampsia elongata, or slender hairgrass, is a low-water bunchgrass that blooms from June through August in dry meadows, rocky slopes, and open woodlands across the western and parts of the eastern United States.

Toxicity unknown

Slender Hairgrass (Deschampsia elongata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Slender Hairgrass as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

low

Size

12"–40" H × 8"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AZ, CA, ID, MA and 9 more states

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Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range

Slender hairgrass is a fine-textured native bunch grass that forms neat clumps with delicate, airy seed heads in summer. It stays green year-round and tolerates drought once established, making it a low-maintenance choice for natural landscapes. The wispy flower clusters add movement and texture to plantings from June through August.

Growing Slender Hairgrass

Grow Slender Hairgrass in part sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 40 inches tall and spread 8 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Slender Hairgrass is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

This native grass provides seeds for songbirds and small mammals in late summer and fall. The clumping growth habit offers nesting material and shelter for ground-dwelling wildlife.

Common questions

When does slender hairgrass bloom?: Slender hairgrass typically flowers from June through August, producing thin, airy panicles above the narrow leaf blades.
How much sun does slender hairgrass need?: It grows best with part sun but can handle a range from full sun to part shade, especially in cooler or higher elevation sites.
How much water does slender hairgrass need once established?: Established plants get by on low water and are fairly drought tolerant, though they can also handle occasional medium moisture in well drained soil.
What kind of habitat does slender hairgrass grow in?: Look for it in open meadows, dry slopes, forest clearings, and rocky or sandy soils at low to mid elevations.
Is slender hairgrass good for a low maintenance garden?: Yes, as a compact bunchgrass with low water needs and modest size, it works well in dry meadow plantings or as a filler grass with minimal upkeep.
Is Slender Hairgrass toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Slender Hairgrass as toxic to livestock.
Is Slender Hairgrass HOA-friendly?: Slender Hairgrass is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

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