Tufted Hairgrass
Deschampsia cespitosa
Last reviewed: June 2026
Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org, last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–48" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, CT and 29 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles, flies
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Tufted hairgrass is an elegant, cool-season bunchgrass with fine-textured foliage and airy, bronze-tinged flower plumes that appear in summer. It forms neat, rounded clumps of slender green leaves that provide year-round structure and movement in gardens.
In an HOA neighborhood
Tufted Hairgrass is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone, backyard only.
- Seed heads may be perceived as untidy if not trimmed after flowering
Wildlife value
The seeds provide food for small birds, while the structure offers shelter for beneficial insects. During its summer bloom period, it attracts various pollinators including bees, beetles, and flies.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Does Tufted Hairgrass fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.