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Deschampsia cespitosa
Tufted Hairgrass
At a Glance: Densely tufted perennial grass.
Height: Up to 4 feet (120 cm) tall.
Growth Form: Graminoid.
Leaves: Flat to folded, narrow, rather stiff; no auricles; prominent ligules, pointed, 3-8 mm long; size: 2-4 mm wide by 8-20 cm (3-8 in) long; color: green.
Flowers: Many minute flowers in an open, loose panicle 8-35 cm long, often nodding, silky. Spikelets bronze and glistening, usually darkening at maturity, 2-3 flowered. Lemmas thin (4mm long), hairy at base, awned from near base.
Flowering Period: June.
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Prefers full sun.
 full sun > 80%  mostly sunny 60%-80% partial sun and shade 40%- 60% mostly shady 60%-80% full shade > 80%
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Can no tolerate year-round inundation.
wet moist dry
Wetland Indicator Status:
FACW (facultative wetland) |
Common at all elevations.
low elevation mid elevation sub-alpine high elevation
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| Grows vigorously in nutrient-rich sites. |
sandy soils gravelly soils clay soils muddy soils peaty soils |
well drained soils shallow soils deep soils acidic soils basic soils |
humic soils nutrient rich soils nutrient poor soils mineral soils organic soils |
Aquatic and Wetland:
Ponds or lakes Shallow pools Sloughs Swales or wet ditches Seasonally inundated areas Marshes or swamps Aquatic bed wetlands Emergent wetlands Scrub-shrub wetlands Forested wetlands Bogs, fens Seeps, springs
Lake shores Bog margins Streams or rivers Stream or river banks Riparian corridors River bars Floodplains Bottomlands Alluvial areas |
Saltwater Areas:
In or near saltwater Mud flats Tidal areas Estuaries Saltmarshes Brackish water Seashores Coastal dunes or beaches
Coastal bluffs Cliffs Rocky slopes Outcrops Crevices Glacial outwash Gullies Slide areas
Heaths Snow beds Tundra Avalanche tracks |
Forests and Thickets:
Forests and woods Open forests Coniferous forests Old growth forests Deciduous forests Mixed forests Nurse logs Forest edges, openings, or clearings Thickets
Pastures or fields Meadows or grassy areas Mossy areas
Roadsides Trailsides Logged sites Burned areas Disturbed sites |
Berries Seeds Nectar for hummingbirds Nectar for butterflies Host for insect larvae Thickets and shelter Thorny or protective cover
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Birds: Dense hummocks provide nesting foliage. The stems and flower stalks tend to remain upright all winter providing perching spots for songbirds.
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Suggested References
- Cooke, S.S. A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northwetern Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society and Washington Native Plant Society. Page 324.
- Guard, B.J. 1995. Wetland Plants of Oregon & Washington. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 149.
- Link, R. 1999. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Page 286.
- Pojar, J., A. Mackinnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 84.
The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from the Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.
