Pheasant's tail grass

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates. Foliage usually develops stronger orange and copper colours in sun.

Water

Water regularly during establishment. Once established, it tolerates some dry weather, but prolonged drought can brown the foliage.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including loam, sand or chalk; tolerates moderately poor soil but dislikes winter waterlogging.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Flowers

Summer into early autumn; loose, fine sprays of pinkish-purple flowers mature to buff seed heads.

Foliage

Narrow, arching green leaves develop streaks and patches of orange, copper and reddish brown. Usually evergreen in mild climates, but exposed foliage may suffer winter damage.

Growth

Fast

Care needed

Low

• Water through the first growing season whenever the root zone becomes dry.
• Choose a freely draining position; avoid low spots that stay wet through winter.
• Feed only if growth is weak; rich soil and heavy feeding encourage overly soft growth.
• Keep mulch clear of the crown.
• Remove unwanted seedlings while small, and retain a few to replace ageing clumps.

Pruning. In early spring, gently comb out loose dead foliage with gloved hands and remove old flower stems at their bases. Avoid cutting the whole clump to ground level, as this evergreen grass may recover poorly.

Early spring

Comb out dead leaves and cut away old flower stems without cutting into the living crown.

Spring

Plant new clumps after severe frosts have passed and water them in thoroughly.

Late spring

Lift unwanted seedlings or move small seedlings to replace older plants.

Summer

Water young plants during dry spells; give established clumps a deep watering if drought persists.

Late summer

Remove flower stems before seed ripens if you want to limit self-seeding.

Autumn

Leave healthy foliage standing for winter colour and check that the crown is not buried under wet leaves.

• Repeat loose groups through perennial borders to connect flowering plants with fine, moving foliage.
• Plant beside paths where arching leaves can soften edges without blocking access.
• Use beneath lightly shaded trees and shrubs to brighten the planting with copper tones.
• Combine with dark-leaved perennials or blue and purple flowers for a clear colour contrast.
• Grow in a large, well-drained container where its fountain-shaped habit can be seen.

Garden styles it suits: New perennial (prairie), Woodland, Cottage garden, Dry gravel garden, Autumn colour and Coastal.

Plant it with: Purple coneflower, Catmint, Verbena bonariensis, Heuchera, Japanese anemone and Hardy geranium.

Wildlife: The dense foliage provides shelter for small invertebrates. Like other grasses, its flowers are wind-pollinated rather than a significant nectar source.

• Crown rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or replant in a raised position, keeping mulch away from the crown.
• Brown foliage after severe frost: leave damaged leaves until spring, then remove dead material; replace plants if the crown has died.
• Scorched or prematurely brown leaves during prolonged drought: water deeply and provide afternoon shade in hot locations.
• Excessive self-seeding: remove flower stems before seed ripens and pull seedlings promptly.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as poisonous, although species-specific toxicity information is limited and it should not be treated as an edible plant.

• Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima)

  Has much finer, hair-like leaves and conspicuous pale, feathery flower heads; it lacks the broad copper-orange streaking typical of pheasant's tail grass.

• Orange New Zealand sedge (Carex testacea)

  Usually forms a lower mound with more uniformly olive-orange foliage and inconspicuous flowers, rather than the tall, airy flower sprays of pheasant's tail grass.

• New Zealand hair sedge (Carex comans)

  Forms a lower, denser tuft of very fine, often curling leaves, with small, unobtrusive flower spikes rather than open clouds of flowers.

The common name refers to the copper, russet and green foliage, which resembles the colouring of a pheasant's tail.

Propagation. Sow fresh seed in containers in spring, or transplant young self-sown seedlings. Small, vigorous clumps can be divided in spring, but large old clumps often establish poorly after division.

Accepted botanical name

Anemanthele lessoniana

Native range

New Zealand North and New Zealand South.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.