Red tussock grass

Sun

Full sun gives the strongest colour; tolerates light shade.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Once established, it tolerates short dry spells but grows best with reasonably consistent moisture.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil, including clay improved to prevent stagnant winter wet. Tolerates acidic to neutral soils and relatively low fertility.

Height

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m), including flower stems

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Loose, airy panicles of small tan to brown flowers in summer; flowering can be sparse in cultivation.

Foliage

Evergreen. Very narrow, arching leaves in copper, reddish brown and bronze, often with greener tones near the base. Colour varies with growing conditions and individual plants.

Growth

Slow to moderate; takes several years to form a substantial tussock.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.1 ft (0.35 m)

2. After 1 year

   2 ft (0.61 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.9 ft (0.87 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.1 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.2 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply through dry spells during the first growing season.
• Leave enough space for the mature leaves to arch without covering paths or neighbouring plants.
• Apply a thin compost mulch in spring, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Avoid heavy feeding, which can encourage soft growth and reduce the plant's compact outline.
• Divide only when necessary; large, established tussocks can be difficult to split and slow to recover.

Pruning. In spring, wear gloves and gently comb or cut out dead leaves and spent flower stems. Do not routinely cut the whole evergreen tussock to the ground; recovery can be slow.

Spring

Remove dead foliage and old flower stems without cutting through healthy leaves.

Spring

Plant new specimens after severe frost has passed; water thoroughly and mulch lightly.

Late spring

If propagation is needed, divide a healthy clump as growth resumes and water the divisions carefully.

Summer

Water young plants during dry weather and check that surrounding plants are not crowding the crown.

Autumn

Leave healthy foliage standing for winter colour and structure.

Winter

Check drainage after prolonged rain, especially in heavy soil or containers.

• Plant in repeated groups beside a broad path for a flowing, copper-coloured edge.
• Use as a specimen in gravel or among boulders, with moisture available beneath the surface.
• Combine with upright perennials such as asters and purple moor grass for contrasting shapes.
• Pair with New Zealand flax and hebes in mild coastal gardens for an evergreen planting with varied leaf textures.

Garden styles it suits: Modern, Architectural minimal, New perennial (prairie), Coastal, Winter interest and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: New Zealand flax, Hebe, Purple moor grass, Siberian iris and Michaelmas daisy.

Wildlife: Dense tussocks provide shelter for insects and other small animals. Like other grasses, its flowers are wind-pollinated rather than a significant nectar source.

• Crown or root rot in stagnant soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a slightly raised position; keep mulch away from the crown.
• Browning and poor growth during prolonged drought or hot summers: water deeply and avoid sites that trap reflected heat.
• Winter damage in exposed, cold sites: choose a sheltered position and protect young plants during severe freezes.
• Slow recovery after hard cutting or division: retain healthy evergreen foliage and divide only when necessary.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as poisonous. Specific toxicity information is limited, and the tough leaves are not intended for eating.

• Snow tussock (Chionochloa conspicua)

  Usually has greener foliage and conspicuous pale, silky flower plumes, rather than the copper-red leaves and less showy brownish flowers of red tussock.

• Orange New Zealand sedge (Carex testacea)

  Usually forms a smaller mound with olive-green leaves turning orange, particularly at the tips. Its flowers are small sedge spikes rather than the branching grass panicles of red tussock.

• Pheasant's tail grass (Anemanthele lessoniana)

  Has broader, flatter leaves with mixed green, orange and red colouring, and fine, often pinkish flower sprays. Red tussock has narrower, more wiry leaves and a more substantial, upright-based tussock.

Chionochloa comes from Greek words for snow and grass, while rubra means red, referring to the reddish foliage.

Propagation. Sow ripe seed in containers in a cool, sheltered position; germination may be slow and uneven. Alternatively, divide in spring as growth resumes, keeping substantial rooted pieces and watering until established.

Accepted botanical name

Chionochloa rubra

Native range

New Zealand North and New Zealand South.

Measured

Average height 120 cm.

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