Proven Winners® Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass

Add Colorful Motion with Northern Lights!

Breezy beauty meets glowing garden interest with the Proven Winners® Graceful Grasses® Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa 'Northern Lights'). This award-winning cool-season grass is beloved for its tidy clumping habit, arching foliage, and ever-changing color palette. The fine, variegated blades emerge light green with creamy-white edges, developing a rosy-pink blush in spring and again in fall, adding seasonal flair without flowers. It’s both graceful and low-maintenance!

The narrow blades stand upright, then gently arch at their tips, swaying in the breeze for a calming, see-through texture. Rising above the foliage in late spring to early summer, delicate seed panicles catch sunlight and glimmer like sparkling mist. Compact and tidy, this Hairgrass only grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for small spaces or containers!

A member of the Poaceae family, Northern Lights Hairgrass brings elegant movement, season-long variegation, and soft texture that complements bold blooms and structural perennials. Tufted Hairgrass also carries cultural symbolism of resilience and subtle beauty, and Ma Nature surely outdid herself here.

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Key Features

• Cool-season, clump-forming ornamental grass
• Rosy-pink blush develops in spring and fall
• Variegated blades with light green centers and creamy-white margins
• Airy seed panicles rise above foliage to catch the sun
• Compact habit is great for containers and garden beds
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Low-maintenance and adaptable

Landscaping Uses

This compact, clumping grass grows 12–24 inches tall and wide and adds airy elegance to gardens and containers.

• Use as a Thriller in containers or patio planters
• Line pathways with soft, waving motion
• Plant en masse in zigzag or drift patterns
• Add to cottage garden borders or prairie-style plantings
• Soften the edges of hardscapes or boulders
• Pair with flowering perennials or Coneflowers
• Tuck into rock garden settings for contrast and movement

Care and Maintenance

Native to cooler northern climates and hardy from USDA growing zones 5 through 9, this ornamental grass thrives in partial shade to full sun and adapts well to different garden styles.

Northern Lights is a clump-forming, cool-season ornamental grass that’s both tough and beautiful. It prefers cool weather and delivers peak color early and late in the season.

• Planting Time: Spring or fall - Learn how to plant Ornamental Grass here.
• Sun Needs: Full sun to part shade (at least 4 hours of direct sun for the best color)
• Soil Needs: Well-drained soil; tolerates clay or average garden loam; prefers good drainage
• Moisture Needs: Average; water regularly the first year, using the Finger Test
• Mulch: Apply a 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature
• Fertilization Needs: Low; light compost in spring is often enough
• Pruning Info: Trim back old foliage in early spring before new growth emerges
• Renewal Pruning: Not necessary due to tidy clumping habit
• Special Needs/Perks/Growing Tips and Tricks For Success:
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Pest and disease resistant
• Handles humidity and cold
• Thrives in urban settings and hellstrips with good drainage
• Tolerates a range of soil pH levels
• Division Info: Divide every 3-4 years in early spring or fall to maintain vigor

Let Hairgrass Light the Way

You’ll blush at the sight of the Proven Winners® Northern Lights Tufted Hairgrass glowing through your garden. Whether dancing in a container, bordering a walkway, or softening a bed of bold perennials, this airy grass delivers elegance with ease. Hardy, deer-resistant, and low-fuss, this stunner will light up your landscape for years to come. Buy now and Nature Hills will ship at the appropriate planting time for your growing zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Northern Lights Hairgrass a perennial?
Yes, it is an herbaceous perennial that returns year after year in zones 4 through 9.

When should I prune Tufted Hairgrass?
Wait until early spring and cut back before new growth begins to enjoy winter interest.

Can Tufted Hairgrass grow in shade?
Yes, it handles partial shade but forms the tightest clumps and most vibrant color in full sun.

How big does Northern Lights Hairgrass get?
It grows about 18 to 24 inches tall and wide, forming a neat clump.

Is Tufted Hairgrass good for containers?
Absolutely! Its compact size and flowing habit make it a fantastic container Thriller.

Do I need to deadhead Tufted Hairgrass?
No deadheading is required.

Why Order From Nature Hills Nursery?
Nature Hills Nursery is committed to bringing the highest-quality plants to your door. Join thousands of happy customers and get all your planting needs at Nature Hills! We guarantee our plants for their first year! Check out lifelong support and landscaping ideas in our #ProPlantTips Garden Blog!