Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Deschampsia cespitosa 'Pixie Fountain'
Pixie Fountain Tufted Hair Grass

- Family
- Poaceae
- Height
- 18 to 24 inches
- Width
- 12 to 24 inches
- Flower color
- Silvery-white, fading to golden-honey
- Foliage color
- Silver-green
- Bloom time
- Late summer
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Maintenance
- Low; forms dense evergreen clumps
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 2 to 7
- Wildlife
- Birds are attracted to seed heads
About this plant
Deschampsia cespitosa 'Pixie Fountain' is a graceful ornamental grass known for its delicate, airy flower heads that appear in late summer and persist into the fall. The fine-textured, arching green foliage creates a soft, fountain-like effect, making it an ideal choice for naturalistic gardens or as an accent plant in mixed borders. Its flowers, initially green, turn golden as they mature, adding seasonal interest.
Originating from temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, this variety is a compact form of the species commonly known as tufted hairgrass. It blooms in late summer, with feathery, light golden panicles emerging from slender stems that contrast beautifully with the plant's mounding base. 'Pixie Fountain' maintains a tidy and well-formed shape, with an elegant, cascading growth habit that enhances garden textures throughout the seasons.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Bird Gardens · Rain Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas · Ferns · Astilbes · Foxgloves
Design tip
Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
