Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Hystrix patula

spreading bottlebrush grass

A deciduous perennial grass forming a loose clump of linear leaves, with loose, light green, bottlebrush-like flower spikes in early autumn

Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or East–facing or South–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Poaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Tufted
Genus

Hystrix are tall, deciduous perennial grasses with broadly linear leaves and erect stems bearing very long-awned flowering spikes in summer

Name status

Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in a moisture retentive but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Good for moist woodland edges

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring or by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Remove dead foliage and old flowered stems in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.