Hystrix patula

RHS Plant Profile
spreading bottlebrush grass

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Hystrix patula?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
spreading bottlebrush grass RHS 2002
Grass Like
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
3 Suppliers

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

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Poaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
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