Chionochloa conspicua
Glory of the snow, Tussock grass, Plumed tussock grass, Hunangamoho grass
- Height × spread
- 1.5m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Winter, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
One of the New Zealand tussock grasses, this makes a good early flowering clump. The grass is stiff in habit early in the year, softening to a pretty rounded mound of fine arching leaves as the season advances. The flowers come during July and August,: white plumes mature to a soft, golden, very open spangly inflorescence. The overall effect of the plant is like a rather ghostly, fine limbed pampas grass. Its fine lines make it well suited to a site near water. It stands around 1.5m (5ft) high and likes a well drained sunny site.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Yellow
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 1.5m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Winter, Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bird attraction
- Hazards
- No
AutumnNow
Autumn - mid · Planting
Deadhead to tidy for winter
Tidy the plant to make the garden ready for winter. When the flowering season concludes around mid-autumn, cut off the flowered stems to their base.
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.