Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's tail grass)
1 hour care
per year
per year
1m
Max height
Max height
1.2m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Anemanthele lessoniana
Other names
Pheasant's tail grass, New Zealand wind grass, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Stipa arundinacea
Genus
Anemanthele Anemanthele
Species
A. lessoniana - A. lessoniana is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen to evergreen grass, with arching, mid-green leaves, flushed red or orange in autumn, and airy, arching panicles of reddish-brown flower spikelets in late summer.
Anemanthele lessoniana is: Semi evergreen
Habit
Arching, Clump-forming
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Reddish-brown in Summer; Golden-yellow in Autumn
Foliage
Flushed orange, Flushed red in Summer; Flushed red, Flushed orange in Autumn; Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Pruning
Remove dead or damaged leaves in spring.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's tail grass) will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 1.2m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Beds and borders, City, Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Garden edging, Gravel, Low Maintenance, Prairie planting
Cultivation
Grow in light to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates clay and partial shade. Will tolerate temperatures down to -10C for a brief period of time.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Anemanthele lessoniana
Other names
Pheasant's tail grass, New Zealand wind grass, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Stipa arundinacea
Genus
Anemanthele Anemanthele
Species
A. lessoniana - A. lessoniana is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen to evergreen grass, with arching, mid-green leaves, flushed red or orange in autumn, and airy, arching panicles of reddish-brown flower spikelets in late summer.
Native to
New Zealand
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Arching, Clump-forming
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Reddish-brown in Summer; Golden-yellow in Autumn
Foliage
Flushed orange, Flushed red in Summer; Flushed red, Flushed orange in Autumn; Green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Pruning
Remove dead or damaged leaves in spring.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's tail grass) will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 1.2m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Beds and borders, City, Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Garden edging, Gravel, Low Maintenance, Prairie planting
Cultivation
Grow in light to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates clay and partial shade. Will tolerate temperatures down to -10C for a brief period of time.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By Oxfordshire based garden designer Richard Rogers.This south facing garden on the Buckinghamshire / Oxfordshire border blends contemporary design elements with traditional materials and clever… read more
Designed by garden designer Helen Elks-Smith MSGD. Traditional with a contemporary twist, this garden located on the outskirts of London is designed for relaxed family living and informal… read more
Designed by James Brunton-Smith. This is a relatively small urban garden, typical of many London gardens it is very much longer than it is wide. read more
By Hertfordshire based garden designer Judy Shardlow of Heartwood Garden Design. This garden was designed to create a relaxing traditional English garden and in particular to create a warm enclosed… read more
“There is nothing better than seeing a totally overgrown, wild and unruly garden that has the potential of being beautiful” - my thoughts when I first saw our garden ten years ago ...… read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Ornamental grass help
There are 0 active discussions about Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's tail grass)
View all discussions