Heath grass.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial grass

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

30 cm

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 9

Bloom time

Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged to mimic its natural damp habitat. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil pH has become too alkaline for this acid loving grass. It is quite hardy and requires very little maintenance once established in the right spot.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during active growth periods.

Feeding

Apply a light, balanced fertilizer once in early spring if the soil is very poor.

Pruning

Trim back dead foliage in late winter or early spring to make room for new growth.

Repotting

Repot only when the clump becomes too crowded or the roots fill the container.

Soil

Acidic, nutrient poor, well draining soil

Soil pH

4.5 to 6.5

Temperature

-34 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 80%

Safety

People

There is no known toxicity to humans.

Children

The blades can be sharp and may cause minor paper-like cuts on sensitive skin.

Contact allergens

The leaves have fine hairs that can cause mild skin irritation if handled frequently.

Airborne allergens

Like many grasses, the pollen can trigger hay fever in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.

Edibility

This grass is not considered edible for humans.

How to identify it

• Tufted, low growing perennial habit
• Narrow, hairy leaf blades
• Short, compact panicle inflorescences
• Cleistogamous flowers hidden within leaf sheaths

Height

0.15 to 0.4m

Spread

0.2 to 0.4m

Leaves

green, gray-green, evergreen

Flowers

green, purple, 0.5 to 1cm

Problems to watch for

• Rust · Fungal spots may appear on leaves during periods of high humidity and poor air circulation.

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Plant this grass in groups of three or five to create a naturalistic look in a heath-style garden.

Grows well with

• Heather · They share a preference for the same acidic, low-nutrient soil conditions.
• Sheep's Fescue · This grass provides a nice textural contrast while thriving in similar dry, sunny spots.

Similar species

• Purple Moor Grass · It also prefers acidic soils but grows much taller than heath grass.

Science

Family

Poaceae

Genus

Danthonia

Order

Poales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Europe and parts of Western Asia.

Conservation

It is common in its native range and not of conservation concern.

It survives in infertile, acidic soils by forming symbiotic relationships with fungi in its roots to help gather nutrients.

Value to wildlife

larval host plant, seeds for birds

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

rock gardens, meadow plantings, erosion control, wildlife gardens

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does this grass need mowing?

No, it stays quite low and is best left to grow naturally in a meadow or rock garden setting.

Can I grow this in a container?

It is better suited for the ground, but it can grow in a large, well-draining pot if kept in a cool spot.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Danthonia honors the French botanist Étienne Danthoine, while the species name decumbens describes its low, spreading growth habit.

Good to know

• It is often called heath grass because it thrives in acidic, nutrient-poor heathland soils.
• The species name decumbens refers to the stems that lie along the ground before curving upward.
• It is a slow growing grass that does not aggressively spread like some lawn species.