Pheasant's Tail Grass
Pheasant's Tail Grass is an arching New Zealand evergreen whose olive blades streak orange, amber and red year-round, intensifying with cold and stress into a permanent autumn.
Last reviewed: October 2026
AI illustration Overview
Pheasant's Tail Grass is an arching New Zealand evergreen whose olive blades streak orange, amber and red year-round, intensifying with cold and stress into a permanent autumn. For mild-winter gardens it is the finest colored-foliage grass there is. (Anemanthele lessoniana.)
Origin & Natural Habitat
Forest margins and rocky slopes of New Zealand; short-lived but self-renewing. Hardy zones 8-10 (7 with shelter).
Appearance
A flowing fountain 60-90 cm of fine evergreen blades in olive-bronze streaked flame; gauzy purplish flower sprays in summer; the whole plant deepens to embers in winter cold.
Why People Grow It - Qualities & Benefits
- Year-round orange-bronze color: no other grass sustains it
- Evergreen movement and softness
- Light shade tolerance unusual in colored grasses
- Gauzy summer flowering as a bonus
Care
Light: Sun for the strongest fire; happily bright part shade (a little greener).
Water: Average to low; dislikes winter waterlogging.
Soil: Any drained soil.
Temperature & Hardiness: Zones 8-10 reliably; a sheltered wall spot pushes 7. Colder = grow as a magnificent 2-3 year container plant.
Feeding: Little - lean keeps the color hot.
Maintenance: Comb out dead blades; never hard-cut an evergreen fountain. Individual plants live 4-6 years but self-sow modestly - keep a seedling or two coming as understudies (in NZ-adjacent mild climates watch that seeding politely).
Planting & Propagation
Self-sown seedlings transplant perfectly at small size; seed germinates readily. Division is possible young, pointless old - succession by seedling is the species' own plan.
Common Problems & Pests
- Winter kill beyond zone 8
- Short individual lifespan: plan understudies
- Modest self-seeding (usually welcome, occasionally not)
Toxicity & Safety
Not on the ASPCA lists. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's plant lists for cats and dogs have no entry for this plant, and we have no other checked source either way. If a pet chews it and seems unwell, call your vet or a pet poison helpline.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Permanent sunset coloring
- Evergreen grace
- Takes light shade
- Self-renewing colony
Cons
- Tender past zone 8
- Individuals fade by year 5
- Needs combing, not cutting
Best Suited For
- Mild-climate mixed borders
- Big containers (anywhere, summered out)
- Slopes and banks in flowing drifts
- Color-echo schemes with copper and rust
FAQ
Why is mine mostly green?
Youth, shade or rich living - the fire comes with sun, lean soil, maturity and cold snaps. Winter is its best month.
My 5-year-old plant looks tired - revive it?
No: replace it with one of its own seedlings (there will be some nearby). Short individual life, immortal colony - work with the design.
Can I grow it in zone 6?
As a container plant overwintered in a cold porch, beautifully - in the ground it's a one-winter annual there.
Gear for growing pheasant's tail grass
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