Sesleria autumnalis is a cool season ornamental grass prized for its bright chartreuse foliage and tidy clumping form. It brings a vibrant soft texture to gardens with subtle silvery flower spikes emerging late in the season.
Height & Spread: 12 - 18 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Late summer to fall
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Well drained soils; tolerant of clay and alkaline conditions
Watering Needs: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Native Status
This species is native to central and southern Europe. While not native to North America, it is widely used for its ornamental value and adaptability.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Beneficial Insects
- Provides shelter and overwintering habitat for ground beetles and other predatory insects that aid in pest control.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to form tidy clumps or a low drift in mass plantings.
Landscape Placement
- Well suited for borders, underplanting shrubs, alongside walkways, or between stepping stones. Useful in modern, minimalist designs and shade tolerant plantings.
Companion Plants
- Amsonia hubrichtii (Arkansas Blue Star) - Offers fine, feathery foliage and golden fall color in sunny borders.
- Stachys byzantina (Lambs Ear) - Adds silvery foliage for a bold contrast in sun or part shade settings.
- Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride' - Adds broad, soft green foliage and fall blooms for texture contrast in shade.
- Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' - Provides vertical interest and a reddish hue that plays off Sesleria’s chartreuse tones.
- Geranium 'Rozanne' - Offers trailing habit and violet blue flowers that complement the grassy texture of Sesleria.