Hystrix patula
“Bottlebrush Grass”

Here’s a grass for shade! It has really cool flower stalks. The “flowers” are held well apart from each other & at angles which create quite a dramatic texture in the garden. The foliage consists of clumps of wide upright leaves that can take on a tropical look. The entire plant gets to be about 3-4’ tall with the flowers held about 1-1/2-2’ above the foliage. The bloom starts out green & ages to gold. It’s a good one for dried flower arrangements. Blooms in Summer & looks great backlit by the sun. Native to North America, east of the Rockies, found growing in most prairies. The word hystrix is Greek for “porcupine”, referring to how the flower can resemble porcupine quills.

Kelly Kilpatrick
Propagator