Ampelodesmos spp.

Mauritania grass

Poaceae

Western Mediterranean (Iberia, North Africa)

Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Ampelodesmos spp. is a genus of a single species, A. mauritanica, a large evergreen tussock grass native to the western Mediterranean. Plants form dense clumps of arching, rough-margined leaves 3-4 feet (90-120 cm) high, blue-green above and dull beneath, with edges sharp enough to cut skin. From early summer, flowering culms rise well above the foliage to 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m), each ending in a long, one-sided, drooping panicle that opens silvery green and dries to straw. The clumps stay evergreen in mild climates, holding their color through winter where temperatures stay above about 15 F (-9 C). The genus grows on dry, rocky Mediterranean hillsides and tolerates heat, drought, and lean soil once established, though hard frost browns the foliage and can kill plants in colder zones. Leaves have long been harvested for cordage, basketry, and paper pulp across North Africa and southern Spain. In some mild-winter regions outside its range the species self-sows and naturalizes. Plants reach flowering size in two to three years and are grown for the height and movement of their tall flowering stems.

Native Range

Native to the western Mediterranean Basin, including southern Spain, Italy, the Balearic Islands, and the coastal mountains of northwest Africa.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a tall specimen grass in dry, sunny gardens and on slopes for erosion control. Suited to Mediterranean and gravel plantings where its height and arching flower stems stand above lower plants. The cutting foliage and large size make it unsuited to narrow borders or paths.

How to Identify

Identified by very large, fountain-shaped clumps of arching evergreen blades with rough, cutting edges. Tall flowering culms overtop the foliage by several feet and carry narrow, one-sided panicles that nod at the tip. The drying panicles fade from silvery green to pale straw and persist into winter.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'

Width/Spread3' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering begins in early summer and continues into autumn. The arching panicles open silvery green and gradually dry to straw, holding on the plant for several months. Flowers are wind-pollinated and without petals.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

silvery green aging to straw

Foliage Description

blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun on sharp-draining soil of low to moderate fertility, including dry, rocky ground. They establish from container plants or division set out in spring, after which they need little water and no routine feeding. Established clumps tolerate drought, coastal exposure, and reflected heat. Cold below about 10-15 F (-12 to -9 C) browns or kills the foliage, so the species suits warm-temperate and Mediterranean climates. The leaf edges are abrasive and can cut skin, and self-sown seedlings may appear in mild-winter regions. Old clumps benefit from division to renew vigor.

Pruning

Dead leaves and spent flowering stems are removed in late winter before new growth begins. Evergreen clumps need no hard cutback; taking out only the browned material keeps the tussock intact. Old, hollow-centered clumps can be divided in spring to renew them.