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Sesleria autumnalis (Autumn Moor Grass)
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© Anton Gjeldum, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · iNaturalist
Grasses

Sesleria autumnalis

Autumn Moor Grass

Poaceae
S Europe (Italy, Balkans, Turkey; limestone meadows, rocky grasslands, open woodlands; chartreuse-green evergreen mound; shade-tolerant grass; z5)

Learn more

At a Glance

TypeGrass
HabitMounding
FoliageEvergreen
Height12-18 inches (30-45 cm)
Width12-18 inches (30-45 cm)
Maturity3 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 9
Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Sesleria autumnalis is an evergreen perennial grass reaching 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) tall with a spread of 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) and a dense, mounding, clump-forming habit. Native to southern Europe—Italy, the Balkans, and into Turkey—in limestone meadows and open woodlands, it produces narrow, chartreuse-green to yellow-green leaves 0.25 inch (6 mm) wide that form a dense, arching mound. Silvery-white flower spikes 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) long appear above the foliage in August-October on slender stems. Growth rate is moderate. Hardy to zone 5. The chartreuse-green foliage is the primary feature—brighter than most grasses and maintaining color well into winter. Cool-season grass that greens up early in spring. Tolerates more shade than most ornamental grasses. Non-invasive clumper.

Native Range

Sesleria autumnalis is native to southern Europe—Italy, the Balkans, and into Turkey—in limestone meadows, rocky grasslands, and open woodlands.

Suggested Uses

Planted in borders, mass plantings, or as groundcover at 12-18 inch (30-45 cm) spacing. Chartreuse-green evergreen mound. Silvery autumn flower spikes. Shade-tolerant grass. Non-invasive clumper. Limestone-tolerant. Cool-season—early spring green. Not suitable for wet soils or deep shade.

How to Identify

Distinguished from other ornamental grasses by the chartreuse-green to yellow-green (versus blue-green or plain green) foliage, the autumn bloom timing, and the dense mounding evergreen habit. Distinguished from Hakonechloa by the upright mounding (versus cascading) habit. Autumn moor grass—chartreuse-green evergreen mound, silvery autumn spikes, shade-tolerant, non-invasive.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 1'6"
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~7 weeks
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SummerFall
Silvery-white flower spikes 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) on slender stems, August-October. Spikes emerge above the chartreuse-green mound. Bloom duration 6-8 weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Silvery-white; slender spikes 2-3 inches; above foliage; Aug-Oct

Foliage Description

Chartreuse-green to yellow-green; narrow 0.25 inch; dense arching mound; evergreen

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full SunPartial Shade
Requires 4-8 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
loamclaychalk
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

Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained, average to lean soil (pH 6.0-8.0). Hardy to zone 5. Tolerates alkaline soil—limestone origin. Cool-season grass—greens early, holds color into winter. Tolerates more shade than most grasses. Cut back in late winter before new growth.

Pruning

Cut back to 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) in late winter before new growth emerges. The evergreen foliage may look good into winter—delay cutting if presentable.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic