Chionochloa Rubra

Chionochloa rubra
Common Names: Red tussock
Family: Poaceae
Origin: New Zealand (endemic)
Plant Type: Evergreen, clump-forming tussock grass

Overview:
Iconic NZ red tussock forming large, graceful mounds of fine, bronze-red foliage. Adds movement, texture, and year-round colour to naturalistic plantings, meadows, and modern landscapes.

Key Features:
Foliage: Narrow, arching leaves in copper-bronze to red tones; intensifies colour in cool weather
Flowers / Fruit: Tall airy panicles in summer–autumn, providing haze-like seed heads and habitat value
Form & Habit: Large, upright fountain forming dense tussocks
Growth Rate: Moderate
Cultural & Ecological Value: Excellent for biodiversity plantings; shelter and food source for insects and birds; suitable for restoration in cool/moist sites

Mature Size:
Attribute Size
Height 1.0–1.5 m (to ~1.8 m in ideal sites)
Spread 1.0–1.5 m
Form Large, upright clump/tussock

Ideal Growing Conditions:
Requirement Detail
Light Full sun (light shade acceptable in warmer districts)
Water Moderate; prefers consistent moisture; more drought-tolerant once established in cool climates
Soil Free-draining, preferably humus-rich; tolerates poor/acid peaty soils; avoid prolonged waterlogging
pH Range Neutral to acidic
Frost Tolerance Hardy; tolerates wind and cold

Landscaping & Garden Uses:
Naturalistic meadows, mass plantings, and restoration projects
Textural contrast with flaxes, hebes, and native shrubs
Slope/stabilisation plantings and large borders
Feature clumps along drives or in open, exposed sites

Care & Maintenance:
Pruning: Minimal; comb out dead foliage or lightly tidy in late winter
Watering: Keep evenly moist while establishing; occasional deep watering in dry spells thereafter
Feeding: Generally low-fertility needs; light organic feed in spring only if growth is poor
Pests & Diseases: Generally pest- and disease-resistant

Additional Tips:
Allow space for mature size and air movement; colour is strongest in open, cooler positions. Avoid heavy summer drought in hot inland sites.

Fun Fact / Botanical Insight:
Red tussock once formed vast upland landscapes in NZ’s South Island; its bronzy tones are a defining feature of high-country scenery.

Why Choose Chionochloa rubra?
A dramatic, low-maintenance native grass delivering movement, structure, and copper-red colour year-round—ideal for large-scale or naturalistic designs.

Pot Size:
These are our large size in 9 cm square pots