Is Bottlebrush Grass deer resistant?

Hystrix patula

Bristly seed heads of bottlebrush grass — Photo by SB Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Seldom damaged

Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.

Rating source: Rutgers NJAES E271

Plant typeOrnamental grass HardinessZones 5–9 LightFull shade to part shade Mature height30–36 in BloomSummer and Fall

MaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone

Native range35 US states

About Bottlebrush Grass

Seed heads stick out at right angles like a bottlebrush, and it is one of the few native grasses that flowers well in shade.

Soil and care

Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
Drainage: Well drained
Water: Moderate
Spacing: 18 to 24 in apart
Growth rate: Moderate
Maintenance: Low

Similar to Bottlebrush Grass

Other ornamental grasss with the same deer rating.

Where Bottlebrush Grass grows

Hardy across 50 states on zone range alone, and native to 34 of them. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering. Select any state, including one it will not grow in, for what is resistant there.

Native and hardyHardy on zone rangeNot hardy — still linked

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Every list Bottlebrush Grass belongs to.

Hardy in these zones

Common questions about Bottlebrush Grass

Is Bottlebrush Grass deer resistant?: Bottlebrush Grass (Hystrix patula) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
What hardiness zones does Bottlebrush Grass grow in?: Bottlebrush Grass is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
Does Bottlebrush Grass grow in shade?: Yes. Bottlebrush Grass tolerates full shade to part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
How big does Bottlebrush Grass get?: Mature height is roughly 30–36 in. Growth rate is moderate.