Gossamer Grass

Botanical name: Anemanthele lessoniana
Synonyms: Oryzopsis lessoniana, Stipa arundinacea, Dichelachne procera
Common name(s): Gossamer Grass, Wind Grass, Pheasant’s Tail Grass

Plant facts:
A graceful and highly ornamental New Zealand native grass valued for its flowing foliage and shimmering airy seed heads. Foliage develops rich bronze, orange, copper and gold tones, especially in dry conditions, making it one of New Zealand’s most widely cultivated native grasses for landscaping and garden design.

Natural habitat:
Occurs naturally in forest margins, scrub, rocky cliffs, talus slopes and open dry forest from coastal to montane environments.

Growing environment:
Sun, Semi-shade, Dry soil, Shelter & Free draining tolerant.
Thrives in warm free-draining soils and performs especially well in dry exposed positions.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand.
Found in parts of the North Island including Northland, Waikato and the southern North Island, and throughout much of the eastern South Island from Nelson and Marlborough southward.

Height:
Approximately 60–75 cm tall

Width:
Approximately 60–90 cm wide

Growth habit:
A dense tufted perennial grass with arching foliage and airy nodding flower panicles.

Leaves:
Fine stiff leaves arching gracefully outward, green flushed with bronze, orange, copper and reddish tones.

Flowers / seed heads:
Produces delicate nodding purplish-green to reddish panicles on slender stems that shimmer and move freely in wind.

Flower colours:
Green, Purple-red, Bronze

Flowering:
Mainly January–March

Fruiting:
Typically February–May

Ecology:
A naturally uncommon species adapted to dry open habitats and rocky forest margins. Seeds are dispersed by wind.

Uses:

• Feature ornamental grass
• Dry native gardens
• Contemporary landscaping
• Woodland edge planting
• Mass planting
• Textural contrast planting
• Pots and containers
• Coastal gardens

Appearance:

Growth form:
Forms elegant fountain-like clumps with flowing foliage and soft airy flower stems.

Leaves:
Long narrow leaves arch outward and change colour seasonally from green to bronze, orange and copper tones.

Seed heads:
Large open panicles create a delicate shimmering effect in wind and evening light.

Seasonal colour:
Colour intensifies during dry weather and cooler seasons, creating rich bronze and golden highlights.

How to grow:
Best planted in full sun or light semi-shade in free-draining soil. Particularly suited to dry gardens, banks and beneath open-canopied trees. Avoid permanently damp or poorly drained soils as plants resent excessive moisture. Very easy from fresh seed and often self-seeds freely in suitable conditions. Requires little maintenance apart from occasional removal of old foliage.

Propagation:
Easily grown from fresh seed or division of established clumps.

Similar species:
Distinctive within New Zealand flora due to its flowing habit and airy nodding panicles. Occasionally confused with introduced ornamental grasses but easily recognised by its delicate bronze foliage and single-stamened florets.

Garden value:
One of New Zealand’s finest ornamental native grasses, prized for movement, texture and changing foliage colour. Ideal for modern native landscapes, dry woodland gardens and mixed perennial plantings where it provides year-round structure and soft naturalistic form.