Spodiopogon sibiricus , or Frost grass, is an perennial ornamental grass that grows best in moist, well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or light shade. It will not do well in hot, dry sites and the colorful grass, which turns from green to red and burgundy in the fall, will be dull if it does not receive enough light. Frost grass has a bamboo-like quality and the foliage can create bold patterns with purplish or wine tints late in the season. This is a clumping grass and, unlike some ornamental grasses, is not considered invasive. Frost grass grows best in full sun to light shade with a moist, well-drained soil. It does poorly in hot, dry situations and too much shade produces floppy growth. This is a warm season grass, so its most active growth occurs in summer. It remains upright in winter and can act as winter interest. Because it remains attractive through winter, do not cut it back until early spring before new growth begins. At that time, it can be cut down to the ground. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pests or disease. This plant cannot tolerate drought. Frost grass does poorly in hot climates and needs to be sited where it will get daytime relief from a hot sun.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Green leaves often turn red and burgundy in the fall. Leaves are 5 to 13 inches long and up to 3/4 of an inch wide.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Good Dried; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Raceme
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Erect panicles tipped by raceme in late summer, lack appreciable color but covered with small hairs. Attractive until October, but can last into February. The flowers are 3 to 4 inches wide, 8 to 12 inches long and rise 14 to 18 inches above the foliage, giving a very airy quality.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer; Winter
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Siberia to Japan and China. Southeaster temperate Asia.