Plant care
Pheasant's Tail Grasstemperature & humidity
Anemanthele lessoniana
More about pheasant's tail grass
Ideal temperature for pheasant's tail grass
Aim for -8°C to 30°C (18°F to 86°F) on the thermostat and you've handled the easy part. The hard part is the half-metre around the plant: window glass that drops to near-freezing on a January night, a radiator pumping out hot dry air, a draught from an opened front door. Move the plant 30 cm and you've usually fixed the problem. Below roughly -8°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Pheasant's Tail Grass is comparatively hardy (USDA 8-11, RHS H4). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for pheasant's tail grass
Pheasant's Tail Grass sits happiest at around Low to moderate (30–60%) relative humidity. Adapted to the breezy, moderate-humidity conditions of New Zealand; grows well in coastal UK gardens and is indifferent to atmospheric humidity levels in temperate climates. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Pheasant's Tail Grass temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for pheasant's tail grass?
Pheasant's Tail Grass grows best between -8°C to 30°C (18°F to 86°F). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can pheasant's tail grass tolerate?
Pheasant's Tail Grass starts to suffer below roughly -8°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 8-11, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does pheasant's tail grass need?
Pheasant's Tail Grass prefers about Low to moderate (30–60%) relative humidity. Adapted to the breezy, moderate-humidity conditions of New Zealand; grows well in coastal UK gardens and is indifferent to atmospheric humidity levels in temperate climates.
How do I raise humidity for pheasant's tail grass?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can pheasant's tail grass live outside?
Pheasant's Tail Grass is rated for USDA zone 8-11 and RHS hardiness H4. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More pheasant's tail grass care
In the UK? Keeping pheasant's tail grass warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full pheasant's tail grass care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.