Ampelodesmos mauritanicus

Ampelodesmos mauritanicus, also known as Mauritanian Grass, Mauritanian Reed or Diss, is a majestic evergreen grass native to the Mediterranean basin, perfectly adapted to dry and coastal areas. This rhizomatous perennial plant is interesting for its hardiness, its imposing fountain-like growth of a beautiful light green colour which is decorative even in winter, as well as its long-lasting decorative flowering. Give it a prime location in full sun, in the curve of a pathway, on a slope or in a large rockery, it will be highly noticeable there!

Ampelodesmos mauritanicus belongs to the Poaceae family. This botanical species has been renamed Ampelodesmos tenax, Arundo tenax and more recently Tenax ampelodesmos. It is a plant native to Mediterranean Europe, but also to North Africa where it is called Diss. Its stump, once well established, withstands brief frosts of around -10 to -12°C (14 °F), severe droughts and fire. And its vegetation perfectly tolerates sea spray.

Mauritanian Ampelodesme has a dense fibrous, rhizomatous turf. Its growth is quite slow, but this grass eventually forms a large clump over 1 metre in diameter, composed of thin and flexible leaves, upright at the base and gracefully trailing, in a beautiful light green colour with a slight bluish hue, which persist throughout winter. Flowering occurs between early June and early July, depending on the climate. Powerful floral stems rise up to 3 metres (10 feet) in height. At their tip, loose panicles of yellow-green spikelets quickly turn golden. They have the fineness and elegance of those of Stipa gigantea, but they appear much earlier. While this flowering may not be spectacular, it has the advantage of withstanding bad weather and the passage of time: it remains decorative throughout winter.

This majestic Mauritanian grass should be grown in a very well-drained , even rocky or sandy soil which is slightly acidic to calcareous. It is not afraid of a rich and deep soil, even moist, provided it is always very well-drained, on a slope for example. Plant this grass as a solitary specimen, in a bed of drought-resistant perennials, or achilleas to stabilize the soil on a slope... Note that its stump tolerates well the root competition in dense pine or oak undergrowth. It can accompany bear's breeches and Phlomis samia, for example.