Similar to the ever-popular Zebra Grass, but having a taller and more upright and stately columnar form with blades that arch at the top but don't flop, Porcupine Grass reaches 5 to 6 feet tall with flowers rising up to 9 feet tall. Its leaves display the same characteristic bold yellow horizontal stripes of other zebra grass varieties. In mid to late summer, rising well above the foliage on erect and sturdy stems are attractive tassel-like wands of reddish-bronze flowers that open to fluffy silver-buff plumes which persist through fall and well into winter. The plumes are great for cutting and use in dried flower arrangements. At around 3 feet wide, Porcupine Grass is a fine vertical accent that fits well into both small and large spaces as well as containers.

Growing 5 to 6 feet tall with flowers to 9 feet, and 3 to 4 feet wide, Porcupine Grass is ideal for use as a vertical accent in smaller garden spaces, home foundation plantings, and container gardens or in groupings or as a hedge in larger landscape borders. Its upright columnar form is also nice to frame entryways and corners of structures. Looks great around boulders and water features. A fine addition to ornamental grass gardens, rock gardens, cut flower gardens, coastal gardens and yellow theme gardens. 

Porcupine Grass is easy to grow in a wide range of soils, from sandy to well-drained clay and full to mostly sun (6 hours or more direct sunlight per day). It prefers a moist but well-drained soil of average fertility. Constantly soggy or wet soils can be problematic, so make sure the planting site is a well-drained one. Maintenance is minimal requiring only an annual pruning before new growth begins to emerge in late winter or very early spring. At this time simply cut plants back to just above the ground.