Overview
Stipa is a clump-forming grass in the genus Stipa, part of the Poaceae family, with linear leaves foliage. Stipa grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include borders and prairie-style plantings. It is native to Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Austria, Baleares, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Cape Provinces, Central European Russia, Chile Central, Chile North, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Corse, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Free State, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Irkutsk, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, KwaZulu-Natal, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Libya, Manchuria, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand South, North Caucasus, Northern Provinces, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Qinghai, Romania, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Somalia, South European Russia, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tanzania, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya, West Siberia, Xinjiang, Yakutiya and Yemen.
About
Stipa is a clump-forming perennial grass in the Poaceae with linear leaves forming neat clumps. It favours full sun on neutral loam that is well drained and suits a south-facing, sheltered site. Flowering occurs from June to September. Commonly called feather grass (also corkscrew, needle and spear grass), it is used for texture in borders and prairie-style plantings.
About the genus
Stipa is a genus of about 140 species of large perennial hermaphroditic grasses collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. They are placed in the subfamily Pooideae and the tribe Stipeae, which also contains many species formerly assigned to Stipa, which have since been reclassified into new genera.
Wikipedia contributors, "Stipa", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Stipa
In the garden
Stipa comprises clump-forming perennial grasses within the Poaceae, with a native distribution that spans much of Europe and Asia, parts of North Africa and extends into areas of the Americas and New Zealand. The plants carry linear leaves and produce flowering stems valued for their contribution to grass-dominant plantings. Plant Stipa in a south-facing, sheltered spot in full sun, using a neutral loam that drains freely; poorly drained or waterlogged ground should be avoided. The genus prefers well-drained soils and a neutral pH. In UK hardiness terms it is H4, which equates to average winter hardiness and makes it suitable for many typical garden conditions across the country where severe exposure is avoided. Stipa works well in mixed herbaceous borders and prairie-style schemes, where its clump habit and flowering stems provide vertical texture. Flowers appear from June to September and during that period the stems introduce summer and early-autumn movement in borders and meadow plantings.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Stipa
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam
- Soil pH
- Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
Stipa size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Grass
- Habit
- Clump-forming
- Foliage
- Linear leaves
- Suggested uses
- Borders, prairie-style plantings
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Austria, Baleares, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Cape Provinces, Central European Russia, Chile Central, Chile North, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Corse, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Free State, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Irkutsk, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, KwaZulu-Natal, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Libya, Manchuria, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand South, North Caucasus, Northern Provinces, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Qinghai, Romania, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Somalia, South European Russia, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tanzania, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya, West Siberia, Xinjiang, Yakutiya, Yemen
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Stipa
- Propagation
- Division, seed
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-resistant
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-resistant
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Stipa?
Stipa prefers full sun. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Stipa need?
Stipa grows best in loam soil. It prefers neutral soil. Aim for soil that stays well-drained.
Is Stipa hardy in the UK?
Stipa has an RHS hardiness rating of H4, meaning it is hardy through an average UK winter, tolerating -10 to -5°C.
How do I propagate Stipa?
Division, seed.