About
A tufted perennial grass about 1m high with rough-textured, inrolled narrow leaves 30cm long, and sparse, slender panicles, 35 cm long, of purple-brown flowers in summer, followed by brown seeds covered in white or pale brown hairs; not to be confused with Stipa tenuissima.
About the genus
Stipa can be evergreen or deciduous, mostly perennial grasses with arching, folded or rolled, linear leaves and narrow panicles of often long-awned spikelets in summer and autumn
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeGrass Like
HabitTufted
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Prairie planting, Coastal, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in light-textured, well-drained soil in full sun; for more advice, see ornamental grasses cultivation
PruningNo pruning required, but old flowered stems and any dead leaves may be cut to just above ground level in early spring, and the cut stems may be left around the plants as a mulch; for more advice, see ornamental grasses: cutting back
PropagationPropagate by seed, sown in containers in a cold frame in spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free