Stipa gigantea

Giant feather grass

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Key info

Plant type

Hardy perennial

Flower colour

Light green

Feature

Attractive seed-heads

Hardiness

Hardy

Skill level

Beginner

photo by Nicola Browne, copyright GAP Photos (56048)

Plant details

This is a very striking evergreen grass that forms a spiky clump of arching deep green foliage from which a huge sheaf of very long-stemmed, oat-like flower-heads erupts in mid-summer, up to 1.8m (6ft) high. When mature, these splay apart to make a wide fountain shape that almost hides the plant. The seed-heads dry out naturally on the plant and persist into early winter, where they make a good architectural feature, especially when outlined in frost. This is an excellent alternative to pampas grass as a lawn specimen in small gardens, and perfect in a border or a gravel garden. It is found growing wild in Spain and Portugal. To propagate, divide plants from mid-spring to early summer. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it their prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Family: Poaceae

Genus: Stipa

Species: gigantea

Plant type: Hardy perennial

Flower colour: Light green

Foliage colour: Mid-green

Feature: Attractive seed-heads

Sun exposure: Full sun

Soil: Well-drained/light, Moist

Hardiness: Hardy

Skill level: Beginner

Height: 250cm

Spread: 120cm

Time to divide plants: April to June

Flowering period: June to July


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