Stipa

Stipa arundinacae a.k.a Anemanthele lessoniana

Stipa arundinacae a.k.a Anemanthele lessoniana

The New Zealander" This comes from guess where? The needle type leaves emerge chocolate brown and aging to olive green with coppery overtones. Autumn flowers. Stipa's have tremendously presence in the garden. Clumps of attractive narrow leaves abundant flowers for long periods. They do not cope with shade. Full sun. they  are exposure and drought tolerant. Free draining to dry soil, impoverished with sand is good. Has low nutrient needs.

Stipa Barbata "Feather grass"

Stipa Barbata "Feather grass"

New to the fold is S Barbata, a native of southern Europe.  Slender upright then gently arching to 75 cm. high with a profusion of silvery long awns, like streamlined cirrus clouds (18 cm long) streaming away from the tips of the flower heads in late July to August. Gorgeous when backlit with the sunshine. It is a cool season grower enjoying full sun and good drainage. A tufted clump former with reliable tidy habit. This one is looking very promising.

Stipa Tenuissima a.k.a (Nassella Tenuissima) Mexican Feather Grass

Nassella Tenuissima a.k.a (STIPA Tenuissima) Mexican Feather Grass

Probably better known by its old classification Stipa Tenuissima this has proved I think to be our most popular grass to date and it deserves to be. A native of Mexico Texas and Argentina it is at home on dry rocky slopes, open woodlands and  dry open spaces. It is one of the finest ornamental grasses. Fountains of fine hair like leaves and threadlike stems terminating in a silvery inflorescence. A cool season grower supposedly, but whose ever heard of a cool blooded Mexican.

Stipa Gigantea 'Giant Oat Grass'

Stipa Gigantea 'Giant Oat Grass

"The Oat Grass" Gigantea. Unmistakable with its evergreen mounds of dark green leaves and large panicles of oat like flowers. First gold then golden brown through winter. Stipa's have tremendously presence in the garden. Clumps of attractive narrow leaves abundant flowers for long periods. They do not cope with shade. Full sun. They are exposure and drought tolerant. Free draining to dry soil, impoverished with sand is good. Has low nutrient needs.