Molinia caerulea subsp. caerulea 'Poul Petersen'

RHS Plant Profile

purple moor-grass 'Poul Petersen'

RHS

Synonyms

Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea 'Poul Petersen'
Molinia caerulea 'Poul Petersen'

Grass Like

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A tufted, vase-shaped, perennial grass up to 90cm high, with strong clumps of green leaves which turn burnished golden-brown in autumn. Fairly upright stems of purplish flowers are held well above the leaves in summer and autumn, followed by seedheads which remain attractive in winter

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing or South–facing or North–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Molinia are deciduous perennial grasses, tufted in habit, with flat, linear leaves and erect stems bearing open flowering panicles in summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moisture-retentive, humus-rich, acidic to neutral soil, in an open site in full sun or partial shade; will tolerate infertile soil

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring, and pot up until established

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Prairie planting
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut down dead leaves and old flowered stems to just above ground level in late winter or early spring; cut stems can be left around the plants as a mulch

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free