Stipa charruana

RHS Plant Profile
lobed needle grass

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Synonyms

Nassella charruana

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Grass Like
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A semi-evergreen, clump-forming grass to around 60cm in height, with narrow, vibrant green foliage on arching stems. Clusters of red-tinted flowers appear throughout the summer. Gives movement to gravel gardens or rockeries where it may self-seed. Relatively short-lived and so be prepared to replace after 3 or 4 years

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–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)
H4
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Poaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump forming, Tufted
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
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, medium to light well-drained soil in full sun. Good in gravel gardens as considered drought-resistant. Plants may need to be replaced after 3 or 4 years. See ornamental grasses cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed after flowering and may also self-seed, or propagate by division from mid-spring to early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Prairie planting
  • Rock garden
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Comb out dead and winter-damaged leaves in early spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free