Stipa tenuifolia Steud.

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slender-leaved feather grass

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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

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, 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

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

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
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
Evergreen
Habit
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
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light-textured, well-drained soil in full sun; for more advice, see ornamental grasses cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in containers in a cold frame in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Prairie planting
  • Coastal
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No 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

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free