Stipa gigantea: aka Giant Feather Grass and Golden Oats

Stipa gigantea: aka Giant Feather Grass and Golden Oats
Giant Feather Grass, Stipa gigantea
Photography by Clare Coulson.
Shimmering, statuesque Stipa gigantea (or Celtica gigantea, although few use this official name) is amongst the most impressive ornamental grasses to grow.
Over the following months those tall flower heads become increasingly golden, swaying beautifully in the breeze to show-stopping effect as they catch the sun.
Stipa gigantea in a mixed border in midsummer. Plant it where it catches morning or evening light to make the most of its golden inflorescences.
It can work well contrasted with other grasses too. In high summer it makes a fantastic backdrop to richly colored perennials, including shorter dahlias or summer bulbs.
When the flower spikes first emerge they are shimmering and metallic before later taking on a more pale golden hue.
By late summer the grass takes on a rich golden color, resembling shimmering oats.
Cheat Sheet
A mature plant can have a spread of more than seven feet.
Keep It Alive
Stipa gigantea silhouettes in the evening.
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