Scientific Name:
Stipa gigantea
Pronunciation:
STYE-puh jye-gan-TEE-uh
Common Name:
giant feather grass
Family Name:
Poaceae
Plant Type:
Poales (grass-like)
Key ID Features:
Tall tufted evergreen grass; leaves arching to 2.4m high, spikelets oat-like, in large panicles
Habit:
Arching, Upright
Form:
Round
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
2 - 3m
Mature Spread:
1.0 - 1.5m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Africa, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Rocky or gravelly or dry
Water Use:
Winter dry, Summer dry
Landscape Uses:
Container planting, Cut flower or foliage, Dried flower or fruit, Fall interest, Specimen plant
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Grass-like
Arrangement:
Alternate, Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Spikelet, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Colour (petals):
Showy, Purple, Bronze
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul
Fruit Type:
Grain (caryopsis)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Showy, Persistent,
Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Fungal leaf spot, Rust (Drought tolerant)
