Stipa elegantissima

Perennial, evergreen grass native to Southwest Australia with dense but incredibly fine and delicate stems that branch from the base to form impactful tufts. Quite tall ones, at around 1 metre high and up to 2 metres when the flower heads emerge. The flowers emerge in summer and are silvery green and frothy. They endure for ages, and become honey-hued and golden in autumn: do be sure to leave them on the plant as their soft and silky texture is a glorious contrast when everything else is becoming brittle and hard.

These grasses move and tremble, as most grasses will, bringing lovely movement and character to any garden. A specimen would be handsome but a flock would be real drama and they look incredible when planted en masse under and around Olive trees and other Mediterranean classics. Partnering them with other grasses like S. lessingiana and Anemanthele lessoniana will look stylishly wild and very natural, too. Grow Stipa elegantissima in full sun and in any soil as long as that soil is very well drained. Soggy, chilly feet in winter will probably kill it and it’s worth knowing that they can be containerised very successfully. Can be cut back hard in late spring to tidy it up and address any winter flop.