Stipa lessingiana (Lessing's Feather Grass)

Perennial groundcover grass that’s a bit bigger than the quite similar and better-known Stipa tenuissima. Reaching a loftier 1 metre high and around half that wide, it’s got a bit more oomph and rarity-cred than tenuissima and is a hardier choice for those gardening outside the balmy South. The foliage is incredibly fine and delicate and will wave and ripple in the breeze as all well-trained grasses should. The feathery pale sandy-yellow flower heads emerge from summer onwards, and will remain on the plants until winter when the entire tussocky hummock turns pale golden brown. Lovely all through the year and a crucial addition to any self-respecting prairie style or Mediterranean garden.

At its best in full sun and on well drained soil, they are ideal for naturalistic, coastal and mediterranean style gardens. Try and shelter them from cold Northerly winds: they are hardy characters but will flourish most strongly given a degree of protection. Tidy them up in early spring, around March, to cut back old stems before the new ones emerge.