Stipa capillata

Stipa capillata: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Dense clump about 80 cm tall and 40 cm wide, with upright flower stems above the foliage.

Foliage

Narrow, thread-like and rolled, grey-green; forms a dense, stiff clump.

Flower

Panicles in July–August with long, hair-fine awns that sway in the wind; golden beige later.

Seed

The seed has a sharp point and a long, twisted awn.

Roots

Fibrous and deep: the plant tolerates drought extremely well but not wet feet.

Flowering: July–August · Plants: April–May · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Hair-fine awns that sway in the wind and give the garden a soft, natural feel.
• Extremely drought-tolerant: one of the best grasses for dry, poor soil in full sun.
• Compact, neatly growing clump of about 80 cm tall and 40 cm wide.
• Lovely in gravel gardens, rock gardens, steppe borders and next to stones or paving.
• Little work: no feeding, no watering, one tidy-up a year.

Stipa capillata: where does it grow best?

• Full sun: in shade the clump flops and flowers sparsely.
• Poor, well-drained soil: sand or loam, neutral to chalky. On rich soil it grows too soft.
• Dry: once established it needs no water. It dislikes wet winters.
• Fits into a gravel garden, rock garden, steppe border or on a sunny bank.
• Allow 40–50 cm between plants.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry

Size

0.8 m tall, 0.4 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Sage (Salvia): Purple flower spikes in summer, in the same dry sun.
• Sea holly (Eryngium): Silvery-blue thistles next to the hair-fine awns.
• Yarrow (Achillea): Flat heads in yellow or pink in summer, in the same dry spot.
• Catmint (Nepeta): Blue-purple flowers earlier in summer; same dry sun.
• Stonecrop (Sedum): Fleshy plants with pink flowers in late summer.

Stipa capillata: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Plant in April or May, once the soil has warmed up and the frosts are over.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and mix in grit or coarse sand. Do not add compost or feed.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil well. On heavy soil, plant on a slight mound.
4. Leave 40–50 cm between plants.
5. Water in thoroughly straight away, then weekly in dry weather during the first year.
6. Cover the soil with a layer of gravel, keeping the heart of the clump clear.

Care

Water

Only in the first year during dry spells. After that it copes by itself: too much water harms it.

Feeding

Avoid: feed gives soft, green clumps that flop easily.

Tidying

In March, pull the dead leaves out of the clump with your fingers or trim them off.

Self-seeding

On poor, dry soil it can seed itself. Pull out unwanted seedlings while they are small.

Moving

Better not: the clump is tough and recovers slowly. Choose the final spot straight away.

Tip: Give it poor, dry soil in full sun and do not feed it: that is the secret to a sturdy clump and plenty of awns. A layer of gravel keeps the base dry.

Stipa capillata: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, before the new shoots start to grow.

How:

• Comb the dead leaves out of the clump with your (gloved) fingers, or trim them off.
• Cut the withered flower stems to about 10 cm above the ground.
• Do not cut into the heart of the clump: it recovers slowly.

Caution: Wear gloves: the seeds have a sharp point that can prick the skin.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow in April–May on sandy compost and barely cover. At 15–20 °C the seed germinates after a few weeks. Pot the seedlings on separately as soon as they are big enough.

Division

In April–May you can divide a large clump with a sharp spade, but it recovers slowly. Only do it if really needed.

Stipa capillata: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Hardy to about −25 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium as long as the soil stays dry.
• Cold, wet winters are more dangerous than frost: plant on a slight mound or in free-draining soil.
• In a pot: use a large pot with plenty of drainage, stand it on feet in a sheltered, dry spot.

Diseases and pests

• Rotting: On wet, heavy soil the clump rots away in winter. Mix coarse sand or grit into the soil, or plant on a mound.
• Soft, green clump: Caused by too much feed, water or shade. Move to full sun and do not feed.
• Seedlings: On poor, dry soil it can seed itself into gravel or paving joints. Pull them out while they are small.
• Seeds caught in fur: The sharp seeds can catch in dogs’ fur or in clothing. Do not plant it where animals play.

Through the year

• March: Remove dead leaves and withered stems.
• April: Plant, on poor, well-drained soil.
• May: Plant. In the first year water weekly in dry weather.
• June: Flower stems grow up, the panicles form.
• July: Flowering begins, with hair-fine awns.
• August: Full flower. The panicles fade to golden beige.
• September: Seed ripens. Leave the panicles.
• November: Move pots to a dry spot against cold winter wet.
• December: Resting. The dry clumps decorate the garden.

Did you know?

• The species name capillata means ‘hair-like’ in Latin, referring to the very fine awns.
• On the steppes of eastern Europe and Asia, feather grasses like this one form large, rippling expanses.
• The genus name Stipa comes from a Greek word for flax fibre, referring to the fibrous awns.