Stipa gigantea (common names: Giant feather grass)

Stipa gigantea

Stipa gigantea is a member of the genus Stipa and is commonly known as Giant feather grass.

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Latest photos of Stipa gigantea

  • Garden views (Stipa gigantea (Giant feather grass))
    By Dottydai..
  • Stipa gigantea in the Evening (Stipa gigantea (Giant feather grass))
    By Sid
  • Looking through the Stipa. (Stipa gigantea)
    By spritzhe..
  • Stipa (Stipa gigantea)
    By spritzhe..

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Pheasant's Tail Grass (syn. Stipa arundinacea)

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Pheasant's Tail Grass (syn. Stipa arundinacea)

Members growing this plant

  • spritzhenry
    Spritzhenry

    Joined 17 Jun, 2007

    619 plants

  • Grenville
    Grenville

    Joined 7 Aug, 2007

    150 plants

  • Sid
    Sid

    Joined 29 Feb, 2008

    109 plants

  • Dottydaisy2
    Dottydaisy2

    Joined 27 Sep, 2008

    211 plants

Questions on Stipa gigantea

Archcazza
Archcazza

Cutting back Stipa Gigantea

Asked on 3 Sep, 2008 10 replies

My 30 year old clump (4ft diameter)of stipa now only carries about 6rather weedy inflorscences each year, and there are lots of unsightly brown leaves. I have been told in need cutting down hard - I have never done this. Is this right? and when should it be done?
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Dottydaisy2
Dottydaisy2

Stipa Gigantea To cut down or not?

Asked on 15 Nov, 2008 4 replies

This plant has been in the border a number of years now, never sure whether to cut it right down at this time of the year, or just clean out the dead leaves, any advice on this please?
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Comments on Stipa gigantea

Archcazza
Archcazza

4 Sep, 2008

 

Many thanks everyone for all your help - it's very much appreciated!

Wyeboy
Wyeboy

4 Sep, 2008

 

Seed heads on grasses through the winter are very attractive and good for birds. Dig it out in the Spring chop into pieces and replant what you want.

bluespruce
Bluespruce

4 Sep, 2008

 

I would only add that established grasses die out in the center, so when you divide just use the outer vigorous portions for replanting and discard the rest. I would also say most grasses are best left for winter interest and cut back in late Feb to early March.

Owdboggy
Owdboggy

4 Sep, 2008

 

Ah, right, then first job when it has finished for this year is to clear away all the old growth altogether. And I mean down to ground level. It is the accumulated old growth which is not helping your plant. Interesting thing about all grasses is that they grow from the base of the plants rather than the top. This is why you can keep on cutting a lawn without killing the grass. When I have finished clearing up our grasses there is nought to be seen but the bare soil and perhaps a few tiny green shoots if it is later in the season and the tips of the old shoots here they emerge from the soil.

Archcazza
Archcazza

4 Sep, 2008

 

It's definitely Stipa G - I have the original label! The leaves do go browny, but the clump stays the same size.

Owdboggy
Owdboggy

3 Sep, 2008

 

Then I am not sure that it is Stipa gigantea. That is definitely a deciduous grass. It dies back to straw like leaves in a clump in November.
The large evergreen grass is Pampas grass (Cortaderia sp.). That is more difficult to deal with.

Archcazza
Archcazza

3 Sep, 2008

 

Thanks owdboggy - this stipa is evergreen - at least the clump just sits there all year. Do I cut back now and then divide in spring?, or not cut back if I'm going to divide?

Wyeboy
Wyeboy

3 Sep, 2008

 

I think it definitely needs splitting. You will get a lot of plants out of one that size!!! Lovely grass it is too.

Owdboggy
Owdboggy

3 Sep, 2008

 

Thinking about it, your clump is probably in need of splitting and replanting with some fertiliser under it. This is done in spring when the new roots are beginning to grow.

Owdboggy
Owdboggy

3 Sep, 2008

 

I begin cutting down all our herbaceus grasses (ie the non evergreen ones) in November and continue doing it through out the winter, aiming to finish by February when the first shoots of the year begin to appear. So any time when the plant is dormant is the right time.

noseypotter
Noseypotter

19 Nov, 2008

 

cool

Dottydaisy2
Dottydaisy2

15 Nov, 2008

 

Thanks for that, will leave well alone.

noseypotter
Noseypotter

15 Nov, 2008

 

nature wouldnt pick them out so realy i think its up to you.i would just pick up the dead bits myself

spritzhenry
Spritzhenry

15 Nov, 2008

 

No, don't cut it down, leave the 'flowers' until the spring to enjoy seeing the frost on them. In the spring, cut off the flowering stems and clean out the dead leaves. It is an evergreen, so it doesn't get cut back in late winter like the deciduous ones do.

Stipas can be divided from mid-spring to early summer if the clumps get overcrowded/too big.

spritzhenry
Spritzhenry

4 Jul, 2007

 

Thank you Hoya - there are matching steps the other end of the border! I'll take a photo when (if) it stops raining! I am ashamed to say that we haven't yet done the rounds of the gardens in our area yet - went to the Kent/Sussex ones frequently before the BIG move to Somerset! Must make the effort and see the steps at Hestercombe...if we get a sunny day????

On photo - Stipa

hoya105
Hoya105

4 Jul, 2007

 

Lovely stipa! and what great steps - a la Hestercombe!

On photo - Stipa

Tussiemussie
Tussiemussie

26 Jun, 2007

 

I fell in love with this plant when visiting Garden Organic Yalding,they had it at the side of a walkway, it's tall beautiful, and you can still see through it, very sensual plant..

On photo - Stipa

Chrispook
Chrispook

17 May, 2008

 

Lovely. I love grasses.

Sid
Sid

24 Jun, 2008

 

Thanks F1 - I had to be quite to take this photo as the sun kept going behind clouds. There is also a Miscanthus s. 'Zebrinus' in the bed.

flcrazy
Flcrazy

24 Jun, 2008

 

Love the lighting in this photo too, like the way you've incorporated some grass in your flowerbed.

Grenville
Grenville

9 Oct, 2008

 

Lovely combination.

On photo - Garden views

Skippy5869
Skippy5869

28 Sep, 2008

 

What's a crowd as long as they don't kill each other....looks great...bottlebrush is a favorite of mine...

On photo - Garden views

Members' notes...

spritzhenry
Spritzhenry

There are several grasses - I am not familiar with some, and have to learn which to cut back and which to leave alone! This one just gets deadheaded in the spring.

Grenville
Grenville

A stunning grass that produces tall feathery plumes during summer. Very graceful and architectural. The plumes can reach several metres in height, and may require support to prevent them from bending.

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