Stipa, Angel hair: planting, pruning, care

Description and Botany

The Stipa is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Poaceae family, like many grasses. It also grows in clear underwoods and on rocky slopes of Central America, from Argentina to Mexico, southern Europe, and western Asia.

While the genus comprises around 300 species, in our gardens, we most often encounter Stipa tenuifolia (syn. Stipa tenuissima) nicknamed “angel’s hair” with its silky blonde bearded spikes, Stipa pennata with silver seed spikes, Stipa gigantea, the giant stipa or giant oat that can reach 2 meters in height, Stipa capillata with a thick, tufted base and glaucous green leaves, and Stipa arundinacea with foliage tinged with rust.

Of fairly rapid growth, the stipa stands upright while remaining flexible, with a more or less ample and trailing habit. This rhizomatous grass grows in a dense, compact tuft and vigorous, from 50 cm to 2 m in height depending on the species, bristly to slightly arched, it sometimes flares out in a graceful fountain forming a spectacular clump.

Evergreen in mild climates or deciduous, the long leaves measuring 10 to 70 cm are very fine, linear, arched, usually curled, sometimes flat, undulating at the slightest breeze. Shiny and tough, they are fresh green to dark green or blue-green. The young spring green leaves of Stipa arundinacea stand out by becoming burnt orange in summer and then turning to coppery rust in winter.

Stipa pennata and Stipa capillata – botanical illustration

From this mass of ribbon-like foliage emerge numerous slender, very sturdy culms, bearing from May-June to October at their tips, fluffy, narrow panicle inflorescences, slightly curved towards the ground. Formed of flattened spikelets bearing feathery or silky spurs 10 to 80 cm long, they sway at the slightest breath of air.

While in Stipa gigantea the flowering droops in golden panicles resembling those of oats, most stipes evoke an angel’s hair with an unparalleled poetry.

Silver, white tinged with purple, parchment-coloured blonde turning to golden bronze in autumn or dark pink to brown, these bearded spikelets are so fine that they resemble a shimmering cloud from a distance.

During summer, the plumes bear fruit and transform into spectacular seeds extended by long threads resembling silky beards or tow that float in the wind and shimmer under the morning dew and at the slightest ray of sunshine. Dispersed by the wind, they reseed wherever they please in nature.

Very graphic, they are highly valued for dried flower arrangements and continue the spectacle in winter when a white frost covers the culms and dried inflorescences.

Easy to grow, hardy for the most part (-10 to -20°C), even accepting drying winds, salty sea breezes, and showers without flinching, stipes can be planted in most of our regions: some more tender varieties (-5°C) are however reserved for mild climates.

The Stipa needs full sun to develop properly and thrives in poor, dry, light, calcareous, well-drained soil: it fears winter moisture.

Under the low light of late summer as well as under frost, the Stipa always brings a strong presence, beautiful structure and incomparable lightness to the garden, from the most wild to the most contemporary or urban. It is a must-have for dry gardens.

It can be planted alone or in large masses in large beds and natural meadows, to highlight a path or a border or in a large pot.

The stipes form a somewhat eclectic group: Stipa arundinacea, Stipa capillata, Stipa tenuifolia, Stipa gigantea.

Main species and varieties

Les plus populaires

Nos préférées

Stipa tenuifolia

A must! It quickly forms an incredible fountain of fresh green hair that sways at the slightest breeze, before transforming in early summer into silky, blonde tufts. A rustic wonder that is insensitive to difficult conditions, comfortable in all gardens, from the wildest to the most contemporary.

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 45 cm

See the product sheet

Stipa gigantea

Its long stems spectacularly unfold to nearly 2 m in height and end with golden spikes resembling oats. The golden plume of this stipa adds volume and lightness to the flowerbeds. It is stunning even when isolated.

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Stipa arundinacea

A sumptuous species whose evergreen foliage, thanks to a mild winter, is variegated with burnt orange in summer, then turns rust in winter. It forms a flamboyant clump, an exotic touch in a flowerbed or at the bend of a path.

• Flowering time September to November
• Height at maturity 1 m

See the product sheet

Stipa pennata

A small, very graphic grass to plant at the edge of a terrace or in a pot. Its silver seed spikes are spectacular and float in the wind in a very poetic manner.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 40 cm

See the product sheet

Stipa capillata

We love its inflorescences in delicate silver brushes that play with the wind and light. Perfectly resistant to cold and drought.

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Stipa tenuissima Angel Hair

It will find its place in all gardens, from the wildest to the most romantic. A must, which often self-seeds in the most unexpected areas and grows very well in pots!

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 45 cm

See the product sheet

Young plantation

Where to Plant Stipa

Most Stipa are highly resistant to cold (down to -15°C to -20°C in well-drained soil) and thrive throughout France.

Stipa requires light and will be vigorous in full sun, in warmth, although it can tolerate light shade. It is not afraid of drought, heat, desiccating winds, or sea spray. It is perfectly suited to seaside gardens exposed to marine winds.

It is an undemanding plant, insensitive to harsh conditions that flourishes in poor, stony, sandy soils. It prefers dry, light, stony, even calcareous soils, which are well-drained and low in fertility. A very well-drained cool soil will give certain species like Stipa gigantea a more lush appearance.

It only fears heavy, suffocating, and overly wet soils in winter.

Provide it with a nice, open location bathed in sunlight: it will fill out in two seasons and tends to form large clumps that are ample and light. While it reaches its full development, fill the gaps with annual plants.

It can enhance the back of a flowerbed by adding height and volume, structuring it, but can also serve as a ground cover for shorter species.

Essential in a dry or gravel garden, it fits into all settings from the wildest to the most graphic and modern, blending very well into a contemporary style. Its decorative appearance for a good part of the year allows for a wide range of uses: as a solitary for large stipes or planted in masses or in scattered groups within large wild flowerbeds that it lightens, to border a path, in dry rockeries, in a lush mixed border weaving between larger companions, and even in a large pot on the terrace to enjoy the extremely soft, tousled spikelets at will.

Planting stipes among pebbles and gravel

→ Discover our video ‘Grasses for Summer‘

When to Plant Stipas

Plant Stipa in spring from March to May in cold and damp regions, in autumn, from October to November to allow it to root well before the arrival of summer in hot and dry climates. In all cases, when frosts are no longer a concern.

How to Plant Stipa

In Open Ground

Stipa must be planted in well-draining soil that does not retain stagnant moisture in winter. Plant giant stipes alone for a spectacular effect or at a rate of one plant per square metre. For a linear planting, space the plants 40 cm apart. To structure a large wild area, prefer mass planting in groups of 3 to 7 plants per m².

Do not add compost or fertiliser at planting but a good shovelful of gravel, especially in heavy or clay soils to promote drainage. In case of overly wet or clayey soil, plant on a raised rocky mound and in pure sand.

• Dig a hole 2 to 3 times wider than the diameter of the root ball
• Loosen the extracted soil well and add a shovelful of potting soil and river sand to lighten it
• Spread a drainage layer at the bottom of the hole
• Place the root ball in the centre of the hole with the collar level with the soil surface
• Lightly firm the soil
• Water once a week the summer following planting

Growing a Stipa in a Pot

The substrate should be light. Group several subjects together.

You can also sow stipa. Discover our tips in our tutorial How to Sow Stipa?

• In a large terracotta pot of at least 50 cm in diameter, spread a drainage layer (gravel, a mix of pebbles…)
• Plant in a mixture of loamy soil, potting soil, and 20% coarse river sand
• Water at planting and then regularly
• Place in full sun

→ Learn more in our advice sheet: Growing a Stipa in a Pot to Liven Up Your Terrace or Balcony.

When and how to sow Stipa seeds

Sowing takes place in spring, from February to May with mature seeds harvested from the garden at the end of summer or with our Stipa seeds in packets. It can be quite tedious as a cold treatment is necessary to break their dormancy. Germination is slow.

• Sow in trays or pots in a very fine mix of potting soil and sand
• Cover the seeds with a little potting soil
• Place your sowings at a temperature of 15 to 18 °C for 2 weeks, then put them in the refrigerator for 3 to 6 weeks
• Keep the substrate moist until the young plants emerge
• When the young plants have 2 or 3 leaves, transplant them into individual buckets of 7.5 cm in diameter
• Overwinter them in a frost-free environment and plant them in the ground in the following spring or autumn

Close-up of the inflorescences of a Stipa tenuifolia that will produce the seeds later.

Maintenance and pruning of stipas

The Stipa is a robust plant, ideal for sustainable gardens, low in water requirements and maintenance-free! It withstands cold and drought perfectly, and once well established, requires no watering. However, remember to water Stipa grown in pots, as they will need more water, especially during very hot and windy weather.

The foliage of Stipa, evergreen, does not flop but can be combed by hand (with gloves) or with a rake, at the end of winter or early spring. This operation helps to remove dead leaves that weigh it down and stimulates the growth of new foliage. On this topic, discover Michaël’s tips: Grasses: those that are pruned, those that are combed).

Stipas are insensitive to diseases.

Multiplication

The division of clumps of Stipa in spring or late summer remains the simplest method. It is carried out when the clumps are well-developed, after 3 or 4 years of cultivation. Moreover, most stipes self-seed well.

• Using a fork, gently lift the clump
• Insert two spades back to back in the middle and lift one using leverage
• Divide into several pieces
• Replant the pieces immediately in pots under a cold frame to encourage growth
• Water generously
• Plant out in early autumn or the following spring

Also read our tutorial: How to divide a stipa for successful propagation?

Pairing Stipas in the Garden

Centrepiece of gravel and wild gardens crushed by the sun or exposed to sea spray, the Stipa gracefully asserts itself in the lush scenes of a country border as well as in the more minimalist setting of a contemporary garden.

An example of pairing in a Mediterranean atmosphere: Stipa tenuifolia, Achilleas like Achillea filipendulina ‘Golden Plate’, Lavender and Olea Europea (The garden of Entëoulet – Gers © Renée Boy-Faget)

Its silky tufts with shimmering reflections and its decorative foliage for a good part of the year bring a quivering poetry, a lot of softness, lightness and movement, lightening all the flowerings. Its often fawn-coloured hues and its parchment-like plumes have the advantage of calming the fire in certain combinations.

To avoid the monotony of mass planting, pair it with subtle themes based on the contrast of shapes and tones.

An example of a natural and colourful pairing: Allium sphaerocephalon, Stipa arundinacea, Lavender, purple Sedum like the superb variety ‘Purple Emperor’ and a few Pennisetums (©Nathalie Pasquel – MAP)

The Stipa enjoys surrounding itself with plants that are just as undemanding as it is, which love the sun and well-drained soils, such as Eryngium with its bristly inflorescences, wormwoods, and the spiky stems of rosemary.

It will punctuate the mineral scenes with its airy presence, surrounded by other grasses like Flexible canary grass, Pennisetum that will accompany it with the slightest breeze, or medium-sized phormium.

In large borders, it easily associates with many perennials with summer or autumn flowering such as Agastache, alliums sphaerocephalon. It will accompany floriferous and light perennials, such as Gauras, Buenos Aires Verbenas, linarias, sage, penstemons, Aster, scabious or even Damask nigella. It lightens the flowerings of heavier perennials like Oriental poppies or irises.

The Stipa adapts perfectly beside meadow flowers in natural style gardens. The golden spikes of Stipa gigantea will contrast in shape with the large flat inflorescences of yellow achilleas or large daisies.

Planted in numbers, the Stipa and Pennisetum will form a frame for the brightly coloured summer flowerings of Echinacea, Daylilies, helianthemums or Kniphofia, providing contrast or recreating harmony between overly strong shades. In a mixed border full of fire, they will soften the somewhat strict habit of these tall beauties.

An example of a pairing full of lightness: Stipa tenuifolia, Sisyrinchium striatum, Carex comans ‘Bronze Form’ (The garden of Sophie Mestdag – photo Virginie Douce).

In the foreground of a flower bed, surround the Stipa with plants like small stonecrops, dwarf chrysanthemums, and sedum.

The silky tufts of the stipes will be well highlighted by the dark foliage of a smokebush, Taxus baccata or Physocarpus.