Stipa arundinacea

The Stipa arundinacea, also known as Anemanthele lessoniana, is a splendid ornamental grass, forming a colourful fountain all year round! Its evergreen foliage is variegated with green and burnt orange in summer, while its tall plume-like inflorescences appear in purple-brown spikes. Winter and cold weather color it rusty brown, thus prolonging the spectacle of an endless autumn. It is a very robust plant, but reserved for mild climates. While it tolerates dry, chalky and poor soil, it dreads moisture and winter cold.

The Anemanthele lessoniana is a rhizomatous perennial grass native to New Zealand, rare in the wild, belonging to the family of poaceae. The plant has a graceful fountain-like habit, formed by a tuft of tapering leaves reaching a height of 80 cm (32in) to 1.20 m (4ft), with a diameter of about 40 cm (16in) at the base. The young spring leaves are medium green, they turn a dark green color variegated with burnt orange in summer, then become rusty in winter. The foliage is evergreen if the winter is mild, but it disappears in case of heavy frost. Flowering takes place in summer, from June to September depending on the climate, in the form of arched and trailing panicles, 35 to 75 cm (14 to 30in) long, consisting of dark pink to brown spikelets. These inflorescences are highly appreciated in floristry, for dried flower compositions.

Perfect for large massifs and wild areas, Stipa arundinacea brings beautiful structure and lots of color to the garden. It is also a wonderful perennial that grows on its own in not too cold climates, for natural areas, for a modern garden with clean lines. Just plant it among asters, behind perennial chrysanthemums or in a grass garden, watch it grow and thicken, ignite under the low light of autumn, and bend under showers. Stipas lend themselves well to planting in isolation, creating a focal point along a path. They bring volume and a strong presence to the boundaries of the garden. Stipa arundinacea will be magnificent at the edge of a pond, in well-drained soil, in the company of dwarf conifers. In an urban garden, it softens concrete structures. Cultivating it in large containers is also possible.