Spodiopogon sibiricus West Lake

Spodiopogon sibiricus 'West Lake' is a tall perennial grass which, as its species name 'sibiricus' suggests, originates from Central Asia. This species, like many Siberian plants, is extremely hardy and resilient. It is also a highly ornamental grass, with its tall stems and long horizontally arranged leaves resembling the architecture of bamboo. This selection, richly coloured in red-orange-purple in autumn, is also distinguished by its sparkling flowering in summer, with panicles of red-purple spikes frosted with silver. It is a beautiful grass that truly deserves to be better known, as it is capable, like few others, of adapting to the harshest climates and the most inhospitable soils.

Spodiopogon sibiricus is a rhizomatous grass belonging to the large family of poaceae, native to Siberia, Mongolia, China, Korea, and even Japan, where it grows in mountain meadows. The 'West Lake' selection distinguishes itself with a taller habit, reaching easily 1.60m (5ft) in height when in flower (1m (3ft) for the foliage) with a width of 50-60cm (20-24in). Its flowering is more colourful, mixing shades of red-purple with silver reflections. Its habit evokes that of a rounded and stocky bamboo; thin stems (2 to 4mm (1in) wide) emerge from the stump and bear lanceolate and pointed leaves, 30cm (12in) long and 1cm (1in) wide, narrow at the base, much like bamboo leaves. The flowering takes place from July to September, in the form of 15cm (6in) long panicles, with barbed spikelets coloured in red and shining with silver reflections in the sun, which persist on the plant for a long time. The autumn colour of the foliage can vary depending on the nature and moisture of the soil, and the stems take on a wine-like colour. Spodiopogon sibiricus is a very long-lived plant, which grows in the garden for a long time.

Endowed with great adaptability, under-utilised in the garden, Spodiopogon sibiricus 'West Lake' accepts both rocky and dry soil in summer, as well as moist to wet soil, even clayey soil, but, to give its best, this grass needs plenty of light. Adapted to difficult conditions just like Panicum, it is versatile, not too bulky, and adapts to many situations in the garden. Non-suckering, this colourful grass is highly appreciated in slightly wild borders, to form screens or planted as a specimen. It can be associated with tall wild asters, such as Aster laevis, Aster turbinellus, Aster 'Ashvi', or Monte Casino, or even with Helianthus salicifolius or maximiliani, as well as with Verbena bonariensis or Verbena hastata. It is particularly well-suited to coastal areas as it tolerates sea spray.