Giant feather grass

Stipa gigantea

Iberian native ornamental grass forming a low fountain of fine evergreen leaves topped by airy 2 m tall panicles of golden oat-like flowers that catch the wind beautifully.

Hardiness ratings

Giant feather grass hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 5–9 −28.9 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H6 −20 °C to −15 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 6–8 −18 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–6 −10 °C to 15 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Plant as a transparent see-through screen — the tall flower stems are sparse enough to look past, structural without blocking view
  • Flower stems emerge in early summer and persist gold-toned through to winter
  • Evergreen base — does not need annual hard cutting back; comb out dead foliage with gloved hands in spring
  • Drought tolerant once established — natural on dry rocky Iberian slopes

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Giant feather grass against your zones

Reference

Giant feather grass on Wikipedia