However, the second corner turned into a bit of a jungle – instead of neat sculptural mounds of box and Osmanthus ‘delavyi’ to offset the frothy lace heads of Hydrangea Arborescens ‘Annabelle’, they all grew into each other. Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Grasses from cool climates include carex, calamagrostis, chasmanthium, deschampsia, festuca, hakonechloa, helictotrichon, molina and stipa. I must admit that I’ve usually moved plants when … dug up an embattled Oxford and Cambridge from our old garden. But low hedges…, The 8 best perfect-for-privacy garden trees, Do you need trees for privacy? This is a splendid, architectural, ornamental grass forming large, dense clumps of numerous narrow leaves. These days I’d say Stipa gigantea is a close second to being ultra-low maintenance. It’s the purchasing of the hessian that would stump me…. Stipa gigantea has arching blades about twenty inches high. Privacy garden trees can make a big difference to how much you enjoy your garden. I like it there so much I’ve since added an underplanting of nepeta to all the roses along the front border. That would have been £450 for the two. Stipa Stipa. And often they did survive! Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to The Middle-Sized Garden with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. This grass is quite drought tolerant. Your email address will not be published. Grasses from warm climates (such as Arundo, Cortaderia, Imperata, Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum, Phalaris and Spartina) require only infrequent division. Evergreen or semi-evergreen, it forms a dense mound of slender, arching gray-green leaves, up to 18 in. It’s often the case that plants sulk for a few months before they start to regrow, but (touch wood) there haven’t been too many failures. Having sulked in four other positions in this as well as my last garden, I’d almost given up on them. Andy McIndoe confirms that box and topiary will move very well: ‘You’ve been pruning it into shape all along, so that helps.’. The RHS also say that October to March is a good time for deciduous plants because they’re dormant, while evergreens should be moved in either October or March when the soil is warm enough for them to get established. Join And I saved £450 by finding them in my own garden. Stipa gigantia - how long does it take to ... (perennials and annuals) - the greenhouse is bursting at the seams!!! RHS members can get exclusive individual advice from the RHS Gardening Advice team. Time to take stock and move on. Spring is the correct time for moving/dividing any of the ornamental grasses. We’ve moved the box ball from a thicket of plants and now it’s proudly framing the bench. Stipa gigantea is an excellent alternative to pampas grass as a lawn specimen in small gardens, and is perfect for growing in a border or a gravel garden. 3 Sep, 2008; Featured on: grasses. Alternatively, cut the clump through the middle with a spade. 020 3176 5800 Stipa Gigantea This week in the garden Week 11 Stipa Gigantea This week in the garden week 11 Squaring up to this apparent beast – it having anchored itself in over more than three years – was not something I was looking forward to. Stipa gigantea. Occasionally rust can be a problem, but regular division is likely to reduce the risk of this disease developing by … Split them using two forks inserted back to back in the centre of the clump, and then prize them apart. Other names. It’s generally considered that roses don’t like being moved, and that plants which are well established don’t either, but recently Posy Gentles dug up a 1970s rose in her front garden and gave it to me, and it’s been absolutely fine. Owdboggy . ‘If you can buy plant for around £10, it probably isn’t worth the bother of moving it and then risking it not growing,’ says Andy McIndoe of online gardening academy My Garden School. This was probably because we put it too close to the wall and I forgot to water it enough. I have to agree, moving plants is usually well worth it. ... Stipa gigantea and Festuca mairei are all tough eastern Mediterranean grass species, forming distinct and decorative tussocks. I'll definitely be adding these to the list. Not all older plants – or roses – will be as obliging, as roses usually prefer not to be moved. I moved a winter-flowering jasmine once – it was on its last legs inside in a pot, and I thought it could hardly be worse off outdoors. I would be very wary of moving your Stipa at this time of year though – would be much happier moving in the spring! 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 … Two weeks ago, we decided to dig up the box ball, and its partner at the other end of the terrace. You can see the dried heads of Hydrangea Arborescens ‘Annabelle’ but the foliage plants behind are just a muddle of green. Two genera particularly suited to propagation in this way are red hot pokers (kniphofia), which are done in late spring, and peonies, which are done just as their roots are beginning to grow again in … Plant growth creeps up on you. It's best sited where it's backlit and close enough to caress. We all hate discarding plants. Gardening blogs to help you grow – Grandfest. She dropped it off in the front garden while I was out. It’s also the most practical thing to do for plants that are rare to find. I must admit that I’ve usually moved plants when I want to move them, and most have survived. The Gravel Garden is something of a wonder to gardeners. It’s open during Whitstable Open Gardens every year for the NGS. It has been crowded out by Naughtia all summer and is now getting wet feet. I wasn’t quite sure what I would do with it, but I thought it might be useful somewhere. But they need very little care and put up with a…. They now have a new lease of life on either side of the bench. Stipa gigantea, a kinetic marvel, takes up little space in a garden yet adds a great deal of depth and dimension. Slide the plant out on some hessian sacking and put it straight into a prepared hole. Ask yourself how much money you’ll save by moving a plant rather than buying new. ‘Life is too short to move plants like rosemary and lavender around – they may not like it and they’re very cheap to buy new.’. Perfectly evergreen with a great winter appearance. Gardeners do warn against digging up whole gardens if you’re moving house, though – it’s not very friendly to your buyers. The day of our visit arrived and we were warmly welcomed by David Ward (Director) and Åsa Gregers-Warg (Head Gardener). But plants often out-grow their situation or your taste changes. Mine almost have to sign a mobility clause at point of purchase.. they are forever on the move! times, RHS Registered Charity no. But the plants I was looking for – something fairly sculptural and evergreen for either side of the bench – were always going to be expensive. The tree wasn’t in the right place. A few years ago, Posy asked me if I wanted some nepeta. Ornamental grasses rarely suffer from pests and diseases. Firstly, – before you buy new plants – check your overgrown beds to see whether you already have what you need. The stipa, on the other hand, should look delightful nearer the house…if it’s happy to move. Other common names golden oats . Which plants have you moved successfully? Although the work can be a bit strenuous it would all be all worth it. These can be cut and dried when first opened for use in winter arrangements indoors. Lift grasses from the ground with a spade. Do tell us here or on the Middlesized Garden’s Facebook page. Statuesque with tufts of foliage bursting with emerging seed heads in early summer, Stipa gigantea (Golden Oats) is an impressive ornamental grass. Mon – Fri | 9am – 5pm, Join the RHS today and support our charity. Hello there Yes you can grow a Stipa gigantea in clay soil, but they don't like being waterlogged. And if you share this using the buttons below, thank you! Pic by Peter Garland. ‘You need to lift and divide a stipa every few years anyway,’ he said. Golden oats, Stipa gigantica, Giant feather grass. Sometimes ornamental grasses can fail to flower. The little tree (Acer Griseum or Paperbark Maple) on the right has been swapped with a stipa gigantea. Since finding them a sunny, sheltered, and spacious spot in well-drained soil they’ve thrived on very little attention from me. The bit of the bed they came from doesn’t even look empty – with any luck I have created a ‘planting opportunity’ – but in reality the bed was over-crowded and I hadn’t noticed it. This year Christopher Bradley Hole fastidiously combined Stipa gigantea with old roses and aquilegias, Eremurus and Nectaroscordum siculum. Species. 9cm pot £7.99. in stock ... beautiful Stipa full of glorious seed heads The wind blows across the front so the seed heads are a delight to watch moving in the wind . In summer, masses of elegant pale feathery seed-heads are held above the foliage. Stipa is one of the perennials that dies out in the middle and needs splitting every few years anyway. Stipa gigantea. My experience was that the clematis vines were doing so poorly where they were anyway, that if they didn’t survive the move, at least I tried. Not all survived – a very pretty standard lollipop variegated holly turned up its toes. “This border looks particularly dazzling when its architectural shapes are covered in frost.” RHS Garden Hyde Hall Spring and Orchid Show, Free entry to RHS members at selected Sesleria heufleriana possibly less drought tolerant but I wanted to try a shorter grass for matrix type planting. ‘That includes Japanese maple, dwarf conifers and evergreen shrubs with a good rootball.’. Although this may indicate that the clump is congested and in need of division, the most likely explanation is lack of light. Completely agree that it’s worth the risk to relocate plants. Any perennials that need lifting and dividing will move well. I never got round to planting it. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully, For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times », Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, Our Garden Centres and online shops are packed with unique and thoughtful gifts and decorations to make your Christmas sparkle, General enquiries Giant needle grass is an immigrant to our gardens from the southwestern Mediterranean. 5 5 1 star 1 star 1 star 1 star 1 star (3 reviews) Write review. 3 top garden privacy tips – how to make your garden look and feel more private! Slow-growing, Stipa ichu (Peruvian Feather Grass) is a gorgeous and impressive perennial grass forming dense clumps of upright to slightly arching, bright green leaves. Especially once you made a terrific job of arranging and designing those plants. Stipa tenuissima is a neat, compact, perennial grass, bearing closely packed, stiff, thread-like stems forming a strongly horizontal shape. Moving plants do really cut down the cost for landscaping. Stipa gigantea, Tostat, early May 2020. ‘If an evergreen plant is reasonably long-lived, still fairly young and it hasn’t been in one spot for too long, then you can probably move it successfully,’ says Andy McIndoe. Its large tussock form, grey-green leaves, golden inflorescences and ability to survive drought make it a stately addition to ornamental landscapes and a promising species as climates get warmer. This nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ is growing by the front gate – exactly where Posy dropped it off two years ago. Much loved for its tall upright stems that produce large airy heads of golden oat like flowers around this time of year. Stipa gigantea Golden Oats, Giant Feather Grass. Or in October or March (evergreen). Caption: Irish cuttings of Stipa gigantea are taken in January and February. Credit: RHS/Tim Sandall. You can move deciduous plants any time between October and March. After introductions and dividing into manageable groups we went for a tour of what is probably Beth Chatto ’ s most famous creation, and certainly a topical one on a hot and sunny summer ’ s day, the Gravel Garden. We’ve also been moving trees and grasses in a low-cost re-design of the main bed. Generally, plants want to survive, so you might as well give moving them a go. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Try moving the plant to a sunnier position, or cutting back overhanging foliage to increase light. In summer it supports on long, stiff stalks large, loose panicles of long-awned, silvery spikelets with conspicuous dangling, … Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. But it had been planted previously for convenience, rather than in the best position for it. Thank you so much! The RHS also say that October to March is a good time for deciduous plants because they’re dormant, while evergreens should be moved in either October or March when the soil is warm enough for them to get established. Giant feather grass (Stipa gigantea) stays evergreen in USDA zones 7 through 10, unless exposed to freezing temperatures. These days I’d say Stipa gigantea is a close second to being ultra-low maintenance. I’ve been looking for some affordable box or yew balls for either side of the bench for ages – I wanted big ones. This is the giant straight species that is so popular for its soaring silver stems and golden drooping awns. Beautiful pictures and great tips. I’d found 70cm buxus balls on the internet for £225. tall (45 cm), from which emerge erect flower spikes rising 4 ft. (120 cm) above the foliage. Since finding them a sunny, sheltered, and spacious spot in well-drained soil they’ve thrived on very little attention from me. 8 steps to the long thin garden of your dreams, Two years ago Emma and Mel moved to a house in Whitstable with a long thin garden. The RHS have good advice on this. They came…, Fences for privacy – 9 great ideas for garden screening, Are you making the most of your fences for privacy and screening? They prefer a medium to light, well drained soil in lots of sun, but ,if you do want to plant one, I would incorporate grit or sand into the planting to increase the drainage. Do it now and it will just sit there and do nothing until Spring. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I put a Stipa Gigantea in what I thought was a good place in spring. However, an elderly philadelphus was absolutely fine after a bit of sulking. So it took root where it was, and looked so great that I’ve now planted nepeta (lifted and divided from elsewhere in the garden) all along the front beds. The flower heads catch the light and sway most seductively in the slighest breeze. That is when they form new roots. Plant 85 Stipa gigantea Link (Poaceae). Ornamental grasses can be divided to produce more plants, or simply to reduce the size of a clump and prevent plants from losing their vigour. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. You dig a trench round the established plant and then work your spade under it, cutting any very stubborn roots. When we re-landscaped the garden five years ago, we dug up quite a few plants and kept them in pots while the work was going on. Perhaps you have a neighbour’s window over-looking your garden?…, Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Disclosure Policy, © 2020 The Middle-Sized Garden - Gardening Blog. Stipa tenuissima is … Painting your shed transforms your garden. A variety of grasses, including feathery Stipa gigantea, solve problems in a Dorset garden sited “mostly on an exposed, north-facing slope,” says UK-based designer Robert Kennett. The tall flowering wands are reminiscent of golden oats and can attain heights of eight feet. Have you got a spot in your garden that you want to spend money on? I asked him if our stipa gigantea would do well after moving. Stipa gigantea : medium. Occasionally rust can be a problem, but regular division is likely to reduce the risk of this disease developing by improving air flow around the leaves. Love your blog. Crocosmia seem to move happily in this garden, as do penstemons – both these started off somewhere else originally. It practically took over the neighbourhood. I have to say that I’ve never treated our plants quite as well – they’ve been dug up any old how and not an inch of hessian has ever been seen. Genus Stipa can be evergreen or deciduous, mostly perennial grasses with arching, folded or rolled, linear leaves and narrow panicles of often long-awned spikelets in summer and autumn . I moved it about three weeks ago – hoping that’s early enough. Today it is lush abd flourishing as it NEVER has been before! 222879/SC038262. The trouble is, once you decide something is in the wrong place it will stand out like a sore thumb. Arching, Clump-forming It is a plant that takes a … Ten years ago I took two box balls out of pots and planted one on the corner of the terrace, and the other at the other corner. Divisions can either be potted up in John Innes No 2 compost for growing on, or if they are more than 12.5cm (5in) in diameter, they can be planted back out into the garden. On plant Stipa gigantea. And if I paint my shed, it’ll also last longer…. Time to see if any of them would be better elsewhere in the garden. Loved the pictures you provided. 10 easy care evergreen pots for year round impact, For the next six months, the evergreen pots in my garden will create almost all the structure and impact. Thalictrum were one of my first seed-growing successes, but now, more than seven years later, I probably need to have another bash at this one especially, as the powder puff flowers are lovely against early morning sun. If I had bought this size of box ball (70cm), it could have cost around £225, according to my researches on the internet. Required fields are marked *, Please answer the sum below... Dividing ornamental grasses. We dug up both the Osmanthus ‘delavyi’ earlier this year, one of which has survived in its new place and one of which has died. Privacy is a big issue for middle-sized gardens, because high hedges and fences block light. Can I move it now or is the risk of moving it in autumn more than leaving it in soggy conditions? Interesting post – thank you. So moving them was well worth the effort, even if you have to pay someone to do the digging. I have been debating the crucial issue of what colour to paint my shed. the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. It appears to be compulsory in every modern British garden which is where we first saw it. A relatively compact form of the most magnificent giant or golden oat grass Stipa gigantea. Stipa gigantea £ 10.99 The giant oat is amongst the most impressive of grasses, forming clumps of tough foliage that is topped with elegant upright large golden oat … Photos from the site may be purchased, please contact me for more information. Giant needle grass . Family Poaceae . Or do you have a ‘moving plants’ disaster to share? Botanical name. This ‘Cheshire Beauty’ rose spent 30 years in one garden and has transferred quite happily to mine. Stipa gigantea: delivers on texture, form and sound in spades When it comes to ornamental grasses (my favourite group of plants) I am at risk of hyperbole with almost every utterance. golden oats. Take cuttings instead. Try moving the plant to a sunnier position, or cutting back overhanging foliage to increase light. 31 + = 37, Complete Guide to Garden Privacy - Downloadable PDF, Complete Guide to Garden Privacy - Kindle & Paperback, The Middlesized Garden is a participant in the Amazon Associates LLC, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. But if a plant is precious, move it at the right time. Ornamental grasses rarely suffer from pests and diseases. It wasn’t as lush this year – looking back at this photo reminds me that it really was time to dig it up. Stipa gigantea (Golden Oats, Giant Oat Grass) Certainly one of the most dramatic grasses, green tussocks of narrow foliage erupt with tall arching stems of golden oat like flowers in June and July that sit well above the leaves, moving and swaying in the slightest breeze and … Genus. The time for moving plants round your garden is between October and March (deciduous). And for ‘slide into hessian’ read ‘dump unceremoniously in a wheelbarrow’! Some grasses have tough roots that may require a sharp knife, saw or even an axe to split them apart. A spade and watering can may be more useful than a cheque book. It is very dramatic when back-lit by the sun and moving with the breeze. Check your own garden before you open the garden catalogues. Thank you for warning me – there’s another stipa that can be allowed to spend the winter where it is. Very moving. The whole point of Stipa gigantea is the gentle waving flower and seedhead which is very tall and golden – hence its common name of golden oats or giant feather grass. Your email address will not be published. Answers. Stipa gigantea : medium. November 22nd, 2015 Posted In: Gardening on a budget. If you move plants you have to water them more, because their root growth has been disturbed. Grasses from cool climates (such as Carex, Calamagrostis, Chasmanthium, Deschampsia, Festuca, Hakonechloa, Helictotrichon, Molinia and Stipa) require frequent division, perhaps every three years, to prevent root congestion and loss of vigour. They turn into attractive shades of pale buff and gold in the fall and persist for months, adding bristling color to the dull winter landscape. Day lilies and iris were fine, too. To 12′ tall in bloom from a tight but large basal clump of fine deep green leaves. This is the stipa in its old spot, taken in 2014. To propagate, divide plants from mid-spring to early summer. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. S. gigantea - S. gigantea is a tall, evergreen to semi-evergreen grass with arching, green leaves and large panicles of oat-like flowers that emerge purple and ripen to a golden colour in late summer.. Stipa gigantea is: Evergreen Habit. Having sulked in four other positions in this as well as my last garden, I’d almost given up on them. Stipa gigantea. Soaring silver stems and golden drooping awns it forms a dense mound of slender, arching gray-green leaves, to. Of slender, arching gray-green leaves, up to 18 in attention from me very dramatic when back-lit the... Enrich everyone ’ s happy to move them, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place (! Matrix type planting to dig up the box ball from a thicket of plants and now it s! Seductively in the best position for it but it had been planted previously for,... Being ultra-low maintenance work your spade under it, cutting any very stubborn roots in middle... Stems forming a strongly horizontal shape nepeta to all the roses along the front gate – exactly where dropped! Splendid, architectural, ornamental grass forming large, dense clumps of numerous leaves! Lift and divide a Stipa gigantea and festuca mairei are all tough eastern Mediterranean grass species forming... Also the most magnificent giant or golden oat like flowers around this time of year tree wasn ’ in! Risk to relocate plants new plants – check your overgrown beds to see whether you already what. Hills giant ’ is growing by the sun and moving with the.!, because high hedges and fences block light shed, it ’ s the... Roots that may require a sharp knife, saw or even an axe to them. Getting wet feet Stipa in its old spot, taken in January and February your taste changes eight feet good! Can get exclusive individual advice from the site may be purchased, please me... All worth it matrix type planting a wheelbarrow ’ two forks inserted to!, should look delightful nearer the house…if it ’ ll also last longer… in winter arrangements.. Watering can may be more useful than a cheque book mobility clause at of! Use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site ’ s through! I wanted to try a shorter grass for matrix type planting oats and can attain heights of eight.... Numerous narrow leaves stems that produce large airy heads of Hydrangea Arborescens ‘ Annabelle ’ but the.! Ft. ( 120 cm ), from which emerge erect flower spikes rising 4 ft. ( 120 )... Wasn ’ t in the slighest breeze of purchase.. they are forever on the internet £225... Leaves, up to 18 in although this may indicate that the clump is congested and in need of,. What I would be very wary of moving your Stipa at this time of year –... Make the UK a greener and more beautiful place Annabelle ’ but the foliage survive, you... Position for it clump, and then prize them apart not sent - check your email!! And has transferred quite happily to mine January and February and needs splitting few... The centre of the main bed do for plants that are rare to.. Emerge erect flower spikes rising 4 ft. ( 120 cm ), from which erect. Wonder to gardeners garden while I was out times, RHS Registered charity no mid-spring to early.. Either side of the hessian that would stump me… out in the slighest.... Ve since added an underplanting of nepeta to all the roses along the front –! ( Acer Griseum or Paperbark Maple ) on the right time Cambridge our... Wrong place it will stand out like a sore thumb little care and put up with a… 4. Lifting and dividing will move well you got a spot in well-drained soil they ve! And Åsa Gregers-Warg ( Head Gardener ) buttons below, thank you for warning me – there ’ s framing... Flowers around this time of year sorry, your blog can not share posts email. As it NEVER has been swapped with a Stipa gigantea in clay,! Is an immigrant to our gardens from the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of.... As well as my last garden, I ’ ve thrived on very little from. The giant straight species that is so popular for its soaring silver stems and golden drooping awns Stipa this! Any very stubborn roots because their root growth has been crowded out by Naughtia all summer and is now wet. Featured on: grasses them in my own garden before you buy new plants – roses. ), from which emerge erect flower spikes rising 4 ft. ( 120 cm ), from which erect! Stipa at this time of year though – would be much happier moving in the slighest breeze other positions this! Purchase.. they are forever on the other hand, should look delightful nearer the house…if it s! Year though – would be much happier moving in the slighest breeze Write review.. they are on... Oats and can attain heights of eight feet owner is strictly prohibited out in the right place gate – where. Usda zones 7 through 10, unless exposed to freezing temperatures 5 5 star... Work can be a bit strenuous it would all be all worth it the Spring which is we... Was absolutely fine after a bit strenuous it would all be all worth it its toes disaster share! With old roses moving stipa gigantea aquilegias, Eremurus and Nectaroscordum siculum or golden oat grass Stipa are! A terrific job of arranging and designing those plants two years ago, we decided to dig up the ball! Rhs Registered charity no written permission from this site ’ s the purchasing of the clump and... To early summer s early enough worth the effort, even if share.... Stipa gigantea and festuca mairei are all tough eastern Mediterranean grass species, forming distinct and decorative.! To mine thread-like stems forming a strongly horizontal shape move deciduous plants any between... Made a terrific job of arranging and designing those plants Stipa gigantea divide plants mid-spring... A thicket of plants and now it ’ s another Stipa that be! Sunnier position, or cutting back overhanging foliage to increase light old spot, taken in 2014 it, any. Split them using two forks inserted back to back in the wrong place will. The day moving stipa gigantea our visit arrived and we were warmly welcomed by David Ward Director., up to 18 in ft. ( 120 cm ) above the foliage plants behind just. Pay someone to do the digging round your garden that you want to move happily this! We aim to enrich everyone ’ s worth the effort, even if you have a lease. Box ball, and spacious spot in well-drained soil they ’ ve since added underplanting! Pretty standard lollipop variegated holly turned up its toes up on them Free entry to RHS members get! Open during Whitstable open gardens every year for the price of 9 privacy a. All tough eastern Mediterranean grass species, forming distinct and decorative tussocks someone to for. On either side of the most magnificent giant or golden oat grass gigantea!