Stipa barbata (Silver Feather Grass)
Stipa barbata commonly known as Silver Feather Grass or Beared Feather Grass, is an elegant semi-evergreen perennial grass that forms an upright loose clump of thin green leaves that turn yellow in autumn and partially disappear in the winter.
During summer, tall stems rise above the foliage, topped with delicate silvery white flowers turning cream in autumn. These flowers have long, soft, silky awns, often called angel hair, which unfurl and flow with the slightest breeze, giving the grass its distinctive shimmering appearance.
It is a hardy, drought-tolerant ornamental grass native to parts of the Mediterranean, North Africa, Southwest Asia, and extending to the West Himalayas.
Quick Overview
TYPE
HEIGHT & WIDTH
BLOOM TIME
SUNLIGHT
HARDINESS
DROUGHT TOLERANCE
ORIGIN
Silver Feather Grass Botanical name
- Botanical name: Stipa barbata (STEE-puh bar-BAH-tah)
- Family: Poaceae (po-AY-see-eye)
- Common name: Silver Feather Grass, Bearded Feather Grass
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stipa | Latin word meaning stalk or straw. |
| barbata | From the Latin word barbatus meaning “bearded” or “having a beard” describing the long hair-like structures (awns) of its flowers. |
How to identify Stipa barbata
Plant
Stipa barbata is a medium-sized semi-evergreen perennial grass that forms a loose, narrow tuft of thin linear, arching green leaves that turn yellow in the winter.
In summer, tall, cylindrical stems grow straight up from the plant. At the top, these stems, the long silky awns gracefully droop, creating a soft, flowing, fountain-like appearance.
These flower clusters start out silver-white but change to a cream colour as they get older.”
Its foliage is around 20 to 30 cm (0.6 to 1 ft) high, and the flower stem is 70cm (2.3 ft). The width is around 30 to 40 cm (1 to 1.3 ft)
Stem
Stipa barbata has tall, grassy, upright to arching flower stems. These round and hollow stems emerge from the foliage during the summer. They’re smooth, green, and hairless.
Along the stem are some spaced-out leaves, with the top-most leaf partially covering the flower panicle.
At the top is a cluster of flowers (spikelets) with very long, drooping awns (a hair-like structure) that detach from the stem by the end of summer and self-seed into the ground through a screw-like mechanism.
The stem has cup-shaped nodes along its length.
Leaf
The leaves are very thin, leathery, and green. They are smooth on the upperside and finely hairy on the bottom side. The green leaves turn to yellow in autumn and partially disappear in winter.
There are two types of leaves:
The basal leaves (bottom leaves) have a tube-like sheath encircling the stem. The flat part of the leaf, or blade, is long and narrow. It’s often rolled up and feels rough on top but smooth underneath. Some leaves might have tiny hairs (cilia) on the edges.
The basal leaf is 8 – 23 cm (3 – 9 inches) long and about 0.4-2.0 mm (0.2 to 0.8 inches) wide.
The stem leaves (top leaves) further up the stem, similar to the ones at the bottom but shorter. The topmost leaf might partially cover the flower cluster.
The stem leaves are around 2 to 12 cm (1.2 to 4.9 inches) in length.
Flower
The inflorescence is a loose and open panicle measuring 17 to 45 cm (6.7 to 17.7 inches) in length due to its long feathery awn. The panicle resembles a long, silky cluster of hairs.
The main stem of the panicle is slender and sparsely covered with fine hairs. It has multiple branches at intervals, each bearing numerous small flowers (spikelets) arranged in a spiral pattern.
The spikelets have a floret and a very long feathery awn. They are enclosed within two bracts known as glumes. When the flowers mature and open, we can easily observe the glumes.
The glumes are external bracts that are long and narrow and shaped like a lance. They are thin and translucent with green or purple markings and fine hairs, more visible on the upper half.
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Stipa barbata Habitat
Stipa barbata can be found in open areas like scrub clearings, grassy forests, slopes, abandoned fields, and along roadsides. It usually grows in limestone and loamy soil at elevations between 150 and 1100 meters (500 and 3600 feet).
Stipa barbata Usage
Ornamental
Silver Feather Grass adds a touch of sophistication to the landscape with its long, silky awns, that shine beautifully when they catch the light and flutter gracefully with the slightest breeze. These airy, feathery flower heads add movement and texture to the garden.
The visual appeal, together with its low need for care, make it a popular choice for low-maintenance gardens.
It can be used in the landscape in the following ways:
- Focal point: Its graceful stems and long feathery flower heads make it an excellent focal point in the garden. Its striking appearance draws the eye and adds visual interest to the landscape. When illuminated by early morning or late afternoon sunlight, it creates a dramatic effect, especially when it is backlit. Surround it with lower-growing plants to highlight its vertical form.
- Mass plantings: Plant in groups to create a dramatic, flowing sea of silver. This can be particularly effective in larger landscapes or along pathways.
- Texture and movement: Place in areas where it can catch the wind. The grass’s long, silky awns will sway and shimmer, adding movement and life to your garden. They also add textural interest with their delicate, feather-like appearance offering a gentle contrast with surrounding plants and hard surfaces.
- Naturalistic plantings: Stipa barbata is often used in naturalistic or prairie-style plantings to create a sense of movement and wildness. Its graceful form makes it well-suited to informal garden designs.
- Containers: Its narrow upright form makes it suitable for pots in smaller spaces such as a patio or balcony to enjoy its shimmering plumes up close.
- Rock gardens: Its drought tolerance makes it ideal for rock gardens or xeriscaping. The feathery flower heads create an interesting contrast and soften the hard rock surfaces.
It can be combined with the following plants:
It pairs well with plants that complement its delicate, airy texture and thrive in similar conditions. Consider combining it with euphorbias, santolinas, lavenders, rosemary, thyme, and shrubby salvias. For a contrasting colour, it also looks great with other grasses, like Festuca glauca.
Biodiversity
Stipa barbata provides habitat and food sources for various wildlife species, including birds and insects, making it beneficial for promoting biodiversity in your garden.
Dried Flower Arrangements
The long-lasting seed heads of Silver Feather Grass can be picked in summer and used in floral arrangements. The long awns will curl up, creating a creamy-coloured haze.
Erosion Control
The roots of Stipa barbata can help stabilize soil on slopes and embankments, making it useful for erosion control in landscaping projects.
How to care for Stipa barbata
Cold exposure
This plant can tolerate cold weather down to -12ºC (10º F). But only if the soil is well drained. Cold, soggy soil can be fatal to it.
While the plant is not yet established, you may want to add a thick layer of mulch around the plant’s base to protect the roots from cold temperatures. It´s preferable to use gravel mulch because organic mulch will stay humid and can cause the plant to rot.
Sun exposure
Silver Feather grass does well in both full sun and semi-shade.
In extremely hot climates or areas with intense sunlight, it’s beneficial to shield plants from the harsh afternoon sun to avoid leaf damage. Offering partial shade during the hottest part of the day can shield the plant from excessive heat and strong sunlight.
Soil
Silver Feather Grass thrives in poor, well-drained soils, particularly those with a gritty, rocky texture. It’s best to avoid planting it in damp locations, as it is not tolerant of soggy soil, which can increase the risk of root rot.
If your area becomes waterlogged, you may need to keep the entire root ball above ground level and fill in with a raised mound of sandy soil, sloping gradually away from the plant’s base.
It can tolerant most types of soil PH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils, but prefers a neutral to alkaline soil.
Avoid fertilizing the soil if you need the plant to remain robust and better equipped to handle extreme temperatures. Also, in richer soils, this plant grows floppy and weak.
Watering
Silver Feather Grass is very drought tolerant and can go for months without water once it is established (about 5 months of drought if the temperature is not too hot).
Once established, it does not need watering. However, if there’s a long period without rain or very hot weather, you should give it a drink.
During its first year after planting, it’s essential to water the young plant regularly. Depending on the soil and the temperatures, you may need to water it once a week, every two weeks or every three weeks.
When you water the plant, make sure to give it plenty of water, allowing the soil to get a good soak. This way, the water can sink deep into the soil, keeping it moist for longer periods.
To preserve the soil´s moisture, mulch should be added around the plant’s root area. Preferably, the mulch should be gravel because organic mulch can lead to leaf rot.
Pruning
Stipa barbata does not need to be cut back unless you are in a very cold region and the foliage has died during the winter. In this case, cut it back to about 15 cm (0.5 ft).
You should remove the dried flower stems by the end of winter, as they can be easily pulled off.
After that, comb through the leaves with your fingers to remove the old leaves. This is important because if you leave the old leaves, the plant will be stunted because the new leaves cannot easily grow through them. So, try to clean out as much of the dead material as possible.
There are two ways to remove the old leaves:
- With your hands – Gently remove the dead leaves, leaving the crown with only the fresh green leaves. Wear gloves for this task because the sharp grass blades can cut your fingers.
- With a rake – Alternatively, you can also rake it, which is a faster way of doing this. However, it may damage the new leaves, and you will not get such a nice result. It all depends on how much time you have to do this task.
When to plant Stipa barbata
Depending on your climate, the best season to plant is typically spring or autumn. Avoid planting during periods of extreme temperatures.
If you have mild weather where you live, it’s best to plant in the autumn to give it time to develop the roots during the cooler months before the arrival of the hot summer. In case of very cold winters, it’s better to wait until spring when the risk of frost has passed and the soil is warmer. That way, the plant can have a better chance to grow well and be healthy.
How to propagate Stipa barbata
Stipa barbata can be propagated by seed or by division.
Division: Mid-Spring to early summer
- Dig up the mother plant clump.
- Shake off the excess soil to make it easier to divide.
- Divide the clump into good-sized sections. Depending on the size of the clump, use a sharp knife, a spade, or even a saw.
- Replant the divisions into the garden
Seed: Early spring to early summer
- Sow the seeds in a well-draining medium. Lightly press the seeds into the soil, just covering them with a thin layer, as the seeds need light to germinate.
- Maintain consistent moisture but not soggy (cover with a plastic lid or bag) and provide indirect light.
- Maintain temperature around 15 to 18ºC (60 TO 65ºF) for best germination. Should take 2 to 4 weeks but can also be erratic and take several months.
- Water from the base of the container (don´t water overhead)
- Once the seedlings have grown a few sets of true leaves, transplant them into individual containers and grow in cold frame during the first winter, or harden them to outdoor conditions and then plant into their permanent positions after the last expected frosts.
This plant has a very interesting mechanism of self-seeding.
When the seeds mature, they detach from the stem and land on the soil. Upon landing, the arrow-shaped seeds literally drill themselves into the soil.
This happens due to changes in humidity levels. When the long helical awn is dry, it untwists and stretches, and when it is wet, it twists and curls. This alternating twisting and untwisting action causes the seed to move along the ground and also to drill into the soil.
The video explains how this mechanism works.
Sources of information used for this article
Sources
Article from Kew
Article from Jardin-sec
Volume 19 from Flora Iberica
