Some of the best known grasses are in this family but there are lots of others too. Drained soil in sun suits most of them. Many with fine airy foliage and flowers all summer.
Stipa is a family which is in the process of being revised somewhat so many familar Stipa are being (or have already been) moved to other families. If you can't find the Stipa you want here try searching (top right of the page) for : Anemanthele, Calamagrostis and Nasella. We haven't moved them all yet but will do so in time.
Many Stipa come from arid, open steppes and accordingly require full sun and well drained soil without too much fertility. The usualy cause of Stipa failing or flopping is too much moisture or food - or both!
A number of species will self-seed quite a bit but don't remove all of the seedlings as the parent plants will need to be replaced after a few years so having a ready supply of replacements is handy. Some species, like Stipa gigantea, tend not to seed much though they are also much longer lived.
AGM An attractive clump forming grass from south America with rich green, narrow, leaves and arching stems holding clusters of red-tinted flowers all summer. Drained soil in sun. 60cm.
AGM Clumps of upright stems with mid green leaves to 90cm. Topped with soft plumes of feathery golden buff flowers in late summer. Best in good, drained soil in full sun.
AGM An excellent, slightly taller, form of this pretty grass. Golden green flowers turn golden buff from midsummer and hold all winter. 1m. Drained soil in sun.
Tight clumps of broad, pale green leaves and tall, arching stems bearing spikes of awned yellow-green flowers in late summer to 1.5m. Ordinary soil in sun or part shade.
Clumps of very fine bright green leaves and wispy pale buff flowers in summer to 70cm. Hardier and a little bigger than the well known Stipa tenuissima. Drained soil in sun.
AGM Hair-like bright green foliage to 40cm. the flowers fountain up and form a light layer of wispy hair-like material over the top of the foliage. Drained soil in sun.
