Features of the feather grass plant and its photo. The finest feather grass (seeds of feather grass from Poisk) The finest feather grass planting and care

Product description

Feather "Fireworks", or Reed feather grass (Stipa arundinacea)

Perennial grass, 50-90 cm tall. With an unusual coloring of the leaves, which, like a chameleon, changes during the season. Dark green in May-June, leathery leaves turn gold, pink, orange, red and brown by August.

Openwork greenish-purple spikelets from June to September form a light picturesque "fog" over the bush.

Created for the role of a soloist, he is so beautiful and unusual. It is ideal for voluminous garden flowerpots, the center of a raised flower bed, an alpine slide. A single plant or small groups look good against a lawn. The inflorescences are used as cut flowers for live and dry flower arrangements.

It needs well-drained, acid-neutral soil and a sunny location. Strong wind protection required.

The plant is evergreen, in the conditions of the middle lane in the open field does not hibernate. We recommend transplanting the bush into a container in late autumn and keeping it in a bright room with a low positive temperature in winter. Or immediately land in a container.

Landing: for seedlings in March-April, in a greenhouse. Landing in open ground in June according to the scheme 25x25 cm.

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Feather grass: growing from seeds and using in decor

Feather grass is a wild-growing variety of perennial plants from the grass family.

Description and photo

Drought-resistant culture does not like waterlogging, prefers loose and non-acidic soils, well-drained. Doesn't really need watering. On the contrary, when planting, it is worth choosing the driest, non-flooded areas.

Some species adapt well to living throughout our country. But for the spontaneous growth of this unpretentious plant with a height of about 30 cm to 1 m, the climatic conditions of the steppe are more suitable. Previously, scientists counted only a few varieties of perennial, currently more than 300 varieties have been identified.

The planted plant feels good with simple care and does not need to be transplanted up to 15 years.

grass properties

Biologists believe that due to the long-term habitation of the feather grass steppes, an accumulation of chernozem in the soil has been created.

These cereals are the rescuers of the steppe soil from wind erosion.

Decoctions from dried roots and the ground part, harvested in May - August, are used to treat thyroid diseases and paralysis.

Cattle willingly eat young feather grass and hay from it, harvested in the spring and mowed before the heading period. Being a good fodder for grazing animals before flowering, feather grass still does not have a high economic value in animal husbandry.

With frequent mowing for afterbirth to obtain high-quality feed from young shoots, the plant dies.

With the onset of flowering from the end of May (some varieties bloom only in early July), the cereal is poisonous, they are forbidden to feed goats and sheep.

The second half of summer is dangerous for grazing on feather grass pastures. Livestock is affected by feather grass disease: mature awns, digging into the skin, cause inflammation and even death of animals.

Feather-grass compositions in modern decor

Almost all varieties of this unusual plant are especially popular with specialists in landscape creations, who create their works on the principles of the unique and strict beauty of wild nature. The inflorescences of the cereal, like those of all members of its family, are inconspicuous, reminiscent of the incandescent filaments of an electric lamp, but the extravagant appearance of the leaves and stem awaken artistic imagination. The feather-grass bush is capable, spreading its delicate feathers, beautifully cast in the wind with silvery silk.

Thanks to the long silky awns that create a magical picture from the slightest breath of wind, feather grass is widely used in modern decor.

Cut discreet inflorescences are graceful, bringing harmony unsurpassed in simplicity to lively and dry flower arrangements.

An unpretentious plant is specially propagated using the following:

for decorating home gardens,

as a component in the landscape design of the fashionable "prairie" style,

when arranging alpine slides,

in creating bouquet compositions, especially from dried flowers and leaves.

This cereal is planted in open areas with well-drained soil in clumps, creating a natural garden, in rose gardens or on alpine hills, in the neighborhood and in combination with other plants:

drought-resistant, with which they live in the steppe neighborhood or in meadows (fescue, foxtail, poppies, cornflowers, chamomile, echinacea, heather);

with an unusual winning combination of compositions with plants with small flowers, or roses, ornamental bushes, conifers.

Types of landscape feather grasses for central Russia

What winter-hardy varieties can be purchased by lovers of modest exotics in the middle climatic zone?

For example, in the Moscow region, when decorating territories, preference is given to several types of this cereal:

Feather feathery - it is not without reason that it is popular in gardens and flower beds. This primordial inhabitant of the Russian steppes is accustomed to all climatic vagaries. Shelter for the winter does not require.

The most beautiful feather grass is similar in appearance to the feathery fellow.

"Fluffy cloud" is called a compact bush for its magnificent shape.

The thinnest feather grass, growing in Mexico, is demanding on the temperature regime: in winter it is not lower than 15 ° C, in summer it is not more than 25 °. Grow "whim" as an annual.

"Fireworks" is unique in that it changes the color palette of its leaves, turning into rich greens, golden, pink, red and completely brown colors depending on the season.

Zalessky's feather grass feels good on salt licks.

"Hairy" in appearance like horse hair with a silvery and greenish tint.

Lessing's feather grass is unique with unusually curled leaves and a panicle with a purple tint when dried.

Growing methods

Feather grass is traditionally propagated in two ways:

the bush is divided upon reaching a certain density and size into several parts (no more than 3-4 bushes are obtained);

sowing seeds that do not require special care during cultivation.

During reproduction, a number of simple conditions must be observed:

It is necessary to find the right place to “residence” the feather grass away from closely located groundwater and so that there is a lot of sun there.
Choose a species that grows without problems in the climate of the middle zone.

reproduction

Seeds are placed directly in moistened ground in the habitat in autumn (there is a risk that frosts will destroy the young shoot), or in spring, not earlier than by the end of April. The procedure is simple: place 3 to 4 seeds in a hole up to 3 cm deep and close them up. The distance between the holes is up to 20 cm.

To reduce the risk of death from hypothermia, or planting heat-loving varieties, feather grass is bred in seedlings. If the seeds are planted for seedlings in March, the unusual beauty of this plant will delight the eye this season. It is preferable to use separate cups so that fragile seedlings are not damaged during the May transplant into open ground. The soil for seedlings is chosen not too fertile, having prepared it in the fall from the place of "permanent residence" of the cereal, or acquiring it in a distribution network. Sprouts of seedlings appear already on the 4th day.

Features of care

In the modern trend of a slightly neglected garden, care does not require special agrotechnical methods. Feather perfectly meets these requirements, having both decorative and unpretentious growth.

These cereals are easy to grow even for inexperienced gardeners.

The requests of the "steppe emigrant" are elementary:

Planting material is planted in a dry sunny place of the site, inaccessible to groundwater flooding.

The steppe dweller easily endures a long-term lack of water.

Weeds are pulled out as needed.

You can mulch the soil.

Add lime to the ground when it is highly acidic.

Bushes that have become thick need to be divided - this is both reproduction and plant care.

Additional watering and top dressing are not required (it is possible to water very moderately only during the rooting of seedlings or when transplanting a divided bush, without special requirements for the technology of the procedure).

In autumn, without touching the leaves, only dry inflorescences are cut.

Diseases and pests

Diseases affect this plant a little. Feather grass has practically no natural pests. Its tough leaves will not be a delicacy for insects. The only problem is mites and aphids. There are 2 ways to help the gardener get rid of them:

wash off with strong water pressure,

treat with soapy water.

Conclusion

As a result, it should be noted that feather grass compositions have firmly won the hearts of residents of all regions of our country. Let landscape designers and amateurs continue to amaze with unusual, but beautiful compositions using feather grass in them.

Kovyli seeds

Feather grass will decorate the alpine hill of your garden.

Expiry date: 2019-12-01

Manufacturer: Plasma seeds

Expiration date: 2020-12-01

Expiry date: 2018-12-01

Seeds Tut online store collects orders as quickly as possible and sends seeds by cash on delivery to all settlements in Russia.

Seeds have already been received in such cities as Moscow, St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg), Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Samara, Rostov-on-Don, Ufa, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Voronezh, Volgograd, Krasnodar, Saratov, Tyumen, Penza, Orenburg, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, Kursk, Murmansk, Yaroslavl, Tolyatti, Ryazan, Barnaul, Tula, Tver, Lipetsk, Stavropol, Kaluga, Novokuznetsk, Belgorod, Sochi.

ornamental cereals

Feather grass, miscanthus, pennisetum (bristle), cortaderia, canary grass (falyaris) - ornamental grasses and cereals. Photos, names, care

Ornamental grasses (cereal grasses, cereals) are a fashionable element of modern landscape design. Attractive at any time of the year, ornamental grasses and grasses are at their peak when they bloom in summer and remain attractive in autumn and winter. Steadfastly enduring the harsh weather and piercing wind, ornamental herbs and cereals mysteriously whisper in the deserted winter garden.

Fast-growing and unpretentious care, thickets cereals and ornamental grasses look great in the garden next to other plants or tapeworm, giving the space focus, volume and texture. are good herbs and cereals in natural gardens, in rockeries, by the water, in gravel gardens, grouped with others ornamental grasses and cereals, in the middle of an open space, as well as in mixed flower beds. cut ears cereals and ornamental grasses add charm to bouquets and dried flower arrangements.

Garden centers offer a wide variety ornamental grasses and cereals, among which the most popular miscanthus, feather grass, pennisetum, cortaderia, fescue, canary grass. I would like to focus on the most effective herbs and cereals, which are especially appreciated by designers and gardeners for their architectural qualities.

Ornamental grass miscanthus

Miscanthus (Miscanthus)- popular high cereal plant, herb with long stiff linear leaves and drooping silvery, golden or pinkish panicles of pinnate spikelets. One of the most common in horticultural culture ornamental cereals- Chinese miscanthus (M. sinensis), another name - chinese reed. Some varieties of Chinese miscanthus have especially beautiful leaves - with a creamy longitudinal stripe (variety Gracillimus) or creamy flecks (a variety Zebrinus) and pink inflorescences (variety morning light).

Miscanthus grow up to 2 m under good conditions, which includes, first of all, an abundance of light. Miscanthus are quite moisture-resistant, but good soil permeability is an important condition for their cultivation. The cold resistance of Chinese miscanthus is from climatic zone 5. It is not surprising that these ornamental grass in recent years have become so popular with gardeners in central Russia. Of the other types of miscanthus, sugar-flowered miscanthus (M. sacchariflorus) and reddening miscanthus (M. purpurascens) are also used in horticultural culture.

Grass feather grass, steppe feather grass

One of the most unusually fashionable ornamental cereal grasses in recent times is feather grass (Stipa). At Chelsea 2007, feather grass was present in almost every design garden. This perennial plant of the steppe forms dense cushions of greenery with straight or elegantly curved stems and racemose panicle inflorescences. In culture, different types of feather grass are used. The giant feather grass (S. gigantea), reaching 2.5 meters in height, looks especially impressive in large spaces! Other popular feather grass species include: hairy feather grass (S. tenuissima), including a beautiful variety Ponytail, as well as feather grass (S. calamagrostis). Feather grass is cold hardy and unpretentious if it is provided with suitable conditions for growth: full sun and permeable, structural soil. Feather grass is used in gravel gardens, rockeries, mixborders and themed grass gardens.

Ornamental grass cortaderia

Cortaderia (pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana) in favorable conditions can reach 3 m in height. An overall, eye-catching cortaderia is best planted as a tapeworm in the middle of an open space or on a mixborder, behind other plants or herbs. There are cortaderia with straight or curving stems, on which long fluffy spikes of inflorescences proudly flaunt. Read more about ornamental grass cortaderia at the link above in our dedicated article.

Ornamental grass pennisetum (bristle)

Pennisetum (bristle, peristoschetinnik, millet, fountain grass, Pennisetum) - an exceptionally elegant plant originating from Asia. Pennisetum reaches a height of 1.5 m, oblong fluffy spikelets of these cereal herbs reminiscent of bottle brushes. Pennisetum grows very quickly and is able to change the appearance of the garden in just one season. Among several types of penissetum common in culture, there is also a rather frost-resistant (according to various sources - from climatic zones 5-6) foxtail pennisetum, or Chinese (P. alopecuroides) and its varieties, which differ in flower color and size. Very attractive, each in its own way, and other types of pinnates. P. shaggy (P. villosum, or longistylum) - low (60-100 cm), especially fluffy cereal with light brushes of spikelets, which eventually acquire a burgundy hue. P. oriental (P. orientale) - a more compact variety, plants reach only 60 cm in height. P. bristly (P. setaceum, or rueppellii) - large ornamental grass, whose curved stems, elegantly curving, form a real fountain of fluffy spikelets. The limit of winter hardiness of the bristly pennisetum is zones 6-7. The purple variety of bristly pennisetum (P. s. Rubrum) is especially good. It is this ornamental grass, unfortunately, is the least cold-resistant and even in our region (climate zone 8) it is recommended to provide the plant with winter shelter or remove it for the winter in a room where the temperature does not drop below zero. Due to the ability of pennisetum to bloom in the first year, overwintering can be avoided if the plant is grown as an annual. So, lovers of exotic novelties should pay attention to a particularly spectacular variety of gray pennisetum (P. glaucum) Purple Majesty.

Decorative grass reed grass

Short-haired reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha), nicknamed Fox's tail , - an exclusively ornamental cereal plant up to 1.5 m in height. Reedweed forms hemispherical sods of curved linear leaves and thin stems, at the ends of which fluffy silver-pink panicles flaunt, wider than pennisetum, but somewhat narrower than pampas grass. The limit of winter hardiness of the short-haired reed grass is climatic zone 5. Among other reed grasses common in horticultural culture: higher reed grass (C. x acutiflora) and less tall, but more cold-resistant reed grass (C. arundinacea). Reed grasses are quite hardy and compare favorably with other herbs by their ability to bloom intensively in partial shade.

Barley, pike, canary ...

Barley high, Siberian (Melica altissima)- Another interesting cereal, ornamental grass. The purple form of Atropurpurea barley is especially beautiful. Barley forms clumps of bright green leaves, from which thin erect stems with inflorescences appear in summer. Pearl barley inflorescences are a one-sided racemose panicle with shiny drooping spikelets. Barley grows well on any relatively fertile and moist soils. In winter, the threat to barley is not so much frost as humidity, so good soil permeability is a prerequisite for growing barley.

Pike, Soddy Meadow (Deschampsia cespitosa) called tuft of hair. This ornamental grass forms tussocks, consisting of many thin basal leaves that look exactly like a large tuft of disheveled hair. The plant reaches 1 - 1.5 m in height and blooms in summer with drooping panicles of bronze ( Bronzeschleier) or golden ( Tatra Gold) colors. Pike is hardy (zones 4-9) and can be grown and even bloom in partial shade, preferring neutral to slightly acidic soils.

Canary grass (Falaris) reed (Phalaris arundinacea picta). The peculiarity of the canary plant is the light, almost white color of the leaves. Canaries look great in dark corners of the garden, where you want to add a color accent. Falyaris is not demanding and willingly grows both in the light and in the shade.

Ornamental grasses and cereals: cultivation and care

Ornamental grasses are quite easy to grow and can be used in particularly problematic areas of the garden. Most of them prefer open, sunny places, but will not refuse to develop lush greenery in partial shade or even full shade. Many are quite tolerant of soil moisture: they tolerate both drought and heavy rains well, provided they have good water permeability. Pruning of ornamental grasses and cereals should be carried out in early spring (and not in autumn!), Before the start of new growth, cutting off last year's flower stalks and yellowed leaves. Ornamental grasses are propagated by dividing curtains in mid-spring or by seeds that are sown in spring directly into open ground, and in colder regions through seedlings. Ornamental grasses are almost not affected by pests and diseases, with the exception of reed grass and meadow grass, which are susceptible to plant rust (fungus Gymnosporangium sabinae). Remember to tightly control the spread of ornamental grasses. Sedge and feather grass can spread especially aggressively in the garden by self-sowing.

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feather grass reed fireworks cultivation

Our Flower Nursery includes Roses, Rhododendrons, Lilies, Amaryllis, Dahlias, Hibiscus, Fuchsias, Citrus, Fruit Houseplants, Fruit Bushes, Clematis, Pelargoniums, and just assorted flowers

The site has a flower shop for home, garden, patio - Hibiscus, Fuchsia, Pelargonium, Citrus, Fruit, Roses, Lilac, Rhododendron, Azalea and Miscellaneous.

The site has Information on flowers, such as: description, cultivation, cultivation of flowers.

I hope you will be interested!

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feather grass care cultivation

Feather grass (Stipa) is a common herbaceous, steppe plant of the grass family. The name is of Greek origin and means "tow". Close to 300 varieties of feather grass have been registered. 80 species grow on the territory of Russia. In the wild steppe, thick turfs are formed from feather grass, picturesquely filling the entire space.

Outwardly, the feather grass resembles a grass bush with a height of 30 cm to 1 m. It can be a perennial and annual, depending on climatic conditions. In nature, it grows in the steppe, mountainous and semi-desert areas of Eurasia.

The stems of the feather grass are thin, upright. The rhizome is short, not creeping. The leaves of the plant are hard and very thin, similar to wire. There are leaves twisted in the form of a tube. The bristles of the spikelet are oriented in the opposite direction from the spine. The awn curls like a spiral.

Violent flowering begins after 2-4 years after planting. During the flowering period, which falls at the end of May, the feather grass throws out a paniculate inflorescence-ear. Inside the spikelet up to 2.5 cm long, a flower is hidden behind two scales before flowering.

The structure of the ear is rather unusual. Seeds in the form of grains are hidden in the flower flake from the lower and upper halves. The scale has a pointed apex (callus) and an awn.

The feather grass propagates by seeds, which are successfully spread by the wind, expanding the area of growth. But there is another, more interesting way of reproduction associated with the structure of ears.

From dew and with the onset of rains, the stems become heavier and lower to the ground. The awn spiral is moistened and gradually straightens. Upon contact with the ground, it is screwed into it like a corkscrew. The recessed part can no longer come out, because the scales prevent this. Gradually, the spikelet dries up and breaks off from the stem, and the seeds remain underground.

The plant has no medicinal or nutritional value for humans and cattle.

Reproduction by seeds

The best way to breed your favorite variety of feather grass in your garden is to plant seeds, especially since this does not require much effort.

Varieties adapted to temperate climate conditions are planted immediately in the ground in autumn sowing. 3-4 seeds are placed in one hole 3 cm deep. Similarly, feather grass is sown in the spring, with the onset of May.

To eliminate the risk of frost damage, feather grass is grown through seedlings, and then it decorates the garden with the onset of the season. It should be noted that heat-loving varieties of feather grass are grown only in seedlings.

The substrate for planting is suitable store or harvested in the fall from their summer cottage. Feather grass is not demanding on the composition of the soil, even infertile compositions are preferable.

Seeds are immediately placed in separate cups of 2-3 pieces, because the sprouts are very tender and easily injured when diving. The optimal landing time is March. Planting seeds in moist soil is not deep. It is enough to sprinkle with a layer of earth no more than 1 cm. The first shoots can be expected in 4-6 days. The grown seedlings are planted in the garden in May.

cultivation

Feather grass is a steppe grass and is drought tolerant. Therefore, on arid soil, one feather grass often survives, filling the territory.

The landing site should be dry and sunny, without the threat of groundwater flooding. The plant does not like excessive moisture. In acidic soil, it is recommended to add lime.

When planting between feather grass bushes, they maintain a distance of 20 cm. When sown in open ground, seedlings break through, older bushes are seated.

Maintenance includes weed control and mulching. The feather grass does not need watering and top dressing. Unless for the first time after planting before rooting and on especially hot days, in order to preserve the decorativeness of the grass.

Large, dense bushes are divided into 2-3 parts for the purpose of reproduction and stimulation of flowering. The procedure is carried out in the spring or at the end of August. In one place, plants can grow for 10-15 years.

What is feather grass

Of the many common varieties of feather grass, landscape designers have selected several of the most attractive species.

feathery feather grass

Often decorates gardens and flower beds. It is fully adapted to the peculiarities of the climate of the middle zone, therefore it hibernates without shelter. Plant height with smooth stems and elongated panicles up to 90 cm. Flowering occurs in May-June.

The most beautiful feather grass

This feather grass has many similarities with the feathery species, which is noticeable in the photo of the plant. Only his panicles are much thicker and inclined to the ground. The smooth bend of the panicles gives the feather grass a special decorative effect.

Feather "Fluffy Cloud"

A small bush does not grow above 50 cm. Upright spikelets merge into a lush mass, confirming their name.

The thinnest feather grass

It is of Mexican origin and therefore thermophilic. Although high temperatures from + 25 ° C are also contraindicated for him. The annual culture grows no higher than 80 cm. The thinnest feather grass has hard leaves and white-silver panicles.

Kovyl Zalessky

It belongs to the feathery species of feather grass. It grows on poor soils and solonetzes. The leaves have a hairy cover with pimples. The structure of the panicle is loose, with slight pubescence.

Kovyl Fireworks

In warm climates, it grows as a perennial. The height of the bush is up to 80 cm. It has the ability to change the color of the leaves from dark green in spring to golden pink in the summer months. With the advent of autumn, it turns red or brown.

Feather Lessing

The height of the bush is up to 60 cm. The outer side of the leaves is rough. Dry leaves curl. Panicles are painted purple.

Kovyl Volosatik

It grows up to 60 cm. The plant differs from other feather grasses in thin and long awns comparable to horsehair. The ear is painted in silver-green color.

Feather grass in landscape design

Despite the modest, natural beauty and some wildness, the feather grass thoroughly settled in the garden and flower beds, giving them a natural charm and charm. The main merit in this is unpretentiousness and an unusual appearance.

The most successful application of feather grass in garden design is the formation of compositions that reproduce the vegetation of the steppe. Thin, gray hairs of feather grass roll in smooth waves in the wind and captivate the eye. Planting in dense groups enhances the decorative effect.

Feather grass is used in the vegetative design of the pond along with:

Swaying strips of feather grass will become an original decoration along the garden path. The feather grass is planted along the fence line, at fences and poles.

companion plants

Fashionable trends in landscape design have become the styles of "prairie" and "naturgarden", which means a natural garden. As companions for feather grass, meadow and steppe plants are selected so that the plantings look natural. These include cereal species: fescue, foxtail, miscanthus.

Bright combinations with feather grass form scabiosa of juicy, saturated tones.

Spectacular compositions are obtained with the following plants:

Herbs are the decoration of the garden throughout the year. Even in winter, their heads, dressed in snow caps, rise above the white snowdrifts. And in early spring, they will be the first to delight with delicate greenery. Herbs can be called a symbol of perseverance and perseverance. Herbs are distinguished by lightness, which is lacking in plants with more massive leaves.

Unfortunately, we have recently become interested in the cultivation of herbs. Once upon a time, numerous species of feather grasses, like a silky carpet, covered the steppes. Today, many of them are considered endangered species listed in the Red Book. The decorativeness of these cereals is associated with the fluffy part of the seeds, which helps them to scatter over great distances.

In cultivation, this is a very simple plant, however, it does not tolerate transplantation at all. This is a plant that loves heat and sunlight very much. The feather grass grows well on the drained soil, absolutely not transferring stagnant water. The most beautiful of the steppe grasses - feather grass, prefers slightly alkaline soils, fertile, not afraid of winds, direct sunlight. The feather grass is unusually beautiful during the period of short-term flowering, when the silky awns sway in time with the gusts of wind. Be sure to fight weeds in the area where the feather grass grows. To enhance the decorative effect, it is necessary to mulch the soil between the plants with expanded clay or fine gravel.

The slow-growing feather grass can be propagated from seeds, but to wait for flowering, you have to wait 10-15 years. You can divide the overgrown curtain in early spring.

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In this section you will find posts on the care, cultivation, watering, reproduction of feather grass. Community users share tips and secrets among themselves. A huge number of photos.

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Feather grass - fashion trends in landscape design, garden in the style of "prairie" or "naturgarden"

Feather grass is a fairly well-known plant that belongs to the cereal family. It is a grass from 30 cm to a meter high, with a short rhizome (not creeping) and a rather dense bush. The feather grass plant is perennial and propagated by seeds. In nature there are about 300 types of feather grasses. About 80 of them grow in our country. Under natural conditions, the steppes often form dense sods, but due to active agricultural activity, it is now rare.

The leaves of the feather grass are thin and hard, resembling a wire, sometimes they are even twisted into a tube. The stems are erect and also thin. feather grass flower releases in the form of a dense paniculate inflorescence-spikelet at the end of May. It has a very original structure, in which the grain is located in the lower lemma, which has a callus (pointed top) and an awn. The bristles on the spikelet are located in the opposite direction of the spine, and the spine itself is twisted into a spiral.

Use in landscape design

Due to its modest and natural beauty, feather grass is often found in gardens and flowerbeds (how feather grass looks like in the photo below). In addition to natural charm, this plant has another important advantage - unpretentiousness.
Of course, this does not apply to all varieties, since some of them, due to other natural growing conditions, require special care in the climate of our country. With the help of feather grass, you can create spectacular compositions that imitate the natural combinations of steppe plants. Its thin spikelets fascinate, fluttering in the wind with smooth lines. It looks especially beautiful when it is planted in a large dense group.

For creating naturgarden (natural garden), next to the feather grass, it is recommended to plant those plants that will look natural in combination with it, as if they had to be seen in a meadow. These are, of course, other cereals: fescue, foxtail, miscanthus and others.

Also look spectacular next to the feather grass scabiosa, especially bright, juicy shades, poppies, heather, sage, hyssop, chamomile, echinacea, decorative onions or garlic. Moreover, feather grass can act both as the basis of the composition, and as a background for brighter opponents.

Recently, landscape designers have been coming up with new original combinations, and now cereals favorably set off the beauty of rose gardens. Moreover, they look more advantageous next to climbing roses or varieties with miniature flowers.

The feather grass will perfectly fit into the plant environment of the pond next to geyhers, irises, sedges and reeds. Although it is better to place it not at the very edge of the water, since this is not a coastal plant, but, for example, along the path to the pond.

The feather grass can grow dense strip along the wooden fence, filling the space between the fence, and thus, emphasizing the division of the garden space. It will look no less beautiful next to the wattle fence or at the pergola posts.

Despite the fact that feather grass is a steppe plant, it can be planted next to ornamental bushes, such as Thunberg barberry or turf. It harmonizes no less beautifully with some conifers, especially dwarf varieties. Therefore, feather grass is quite appropriate on an alpine hill.

The use of feather grass in landscape design is not limited to the above, so designers continue to delight the gardener with new ideas for beautiful compositions.

Growing from seed

The easiest way to propagate feather grass is by dividing the bush when it reaches a good density. However, if it is not yet in the garden, then it remains only to sow the seeds.

To grow feather grass from seeds does not require any special knowledge or effort. Varieties that grow in the climate of our country can be safely sown before winter - that is, in autumn, directly into the ground in a permanent place. To do this, make a hole about 3 cm deep, moisten the soil and pour 3-4 seeds into it. In the same way, sowing is carried out in late April-early May during spring planting.

The soil can be purchased at the store or prepared in the fall from your garden. Feather grass is not a demanding plant, so it has no special preferences for soil. Rather, he prefers not too fertile soil. You can sow the seeds immediately in separate cups, since the sprouts of the feather grass are thin and fragile, and when planted from a common container, they are easy to damage.

Sowing is usually done in March. Seeds are not buried deep and periodically moisten the soil. Seedlings usually appear after 4 days. Seedlings are planted in the ground in May.

In the photo, the thinnest feather grass "Pony Tails"

When sowing feather grass seeds into the ground or through seedlings, the distances between plants are made about 20cm. The main care is to periodically weed out. If desired, you can mulch the soil.

Frequent watering or top dressing is not required, as the feather grass - steppe plant and accustomed to drought. The main thing is to choose a good sunny place for him, where he will not be threatened by groundwater close to the surface, since He doesn't like too much moisture.. Also, feather grass does not really like acidic soils, so if the acidity is high, lime must be added.

If the feather grass bush has become thick enough, it can be divided in the spring. This is not only a way of reproduction, but also useful for the plant itself, so that it blooms more spectacularly.

What is feather grass

Despite the fact that quite a lot of varieties of feather grass are known, only a few of them are used for landscape design (photos and descriptions are attached):

Feather grass in the garden. Signs

Like many other plants, feather grass has its own halo of signs and beliefs. For example, it is generally accepted that this grass cannot be stored in the house, since it is also called widow's grass, and if it is at someone's house, he will become a widow. This belief is connected with the fact that in the distant past, the raids of nomads fell just at the time when the feather grass was in bloom, and people began to identify spikelets of feather grass with the hair of mothers and wives gray with sorrows.

However, there is also a belief that feather grass is a sacred plant for the spirits of the steppes, and if a person hides a bunch of feather grass under his shirt, the spirits of the steppe will take him under their protection and cleanse him of past hardships.

This means that it is better not to put feather grass in the house, but it is quite possible to grow it in the garden!

prairie garden

The video below shows how to create an American style garden that looks like scenes from western movies. Plants like feather grass, and he himself, although he is a typical plant of the Russian steppe, will be able to show themselves in such a garden from the best side.

Feather grass: description, reproduction, care, planting, use in the garden, photos, varieties and types

For dry areas open to all winds and the sun, feather grass is suitable - the most beautiful of the steppe cereals. Long, silky awns of feather grass, pliable to the slightest breath, attract the eye at the time of flowering (end of May - June). The only drawback is the brevity of flowering.

Description of the feather grass

The feather grass forms dense sods and does not tolerate transplants. After that, he gets sick for a long time, so plan the area for the feather grass in advance. It can be the centerpiece of a lawn or a spot in a rock garden.

Plant feather grass sods tightly, at a distance of 20-25 cm. Carefully fight weeds between rows, remove shoots of extraneous grasses from feather grass curtains in time. To enhance the decorative effect, it is useful to mulch the soil between plants with fine gravel or expanded clay.

Feather Planting: Feathers prefer fertile soils, are good with organic fertilizers, and somewhat dislike acidic soils.

feather grass breeding

Feathers reproduce slowly. From time to time, you can divide the overgrown curtains in early spring. Cut them with a sharp tool into 2-3 parts (smaller pieces are not very viable).

You can also try sowing seeds. From sowing to flowering takes 10-15 years. Feather sprouts only during winter sowing, forming very tender seedlings.

Varieties and types of feather grass

The most unpretentious is Lessing's feather grass (S. lessingiana), or kovy-lok. He tolerates transplant better than others. However, the awns in the inflorescence are shorter in this species than in others.

In the middle lane, feather grasses are quite cold-resistant, they can be harmed by a wireworm. Wet soil is completely unsuitable.

Feather grass is a wild-growing variety of perennial plants from the grass family.

The planted plant feels good with simple care and does not need to be transplanted up to 15 years.

grass properties

Useful:

Biologists believe that due to the long-term habitation of the feather grass steppes, an accumulation of chernozem in the soil has been created.
These cereals are the rescuers of the steppe soil from wind erosion.
Decoctions from dried roots and the ground part, harvested in May - August, are used to treat thyroid diseases and paralysis.
Cattle willingly eat young feather grass and hay from it, harvested in the spring and mowed before the heading period. Being a good fodder for grazing animals before flowering, feather grass still does not have a high economic value in animal husbandry.

Flaws:

With frequent mowing for afterbirth to obtain high-quality feed from young shoots, the plant dies.
With the onset of flowering from the end of May (some varieties bloom only in early July), the cereal is poisonous, they are forbidden to feed goats and sheep.
The second half of summer is dangerous for grazing on feather grass pastures. Livestock is affected by feather grass disease: mature awns, digging into the skin, cause inflammation and even death of animals.

Feather-grass compositions in modern decor

Thanks to the long silky awns that create a magical picture from the slightest breath of wind, feather grass is widely used in modern decor.

Cut discreet inflorescences are graceful, bringing harmony unsurpassed in simplicity to lively and dry flower arrangements.

An unpretentious plant is specially propagated using the following:

for decorating home gardens,
as a component in the landscape design of the fashionable "prairie" style,
when arranging alpine slides,
in creating bouquet compositions, especially from dried flowers and leaves.

This cereal is planted in open areas with well-drained soil in clumps, creating a natural garden, in rose gardens or on alpine hills, in the neighborhood and in combination with other plants:

drought-resistant, with which they live in the steppe neighborhood or in meadows (fescue, foxtail, poppies, cornflowers, chamomile, echinacea, heather);
with an unusual winning combination of compositions with plants with small flowers, or roses, ornamental bushes, conifers.

Types of landscape feather grasses for central Russia

What winter-hardy varieties can be purchased by lovers of modest exotics in the middle climatic zone?

For example, in the Moscow region, when decorating territories, preference is given to several types of this cereal:

Feather feathery - it is not without reason that it is popular in gardens and flower beds. This primordial inhabitant of the Russian steppes is accustomed to all climatic vagaries. Shelter for the winter does not require.
The most beautiful feather grass is similar in appearance to the feathery fellow.
"Fluffy cloud" is called a compact bush for its magnificent shape.
The thinnest feather grass, growing in Mexico, is demanding on the temperature regime: in winter it is not lower than 15 ° C, in summer it is not more than 25 °. Grow "whim" as an annual.
"Fireworks" is unique in that it changes the color palette of its leaves, turning into rich greens, golden, pink, red and completely brown colors depending on the season.
Zalessky's feather grass feels good on salt licks.
"Hairy" in appearance like horse hair with a silvery and greenish tint.
Lessing's feather grass is unique with unusually curled leaves and a panicle with a purple tint when dried.

Growing methods

Feather grass is traditionally propagated in two ways:

the bush is divided upon reaching a certain density and size into several parts (no more than 3-4 bushes are obtained);
sowing seeds that do not require special care during cultivation.

During reproduction, a number of simple conditions must be observed:

It is necessary to find the right place to “residence” the feather grass away from closely located groundwater and so that there is a lot of sun there.
Choose a species that grows without problems in the climate of the middle zone.

reproduction

seeds

seedlings

Features of care

In the modern trend of a slightly neglected garden, care does not require special agrotechnical methods. Feather perfectly meets these requirements, having both decorative and unpretentious growth.

These cereals are easy to grow even for inexperienced gardeners.

The requests of the "steppe emigrant" are elementary:

Planting material is planted in a dry sunny place of the site, inaccessible to groundwater flooding.
The steppe dweller easily endures a long-term lack of water.
Weeds are pulled out as needed.
You can mulch the soil.
Add lime to the ground when it is highly acidic.
Bushes that have become thick need to be divided - this is both reproduction and plant care.
Additional watering and top dressing are not required (it is possible to water very moderately only during the rooting of seedlings or when transplanting a divided bush, without special requirements for the technology of the procedure).
In autumn, without touching the leaves, only dry inflorescences are cut.

Diseases and pests

wash off with strong water pressure,
treat with soapy water.

Conclusion

Ornamental grasses are found in many gardens and are grown for a long period of decorativeness, the airiness and lightness they bring to garden design.

Herbs are the perfect choice if you are relaxing in the garden. The garden is for the people, not the people for the garden. From a rational point of view, grass is beneficial, but from an aesthetic point of view, it is very beautiful.

Using herbs in the landscape design of the garden, you get a quick effect - they grow quickly, and already in the year of planting (less often in the second) they will acquire all their decorative effect, even if they were transplanted from a small flower garden.

Grasses make it impossible for weeds to grow actively.

Also, grasses do not get sick with anything and can easily do without additional fertilizers.

See also: Grass family: the use of these herbs in garden landscaping

Now you can pick up herbs for different growing conditions and with different lighting conditions. Even if you have very poor soils and the sun is hot, there are options, and there are many of them. And if you have a difficult site, heavy soils, close groundwater and there are stagnant waters, you will also find many options.

And for less extreme conditions, there are even more of them. You can't go wrong with herbs! They have a lot of advantages: it is a stable fit that requires minimal maintenance, and a long-lasting decorative effect that can reach 9-10 months.

Spring pruning of herbs in an ornamental garden

Leaving a minimum, but without this minimum, nowhere.

The main event in the care of herbs is spring pruning.

Cereals are usually divided into warm-growing and cold-growing, and cereal-like grasses are also isolated. When pruning in the spring, in order not to get confused in these groups, you can simplify everything. In spring, it is enough to divide all grasses into two conditional groups: evergreen and deciduous.

Vivid examples of evergreen herbs - sedges, fescue, sytniks, sesleria.

Deciduous - miscanthus, millet, andropogones.

Best time to prune herbs: early March - early April, depending on the weather. A big mistake is to prune grasses before wintering, because water will get into the stems and roots of the plant, and the grasses can become sick or even rot. Therefore, we insure ourselves and leave the dead wood until spring. In general, cereals have a very attractive appearance in winter, they add graphics and sounds to the garden, grasses in hoarfrost are very beautiful, they are interesting to look at.

And, of course, they attract birds. Sometimes, from strong winds and heavy rainfall, some grasses partially break off and fall, this happens with some varieties of millet, reed grass and miscanthus. To avoid this, you need to tie them in sheaves. By tying herbs for the winter, we prolong their decorative effect and ensure that less water gets into the middle of the bush to the roots, and the plant hibernates better.

In deciduous grasses, it is important not to miss the beginning of the growing season and prune in time, because old leaves will interfere with young ones. The group of conditionally deciduous grasses includes all cereals, the aerial part of which changes the color of the leaves in winter to all shades of brown. These include pennisetums, millet, miscanthus, andropogons, lightning, that is, those plants that will not go into normal growth in the presence of old shoots.

Before cutting herbs, you need to prepare, be sure to work in closed clothes, in tight gloves and wear goggles. The leaves can be very sharp and take a long time to heal cuts. Necessary tools: secateurs, garden shears and strong thread.

Grass cutting course:

we tightly tie the plants with a thread approximately in the middle, this will simplify the whole process and it will be easier to remove the sheaf than the blades of grass scattered throughout the area;
choose the place of cropping; be careful not to damage the young shoots. The higher the plant, the more we recede from the surface of the earth. You can focus on the growth of the cropped plant: if the plant is up to 100, we leave 5-8 cm from the ground, we cut off everything else. The higher the plant, the higher the pruning point will be, if your plant is more than 2 meters high (for example, miscanthus or cortaderia) - leave 15 cm. growing points and young shoots so as not to damage them. An exception to this rule is the pruning of the soddy pike and the reed grass: these herbs start growing very early, we cut them in the very early spring and as close as possible to the tussock, literally leaving only a few centimeters;
And most importantly: cut with secateurs or garden shears. After trimming with our hands, we select unnecessary scales and, as it were, comb the plant, you can use a garden rake with wide teeth. The cropped top is good for mulch or as pet bedding.

The second group of herbs are conditionally evergreens, these include sedges, oxeye, sytniki, fescue, sesleria and other herbs, which do not change the color of their leaves and, as it were, fall asleep for the winter, and continue a good vegetation in the spring.

The pruning of these plants differs strikingly from the pruning of the herbs of the first group. In no case can you completely cut these herbs to zero, they will not tolerate it very well, they will start to hurt and are unlikely to be decorative this year. They cut off only damaged leaves, remove dead leaves, they usually gather at the base, and the plant itself can be carefully combed with your hands.

That's all! Our cereals are trimmed and ready for active growth, now they can be divided or transplanted like regular perennials.

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Feather grass is a grass of the cereal family, which has about 300 species. But only 80 of its species are found within our region. The stem is straight with hard and thin leaves. The inflorescence of the feather grass is dense and looks like a panicle. His favorite habitat is the steppe. The feather grass fell in love with Eurasia, where it is found most often in the steppe or on a rocky slope.

Description of the feather grass

This herb is characterized by the absence of creeping roots. Growing in a semi-desert or steppe zone, feather grass forms dense thickets. It can be recognized by its straight stem and narrow, folded leaves. Small brush-like panicles. Spikelets have membranes. From above they are long and pointed, and downwards of a leathery structure. The cultivated species reaches a height of up to 2.5 m.

This herb got its name from the word "stupe", which, when translated from Greek, means "tow". Reproduction of the plant occurs with the help of the wind, which carries the seed of the feather grass over long distances. But at the same time, the seed does not immediately fall into the ground. Most often they languish for a long time in dense thickets of other plants or on the cover of old dry leaves.

At night, when dew appears, the grass has a habit of hiding. The lower knee, which was twisted in a spiral, gradually unfolds, thereby pressing the stalk to the ground. Following him, the grain has to be screwed into the ground. At dawn, having spun back, it can no longer fully get out of the soil, as it is firmly hooked on the ground with hard bristles. Most often, as a result, the grain breaks and partially remains in the ground.

Feather grass as a decoration of the landscape

The feather grass captivates at first sight. This unpretentious grass in care has won the hearts of gardeners, decorating gardens and flower beds with itself. Naturally, not every variety of feather grass is equally interesting for landscape design. In addition, only certain varieties of this plant feel good in our climate. Swaying like waves, spikelets of feather grass surrender to the power of the wind, which creates a bewitching spectacle. And the thicker this grass is planted, the more spectacular its appearance.

With the help of feather grass in gardens, you can create wonderful natural compositions. The right combination of feather grass with some other plants found in the meadows will make your flower bed irresistible and as close as possible to the wild landscape. To this end, you should pay attention to: fescue, foxtail, miscanthus and many other interesting cereal herbs.

For example, the neighborhood of feather grass with scabiosis, a bright and juicy shade, will help to achieve a harmonious look in the garden. With poppies, heather, sage, hyssop, chamomile, echinacea, decorative onion or garlic. The role of feather grass in these compositions can be both leading and secondary.

Feather grass can also fit perfectly into the vegetation of ponds, being planted next to geyhera, iris, sedge or reeds. Ideally, drop him off on the side of the path to the pond, and not at the very reservoir.

Not a bad idea to justify the feather grass along the fence. It will perfectly fit into the design of the garden, outlining its boundaries with an airy mood. And how beautifully it combines with a wicker fence made of twigs or at pergola posts.

And although the feather grass is a steppe plant, it can still be safely planted next to ornamental plants. For example, it will become an excellent neighbor to Thunberg's barberry or turf. Dwarf coniferous plants also welcome feather grass into their environment, and therefore they can even decorate an alpine hill.

In addition, the fantasy of landscape designers does not end there. Every day they invent new combinations of feather grass with other plants, delighting their customers.

Growing from seed

The easiest way to propagate feather grass is to divide its dense bush into parts. But if this plant has not yet started in your house and there is nothing to share, then you can grow it from a seed.

There is nothing easier than this. You can plant feather grass seeds in autumn (before winter) or in spring (in April-May). For this, a shallow hole is simply made (up to 3 cm deep) and 3-4 seeds are lowered into it. The soil must be moist at the time of planting. The method is the same for autumn and spring planting.

Remember that, despite the unpretentiousness, yet the feather grass may not be able to cope with the frosty coolness, suddenly dying in the bud. And therefore, the seedling option remains the only sure way to grow feather grass. And besides, if your choice fell on a heat-loving variety, then except for seedlings, it will not be possible to plant it in another way.

The soil can be bought at the store or selected in the fall in your own garden. Due to the fact that feather grass has no special requirements for the soil, our task becomes even easier. Seeds are sown in separate cups. This is done in order not to accidentally damage the thin stems of the sprouts in the process of planting them.

Sowing is done in early March, you need to place the seeds not deep into the soil. Be sure to moisturize as needed. The first sprouts hatch after four days. Seedlings are planted in open ground after 2 months, in May.

Care

It is necessary to sow feather grass in the ground or by seedlings at a distance of 20 cm from each other. All crop care comes down to clearing the land of weeds. If there is such a desire, then you can mulch the soil. It is not necessary to specially water or feed this plant, as it endures drought.

In order for feather grass to grow with pleasure, it is important to plant it in sunny places, away from water bodies. This plant does not welcome excessive moisture. He also dislikes acidic soils. Therefore, if a high acidity of the soil is noticed, lime must be introduced into it.

Feel free to divide bushes that are too thick in half. The best time for this event is spring. After such a procedure, the plant will take on a more spectacular appearance, and besides, as we already know, this is a great way to propagate feather grass.

What is feather grass

A little earlier, we already talked about the fact that the feather grass has many types. But you can decorate the landscape with only a few of them, such as:

Feather feather grass - the most frequent guest in the garden or on the flower bed. And they love him because he is better than others adapted to our climate, because he lives in the local steppe zone. In height, the bushes can reach up to 90 cm. It blooms at the end of spring - the beginning of summer. In winter, it is easy to do without shelter. The stem is particularly smooth, and the panicle is narrow;
The most beautiful feather grass - this species has similar features with the previous version. Its only difference is that this “beautiful feather grass” has a thicker panicle. Being quite weighty, they gently slope down, forming a beautiful bend;
Feather "Fluffy cloud" - this plant is very compact in size. Its height is only 50 cm, sometimes even less. Spikelets are straight, lush. Visually, such a bush resembles an air cloud, which is why it was called that;
The thinnest feather grass - this species has Mexican roots, and therefore does not like cold and heat at all. The permissible temperature limits for it are within + 15 + 25 degrees. This is an annual plant that has stiff leaves and whitish spikelets with a silver sheen. Bushes reach a height of 80 cm;
Feather "Fireworks" - bushes of a plant of this species can be up to 80 cm in height. In our climate, "Fireworks" lives only one year. This feather grass has amazing abilities - to change its color depending on the season. In spring, its leaves, as usual, have a rich green hue. But in August, they suddenly turn golden-pink. With the advent of autumn, the situation changes again, and the leaves of the "Fireworks" are painted in red or brown tones;
Zalesky's feather grass - this feathery feather grass prefers low-humus soils or solonets for growth. On its leaves you can find many hairs and small bulges. The panicle lowered down has a loose appearance;
Feather "Hair" - An interesting type of feather grass, which has an average height of about 60 cm. Its awn is quite thin and long (about 20-25 cm). It clearly shows the similarity with horse hair. Spikelets of silver-green color;
Lessing's feather grass - the height of this grass does not exceed 60 cm. The leaves have a rough surface. When they dry out, they can twist. Panicles have purple hues.

Signs associated with feather grass

The feather grass is covered with secrets no less than other plants. There is a belief that allegedly feather grass is widow's grass, and therefore it cannot be kept at home. Because if one of the women disobeys and brings this weed into the house for storage, he will become a widow. And this sign arose from ancient times, when during the flowering of feather grass, nomads attacked the villages, killing men. A strange coincidence, but it was it that gave rise to this belief. And the spikelets of feather grass resembled the gray hair of widowed mothers and wives.

Despite the first sign, there was another. She said that feather grass is not an ordinary plant. It belongs to the spirits of the steppe and is able to protect a person from all sorts of troubles. To do this, it was necessary to hide a bunch of feather grass under your clothes.

According to these beliefs, the conclusion is obvious - it’s still not worth keeping the feather grass at home, but in the garden - grow it with peace of mind. Feather grass will not only decorate your landscape design, but also give a feeling of merging with wildlife.

Botanical description of the most beautiful feather grass

The most beautiful feather grass is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Cereal family (Poat grass). In the natural environment, it is found in the steppes and rocky areas of Central Asia, Europe, Western Siberia, and the Caucasus. Able to climb to the upper belt of mountains. Tolerates temperatures as low as -23°C.

Feather grass is a rare plant, protected by the Red Book of the Russian Federation (included in the Vulnerable category). Active economic activity of man displaces feather grass from the natural environment: plants and pipelines are being built, pines and other coniferous plants are planted. A natural forest is encroaching on the steppe areas in the mountains, from which feather grass plantations are sharply reduced.

Soddy plant. Numerous stems are erect and smooth, sometimes there is pubescence under the nodes.
The height of the bush is about 70 cm.

The basal rosette is formed by narrow, long (about 60 cm), straight leaves of dark green color. The stem leaves are shorter, folded along the length of the stems, almost flat, covered with fine hairs and small spines.

Unlike most cereals, the rhizome of the feather grass does not form creeping processes.
Another feature of the plant: the grain fruit is located in the lower scale with a pointed top.

This type of feather grass is called the most beautiful for a reason:

During flowering, its iridescent strands look impressive. The awns of the spikelets are pubescent: the paniculate inflorescence is decorated with a bunch of silky threads. The axis is twisted in a spiral, and the hairs are directed in the direction opposite to the axis. Gently leaning down, they give the impression of a cloud or creeping fog.

Racemose paniculate inflorescences in appearance are compressed, compact. The length of the awn is about 30 cm, and the pubescence hairs reach 3 mm.

When it blooms

Flowering begins at the end of May and lasts about a month.

In care, the plant is unpretentious. Tolerates drought. Well-lit areas are preferred for growing.

How to propagate beautiful feather grass

feather grass seeds photo

Reproduction in nature

Reproduction is predominantly seed. In the natural environment, the wind picks up pinnately pubescent grains and carries them away from the mother plant for long distances. After some time, they land, making their way through the grass, leaves, reach the surface of the soil. Under the influence of night dew, the spiral bend swells, unfolds, the axis partially adjoins the ground, and the grain is screwed into the ground. In the morning, the stem unbends, the knee twists back, but the grain can no longer rise up - the bristles do not allow this, they are stuck into the soil like an arrow. Over time, the grain will germinate.

Sowing seeds in open ground

To grow the most beautiful feather grass, you will need to stock up on seed - it can be purchased at specialized points of sale or collected in the natural environment.

In open ground, feather grass is sown in the spring. You can try to sow before winter, but after severe frosts they are unlikely to sprout. For reliability, place 3-4 seeds in one hole at a depth of 0.5-1 cm.

Growing seedlings

How to plant feather grass seedlings photo

It is best to grow feather grass for seedlings. Seeds need to germinate for 1-2 months. Start sowing in March or better at the end of February. You will need boxes of nutrient soil.

Seeds should be spread over the surface of the soil, only slightly pressing.
Moisten the soil with a fine mist sprayer.

Feather seedlings photo seedlings

You will need heat (air temperature at 22-24 ° C) and bright lighting (place on a south-facing windowsill).
Water moderately - sprouts can die from stagnation of moisture at the roots.

Seedlings of feather grass ready for planting photo

By the time the heat comes, you will get stronger healthy plants. Landing in open ground is carried out in May. Cross over with an earthen clod.

It is most likely not advisable to talk about the vegetative method of reproduction (by dividing the bush), since the plant tolerates the procedure painfully and may die.

Landing site selection

How to grow feather grass in the garden Photo

For growing feather grass, you need a place flooded with sunlight. It does not tolerate dampness: the site should not be flooded, with a close occurrence of groundwater, make a high bed, lay a drainage layer.

The soil is preferably lime or gypsum. When planting in ordinary garden soil, add lime and a little coarse sand for digging.

Caring for feather grass in the garden

Feeding procedures are minimal. Young plants need moderate watering, also weed weeds, you can mulch the soil around the plants. Adult plants do not need these actions.

No need to feed.

In late autumn, prune: remove faded shoots, do not touch the leaves.

Transfer

Plant immediately to a permanent place of growth, as the transplant is painful for the plant. In one place without a transplant, it has been successfully growing for more than 10 years.

Feather grass in landscape design and floristry

Feather grass in landscape design photo

The silvery threads of the most beautiful feather grass retain their decorative effect until late autumn. The original bushes will decorate the alpine slide, effectively complement the mixborder.

Feather grass with flowers photo

Plant in groups with other cereals, enter into flower arrangements.

Feather grass in landscape design photo

Looks great with barberry, turf, dwarf conifers. Stylish is the combination with roses, especially small-flowered or climbing ones.

Feather grass with decorative yarrow and salvia photo

Good partners: decorative yarrow, poppies, sage, hyssop, echinacea, chamomile, decorative bows. Combine with other ornamental grasses (miscanthus, fescue, foxtail).

Feather grass and echinacea photo flower beds

Throughout autumn and winter, touching threadlike pubescence will retain its beauty in dry bouquets. Due to superstition, not everyone decides to decorate their house with them - but they will find their place in the office.

Medicinal properties

Folk medicine most often uses feathery feather grass.

The raw material is rich in biologically active substances (cyanogenic compounds). They contain a strong acid - you should be careful in dosage. When used correctly, it has an analgesic and sedative effect, and is used in the treatment of thyroid problems.

Other types of feather grass with photos and names

The genus includes more than 300 species, in our area you can find about 80 representatives. Consider the species popular in gardening.

Stipa pennata photo

Pinnate - grown in gardens most often. The height of the bush is 40 cm. Long smooth leaves end in a bunch of hairs.

Hairy feather grass Stipa capillata photo

Volosatik - sheet plates of a grayish tint are folded into a tube. The awns are fleecy, their length reaches 18 cm. The bush is 40-80 cm high.

Stipa dasyphylla photo

Pubescent - in the natural environment, it is distributed not only in the steppes, it can be found on the rocks. The leaf blades are folded into a tube about 2 mm in diameter, the leaves are covered on all sides with thin soft hairs. The length of the awn is about 40 cm.

Far Eastern - common in China, Japan, Siberia. The tallest view: the majestic stems stretch up to 1.8 m. The width of the linear-lanceolate leaves is 3 cm, they are glossy. The awns are half a meter.

The thinnest feather grass Stipa Tenuissima photo

The thinnest - originally from Mexico, in our latitudes it is cultivated as an letnik. The height of the plant is 80 cm. The leaf plates are rigid.

One of the representatives of cereal perennials is feather grass (photo can be seen in the article below).

In Russia, there are about 80 species of feather grass, although there are many more around the globe - about 300.

Full description

The plant lives in deserts and areas and steppes. Differs in an erect stem and narrow leaves located along it.

Webbed ears can reach 25mm in height. The spread of grass occurs naturally, that is, the seeds are carried by the wind over fairly long distances.

In the dark, with the advent of dew, the feather grass closes. The spiral lower knee unfolds, bending the stem to the soil. This leads to the fact that the grain is screwed into the ground.

With the rising of the sun, it returns to its original state, but does not leave the earth. This is due to the presence of bristles on the caryopsis, which cling to the surface of the soil.

Varieties

The grass has several types, each of which is worth considering in more detail.

feather grass

Perennial plant with bare shield-shaped leaves, framed by a brush of hairs at the end. The height of the pinnate awns can vary between 20-40 cm. Flowering occurs at the end of May - the beginning of June.

Hairy feather grass

The plant reaches 40-100 cm. Differs in greenish-gray rigid leaves in the form of a tube. The average length of the hairy awn is about 16 cm. The flowering of the plant will fall in May-June.

feather grass pubescent

A similar type of feather grass can be found exclusively in the steppes. The stems have pubescence under the nodes and grow from 30-80 cm. The leaves, framed by small long hairs, have a diameter of up to 0.2 cm in the wrapped state. The height of the awn does not exceed 45 cm. Flowering time May-June.

Far Eastern feather grass

The places where feather grass grows are the Far Eastern steppes, China, Eastern Siberia and Japan. This species differs from the rest in its height and grandeur. Its length can reach 1.8 m. The grass is erect, has openwork leaves with a shiny surface, the width of which is up to 3 m, and the height of the axes can be up to 0.5 m.

The most beautiful feather grass

The plant can be found in rocky, steppe and rocky places in Europe, the Caucasus, Asia and western Siberia. The grass reaches no more than 70 cm in height. It has dark green leaves and a length of pinnate awns of about 30 m. The feather hair is about 30 mm.

note: ancient times feather grass is surrounded by many superstitions. It is considered a symbol of loneliness. This is due to the fact that it was during the period of its flowering that many raids fell, which entailed the death of men and the theft of children.

This is only a small part of the varieties that can be found in the vastness of Russia.

Growing with seeds

According to gardeners, feather grass propagation is best done by dividing the bush. However, in the absence of such an opportunity, there is the option of growing from seeds.

To increase the chances of seed germination, you need to stock up on soil. There are no special requirements for it, since the grass is quite unpretentious. Sowing is done in early March immediately in cups or special containers. For each seed, it is worth allocating a separate container initially.

It is important to know: the plant has a vulnerable root system, so a transplant can have a detrimental effect on it.

The laying of seeds is carried out at a shallow depth. With moderate soil moisture, you can observe the first shoots in a few days. With the onset of warming (approximately in early May), the feather grass is ready for transplanting into open ground.

Care rules

Feather grass is not picky in care, so it is enough to rid the soil around it of weeds. In addition, the plant calmly tolerates dry weather, so it does not require frequent watering and top dressing.

It will thrive in a sunny area. For successful grass growth, you can mix the soil with a small amount of lime.

Too dense plants in the spring can be divided. Thus, you will make it bloom more spectacular and propagate the culture.

Since the grass belongs to the evergreens, the period of winter cold in the middle lane is impossible for it. To save the feather grass, it should be carefully transplanted into a container and transferred to a room with a stable positive temperature.

landscape application

Natural beauty and pickiness allows you to grow feather grass in garden plots and flower beds, creating intricate compositions. A dense wall of grass looks great in combination with other cereals.

The plant will make a wonderful background for wild flowers and will fit perfectly into rose gardens, highlighting the beauty and bright color of roses. If your site has an artificial reservoir, framed, then the feather grass will look advantageous along the path leading to it.

Grass planted along the perimeter of the fence looks no less beautiful, filling all the gaps in the fence and creating a feeling of closed space.

If you are thinking in your garden, do not ignore the feather grass. It will add zest and in combination with dwarf coniferous trees.

Despite the fact that the plant is considered a steppe plant, many gardeners have fallen in love with it and have successfully used it in landscape design.

For the beneficial properties of feather grass, see the following video:

Ripe seeds are dispersed by the wind. But there is another way, due to the peculiar structure of the spikelet. Under the influence of dew or rain, the stems of the feather grass take root to the ground, the spiral spine straightens a little from moisture, and, like a corkscrew, is screwed into the ground. The scales do not allow her to go back. Then the spikelet dries up and breaks off, and the seeds remain in the soil.

Use in landscape design

Recently, landscape designers have been coming up with all new original combinations, and now cereals favorably set off beauty. Moreover, they look more advantageous next to or varieties with miniature flowers.

The feather grass will fit perfectly into the plant environment of the pond next to, irises, sedges and reeds. Although it is better to place it not at the very edge of the water, since this is not a coastal plant, but, for example, along the path to the pond.

Despite the fact that feather grass is a steppe plant, it can be planted next to ornamental bushes, such as Thunberg barberry or turf. It harmonizes no less beautifully with some conifers, especially. Therefore, the feather grass is quite appropriate for.

The use of feather grass in landscape design is not limited to the above, so designers continue to delight the gardener with new ideas for beautiful compositions.

Growing from seed

The easiest way to propagate feather grass is by dividing the bush when it reaches a good density. However, if it is not yet in the garden, then it remains only to sow the seeds.

However, it is not always possible for seeds to overwinter or withstand spring frosts. Therefore, in order for the feather grass to surely decorate the garden this season, it is better to sow it in seedlings. In addition, heat-loving varieties are grown only by seedlings.

Sowing is usually done in March. Seeds are not buried deep and periodically moisten the soil. Seedlings usually appear after 4 days. Seedlings are planted in the ground in May.

Care

In the photo, the thinnest feather grass "Pony Tails"

If the feather grass bush has become thick enough, it can be divided in the spring. This is not only a way of reproduction, but also useful for the plant itself, so that it blooms more spectacularly.

What is feather grass

Despite the fact that quite a lot of varieties of feather grass are known, only a few of them are used for landscape design (photos and descriptions are attached):

- the most frequent guest of gardens and. This is no accident, since he is the original inhabitant of the Russian steppes and is accustomed to all the vagaries of our climate. It reaches a height of about 90 cm. It blooms in May-June. Winters without shelter. The stems of the plant are smooth, the panicles are narrow;
- very similar to pinnate, but unlike it, it has denser panicles, which, under their own weight, bend to the ground, forming a smooth bend;
Feather "Fluffy Cloud" is a compact bush no more than 50 cm high, often lower. Its spikelets are erect and have a magnificent shape, thanks to which this plant got its name;
originally from Mexico, therefore, winter temperatures below 15 ° are contraindicated for him, as well as high ones (more than 25 °). Grown as an annual. The leaves of this plant are rather rigid, the spikelets are whitish with a silvery sheen. The height of the bush is about 80 cm;
Feather "Fireworks"- a perennial plant about 80 cm high, in our climate it can be an annual. This feather grass got its name due to the color-changing leaves, which turn from dark green in spring at the end of summer to golden pink, and in autumn they become almost red or brown;
- from the genus of feathery feather grasses. Grows on low-humus soils, also often found on solonetzes. The leaves are covered with hairs and pimples, the panicle is loose and slightly pubescent;
Feather "Volosatik"- a plant about 60 cm high. It differs from other feather grasses by a thin and long awn (about 20-25 cm), which resembles horsehair. The color of the spikelet is silver-green;
- about 60 cm high. The leaves are slightly rough on the outside, curling when dried. Panicles have a purple hue, which can be seen in the photo of the plant.

Feather grass in the garden. Signs

This means that it is better not to put feather grass in the house, but it is quite possible to grow it in the garden!