Stipa tenuissima 'Wind Whispers'
Mexican feather grass 'Wind Whispers'
Dense, tufted, deciduous perennial to 60cm tall, with upright narrow, filament-like bright green leaves and producing prominent arching, softly-feathery greenish-white flower panicles in summer, maturing to a buff colour as the season progresses
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green White Brown | Green Brown | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Poaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Tufted, Clump forming
- 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
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in medium to light, moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun. Divide every few years to maintain vigour. See ornamental grasses cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring or by division in late winter or early spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Patio and container plants
- Prairie planting
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
- Cut flowers
Pruning
Cut back all dead leaves and stems in late winter or early spring before new growth begins
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
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