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Grass Like

Melica ciliata

silky-spike melic

A deciduous, perennial grass forming a spreading clump of stiff, narrow green or blue-green leaves. In late spring it produces upright or arching stems with flower spikes up to 15cm long made up of small, pale cream flowers with silky hairs

Synonyms

Melica ciliata 'Reine Saat'
Melica ciliata 'Silky'
see moreMelica nebrodensis

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Melica are deciduous, clump-forming perennial grasses with soft, linear leaves and arching stems bearing narrow panicles of flattened flowering spikelets in summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe N Africa SW Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Protect from excessive winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in situ in spring or when ripe or by division in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Remove dead foliage and old flowered stems in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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