Molinia caerulea
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea
- Phonetic Spelling
- moh-LEEN-ee-ah seh-ROO-lee-ah
- Description
-
This is a dense, upright, warm season perennial grass featuring flat narrow leaf blades. The foliage turns golden yellow in fall. The foliage and flower stalks typically break down and fall over in late fall, providing little winter interest. Cut any surviving foliage back to the ground in early spring (late February-March) just before the new leaf blades appear.
It is slow to become established and prefers moderate to moist, cool site. Tolerates low fertility.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea
- 'Moorhexe moor'
- 'Windspiel'
- Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea
- Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea, 'Moorhexe moor', 'Windspiel'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea
- 'Moorhexe moor'
- 'Windspiel'
- Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea
- Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea, 'Moorhexe moor', 'Windspiel'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Molinia
- Species:
- caerulea
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Kazakhstan, Mediterranean and Ethiopia
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Narrow purplish panicles in mid-summer held high above foliage that freely move with the wind. Modest flowering in hot, dry weather. Fades to a tawny yellow in fall, breaking off in early winter.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Grows in a dense, low mound of basal foliage. Leaves are flat and narrow, turning golden yellow in fall. Breaks down in early winter. Moderate to fine texture.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Wet Soil
