How to grow
Stipa is tolerant of most soils as long as it has a bit of sun. It also grows well in containers, thanks to its shallow rooting system. If you do choose to grow stipa in a pot, don’t forget drainage holes, and try to use a soil-based compost with Osmocote long-life fertilizer granules.
Exceptionally easy to look after, stipa doesn’t need to be cut back like other ornamental grasses, but it does benefit from an annual comb-through to remove dead flowerheads. Although it is short-lived, it nevertheless seeds readily.
Suppliers: Stipa is available nationwide in garden centres or by mail order. The two most common forms are S. tenuissima (30cm tall) and S. tenuifolia (60cm).
