Native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa, this cool weather perennial grass is clump-forming and deciduous. It is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes bamboo, rice, and corn. Plants form neat clumps of upright, arching, light green leaves 6-18″ tall. In summer, 6″ long panicles of flowers appear on long, stiff stems 1-2′ above the foliage. The flowers are brownish, yellowish or purplish at first but fade to shades of light brown and persist into fall when the foliage also takes on attractive yellow to orange coloration. In late fall the flowers and foliage break off, so the plants are self cleaning. Several different cultivars are available and are a good choice for a perennial border, as well as cottage, rain or meadow gardens where the airy flowering stems add a feeling of lightness. The flowers are also valued for both fresh and dried arrangements. The genus name, Molinia, honors Juan Ignacio Molina who was a 19th century naturalist and botanist from Chile. The specific epithet, caerulea, is the Latin word meaning deep blue and refers to the purple spikelets.
Type: Perennial, deciduous grass
Bloom: Panicles of brownish, yellowish or purplish flowers in summer
Size: 3-4′ H
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Fertile, wet, acid
Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Division (seed possible but very slow growing)
Companion Plants: Beebalm, mountain fleece, Japanese burnet
Outstanding Selections:
‘Variegata’ (creamy yellow-white and green leaves)
‘Dauerstrahl’ (flowers in rounded heads)
‘Heidebraut’ (compact)
‘Moorflamme’ (orange-red fall color)
‘Moorhexe’ (purplish flowers)
‘Strahlenquelle’ (radiating flowers; more arching than species)
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons