Golden Oats Grass

Reaching for the stars,  
it is Stipa gigantea.

Golden Oats Grass

(Stipa gigantea)

The florets can be seen

in the upper foreground gifting seeds 

to those of us under the 8-ft stems.

Location: The Gatehouse garden©

this day of 5 August 2021

Botanical name: Stipa gigantea

Family: Poaceae

Native to: Spanish Pyrenees

Life cycle: Perennial

Hardiness zone: USDA 05-10

Foliage: 18" evergreen hummock with arching evergreen gray-green leaves.

Bloom time: May until early July. Seedheads soaring to ca. 8-feet, last until late summer or early autumn. These are useful in dried flower arrangements.

Tolerates: Drought after it has been established; also resistant to deer.

Sow: Spring.

Notes. This grass brings texture, form, and movement to the garden. It has a long period of interest. Popular for its soaring silver stems and golden drooping awns. The flowers make a great see-through "scrim" in gardens. It has a long period of interest.

Do not fertilize or it could cause the long stems to droop.

It can be tidied by raking through the clump to remove dead grass. and cut back in late winter or early spring for a cleaner look. If it is not a vigorous plant cutting it back can kill a weak or young plant, according to the Elizabeth Miller Library, Seattle. 

Stipa gigantea was awarded an A.G.M. distinction by the Royal Horticulture Society in 1993 and is on the Seattle's Elizabeth Miller Library noted "Great Plant Picks" list.

Seed capsules of 
Golden Oats grass
(Stipa gigantea)
Source: the Gatehouse garden
5 August 2021
Clay art by Jodie and Terri

Packets are now installed at the seed shed on Reefnet Bay Road, Shaw Island, Washington.

YANSEN FARM LUPINES

 

End-of-season
Two-toned Lupine blooming on the
Yansen Farm,
USDA Hardiness Zone 8-b
Reefnet Bay Road, Shaw Island,
San Juan Archipelago, WA.
photo courtesy of Diana.
July 2021.

Common name: Big Leaf Lupine

Botanical name: Lupinus polyphyllus x Russell hybrids.

Life cycle: Hardy perennial

Hardiness zone range: USDA 03-10

Native growing region: Western North America

Preferred climate: Temperate

Soil type: well-drained, moist to wet.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Height: 3-4-ft

Blooms: Early to mid-summer in shades of bi-color pink and blue-purple.

Tolerates: Drought and usually deer resistant.

Degree of difficulty: Easy to grow and one of the easiest perennials to propagate from seed.

Description: According to Diana these are vigorous, self-seeding plants.

Attracts: Pollinators, hummingbirds.

Germination: 7-14 days.

Planting: Tough seed coat so nick lightly with sandpaper or soak in water overnight. Plant outdoors only 1/4" deep where they receive full sun. Lupines have long tap roots so plant in their permanent location. Thin to 18-24 inches.

Notes: This plant is an important food for larvae of some butterflies; wildlife eat some of the mature seeds following the bloom cycle.

Lupine seeds have been unpacked from their  

mature pods and installed in new packets.

They are colorful, nitrogen-fixing, 

pollinator-friendly

plants growing happily on Shaw Island.

Available at the Gatehouse seed rack

Reefnet Bay Road, Shaw Island, WA.