Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea ‘Skyracer’
“Purple moor grass”
POACEAE
Deciduous Perennial Grass
Zone: 4 – 8
Range: Europe
Conditions
Soil: average to poor
Moisture: average to wet
Light: full sun (best) tolerates part shade
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w): 6′ – 8′ x 2′ – 4′
Other: slow to establish
Aesthetic
Shape/stem: clump forming, oval, upright, slightly arching
Leaf: grass-like, basal, parallel venation, green, bronzey / greeny-yellow in fall, linear, sheathing, serrulate. strong midrib, long leaves
Flower: spikelet/plume, showy, purple, tall, upright
Bloom: summer to fall
Other: fruit is grain in late fall; doesn’t hold shape reliably in fall and easily broken
Treatment (how to…)
Plant: general;
Maintenance: low maintenance; cut down whenever it begins to look bad (late fall – usually cut down earlier than most grasses as it does not carry in to the winter well); divide as needed (will likely not need to be divide for a long while)
Propagation: division (spring or late fall), seed (no self-seeding here in Victoria yet)
Use
Use: fall interest, container, rain garden, erosion control, accent, filler, mass planting, perennial boarder, waterside,
Companion:
Other:
Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals:
Interest
Local info,: not native; does not set viable seed in Victoria yet but does flower reliably here
Nature: tall ornamental grass
Identification (key features): Tall grass. average 2meters; Leaves are 1m by 2cm, medium green that are folded and have a thick midrib; plume 3m high, looks like its braided.
Interesting facts:
Cultivars:
. west coast island blooms . 