New Zealand Wind Grass

Hailing from New Zealand, but admired the world over, this evergreen, ornamental grass is certainly garden worthy. Ideal for adding structure, movement and colour to the garden. Adaptable to sun or light shade, it forms soft, upright, arching tufts. The leaves change from green to tan, orange and red through the seasons. Come summer, a soft cloud of bowing, pink spikelets unfurl then turn purple/brown in autumn. The flowers can be left to add winter interest, or cut for indoor display. It is these flowers that add glorious movement and an ethereal softness to the display.

New Zealand Wind Grass holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit, one of the highest accolades a plant can have. It is a good, manageable size and provides year round interest. The most intense foliage colour will come with a bit of stress from cold/dry.

This versatile plant is well suited to a variety of garden or container options. It is at home in cottage gardens, easily used in mass plantings as a ground cover and makes an easy accent or backdrop plant.

Plant in moderately fertile to humus rich, well drained soil. If it is too moist it tends to rot – so those hard to fill dry shade positions are not a problem! The plants are quick to establish and easy to care for, they will last around four years, they should then be replaced/divided, the seed is viable and will self sow (certainly not to an invasive level) or can be collected for sowing in autumn.

Anemanthele lessoniana was previously known as Stipa arundinacea. Other common names include Pheasant’s Tail Grass.