Stipa arundinacea Sirocco

Stipa arundinacea 'Sirocco', also known as Anemanthele lessoniana 'Sirocco', is a magnificent ornamental grass, forming a colourful fountain all year round! Its evergreen foliage is variegated with green and burnt orange in summer, while its tall plume-like inflorescences appear in purple-brown spikes. Winter and cold weather turn it rusty brown, extending the spectacle of an endless autumn. It is a very robust plant for mild climates. While it thrives in dry, chalky, and poor soil, it dislikes humidity and winter cold.

Stip arundinacea 'Sirocco' is a rhizomatous perennial grass native to New Zealand belonging to the Poaceae family, which is rare in the wild. The graceful, flexible plant forms a clump of tapering leaves 80 cm (32in) to 1.20 m (4ft) high, with a diameter of about 40 cm (16in) at the base. The young spring leaves are medium green, turning a dark green shade variegated with burnt orange in summer, and then becoming rusty in winter. The foliage is evergreen if the winter is mild, but it disappears in severe frost. Flowering occurs in summer, from June to September depending on the climate, in the form of arching and trailing panicles, 35 to 75 cm (14 to 30in) long, consisting of dark pink to brown spikelets. These inflorescences are loved by florists for dried flower arrangements. The 'Sirocco' variety is redder than the species, and displays its warm tones earlier in the season.

Designed for large plantings and wild areas, Stipa arundinacea brings a beautiful structure and lots of colour to the garden. It is also a wonderful perennial that grows well in mild climates, in natural areas, or a modern garden with clean lines. 'Sirocco' is well-suited for solitary planting, creating a focal point along a path, but it also creates beautiful scenes when planted in groups. It will look fantastic paired with other plants in warm colours, like Cotinus 'Grace' (purple then brick red), Amelanchier lamarckii (young bronze leaves), or even dwarf Berberis like 'Admiration' (red all year round). And for perennials, why not try Gllenia trifoliata or a bronze fennel!