ornamental grass

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass

Molinia caerulea 'Windspiel'

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Windspiel Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea 'Windspiel') at Art Knapp Plantland

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass flowers

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea 'Windspiel') at Art Knapp Plantland

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Plant Height:  4 feet

Flower Height:  6 feet

Spread:  3 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4

Description:

Named for its airy golden panicles that gracefully play in the wind; a great choice of ornamental grasses with its neat, clumping habit and upright, arching form

Ornamental Features

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass features airy panicles of gold flowers rising above the foliage from early to mid summer. Its grassy leaves remain green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass is an herbaceous perennial grass with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Vertical Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity extending to 6 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 3 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Windspiel Purple Moor Grass is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Articulation  Massing  Screening  Garden  Groundcover  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Texture  Plant Form  Winter Value  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features