Feather fluffy cloud. Feather grass: growing from seeds and using in decoration. Grass feather grass, steppe feather grass

Feather grass (Stipa) is a common herbaceous, steppe plant of the grass family. The name is of Greek origin and means "tow".

Close to 300 varieties of feather grass have been registered. 80 species grow on the territory of Russia. In the wild steppe, thick turfs are formed from feather grass, picturesquely filling the entire space.

Description

Outwardly, the feather grass resembles a grass bush with a height of 30 cm to 1 m. It can be a perennial and annual, depending on climatic conditions. In nature, it grows in the steppe, mountainous and semi-desert areas of Eurasia.

The stems of the feather grass are thin, upright. The rhizome is short, not creeping. The leaves of the plant are hard and very thin, similar to wire. There are leaves twisted in the form of a tube. The bristles of the spikelet are oriented in the opposite direction from the spine. The awn curls like a spiral.

Violent flowering begins after 2-4 years after planting. During the flowering period, which falls at the end of May, the feather grass throws out a paniculate inflorescence-ear. Inside the spikelet up to 2.5 cm long, a flower is hidden behind two scales before flowering.

The structure of the ear is quite unusual. Seeds in the form of grains are hidden in the flower flake from the lower and upper halves. The scale has a pointed apex (callus) and an awn.

The feather grass propagates by seeds, which are successfully spread by the wind, expanding the area of growth. But there is another, more interesting way reproduction associated with the structure of ears.

From dew and with the onset of rains, the stems become heavier and lower to the ground. The awn spiral is moistened and gradually straightens. Upon contact with the ground, it is screwed into it like a corkscrew. The recessed part can no longer come out, because the scales prevent this. Gradually, the spikelet dries up and breaks off from the stem, and the seeds remain underground.

The plant has no medicinal or nutritional value for humans and cattle.

Reproduction by seeds

The best way to breed your favorite variety of feather grass in your garden is to plant seeds, especially since this does not require much effort.

Varieties adapted to temperate climate conditions are planted immediately in the ground in autumn sowing. 3-4 seeds are placed in one hole 3 cm deep. Similarly, feather grass is sown in the spring, with the onset of May.

To eliminate the risk of frost damage, feather grass is grown through seedlings, and then it decorates the garden with the onset of the season. It should be noted that heat-loving varieties of feather grass are grown only in seedlings.

The substrate for planting is suitable store or harvested in the fall with suburban area. Feather grass is not demanding on the composition of the soil, even infertile compositions are preferable.

Seeds are immediately placed in separate cups of 2-3 pieces, because the sprouts are very tender and easily injured when diving. Optimal time landing - March. Planting seeds in moist soil is not deep. It is enough to sprinkle with a layer of earth no more than 1 cm. The first shoots can be expected in 4-6 days. The grown seedlings are planted in the garden in May.

cultivation

Feather grass is a steppe grass and is drought tolerant. Therefore, on arid soil, one feather grass often survives, filling the territory.

The landing site should be dry and sunny, without the threat of groundwater flooding. The plant does not like excessive moisture. In acidic soil, it is recommended to add lime.

When planting between feather grass bushes, they maintain a distance of 20 cm. When sowing in open ground shoots break through, older bushes are planted.

Care includes weed control and mulching. The feather grass does not need watering and top dressing. Unless for the first time after planting before rooting and on especially hot days, in order to preserve the decorativeness of the grass.

Large, dense bushes are divided into 2-3 parts for the purpose of reproduction and stimulation of flowering. The procedure is carried out in the spring or at the end of August. In one place, plants can grow for 10-15 years.

What is feather grass

Of the many common varieties of feather grass landscape designers selected some of the most attractive species.

Feather grass in landscape design

Despite the modest, natural beauty and some wildness, the feather grass thoroughly settled in the garden and flower beds, giving them a natural charm and charm. The main merit in this is unpretentiousness and an unusual appearance.

The most successful application of feather grass in garden design is the formation of compositions that reproduce the vegetation of the steppe. Thin, gray hairs of feather grass roll in smooth waves in the wind and captivate the eye. Planting in dense groups enhances the decorative effect.

Feather grass is used in the vegetative design of the pond along with irises, sedges, geyhers, reeds. The swaying strips of feather grass will become original design along garden path. The feather grass is planted along the fence line, at fences and poles.

companion plants

fashion trends in landscape design the styles "prairie" and "naturgarden" became, which means a natural garden. As companions for feather grass, meadow and steppe plants are selected so that the plantings look natural. These include cereal species: fescue, foxtail, miscanthus.

Bright combinations with feather grass form scabiosa of juicy, saturated tones. Spectacular compositions are obtained with the following plants:

poppies,
sage
heather,
chamomile,
issolom,
chamomile, as well as decorative varieties of onions and garlic.

Feather is able to play a solo part here and be a backdrop for more colorful neighbors.

interesting and original solution in landscape design was the use of cereals to highlight the beauty of rose gardens. Especially winning combinations are obtained with climbing roses and small-flowered varieties.

Steppe grass harmonizes well with coniferous, low plants and ornamental shrubs. In any corner of the garden, feather grass allows you to implement new ideas in delightful compositions.

feather grass breeding

Feathers reproduce slowly. From time to time, you can divide the overgrown curtains in early spring. Cut them with a sharp tool into 2-3 parts (smaller pieces are not very viable).

You can also try sowing seeds. From sowing to flowering takes 10-15 years. Feather sprouts only during winter sowing, forming very tender seedlings.

Varieties and types of feather grass

The most unpretentious is Lessing's feather grass (S. lessingiana), or kovy-lok. He tolerates transplant better than others. However, the awns in the inflorescence are shorter in this species than in others.

In the middle lane, feather grasses are quite cold-resistant, they can be harmed by a wireworm. Wet soil is completely unsuitable.

Feather grass is a perennial herb. It belongs to the grass family. Worldwide, the plant has over 300 species, while in our country only 80 grow.

The stem of the plant is straight and has stiff and thin leaves. Its inflorescences are small and dense in the form of panicles. It is very well adapted to the steppes, where it grows. It is usually found in the steppes and rocky slopes of Eurasia.

Description of the feather grass

This grass, growing in semi-deserts and steppes, has no creeping roots and forms dense tufts. Its stem is straight, the leaves are narrow and folded lengthwise, sometimes almost flat. The racemose panicles are very dense and small. Spikelets are membranous, long and pointed at the top, leathery downwards, in cultivated species they can reach a length of up to 2.5 cm.

The name of the plant comes from the Greek word stupe, which means tow. The seeds of this grass are spreading original way the wind blows them away. From the mother plant, the seeds fly away quite far, but they do not reach the soil immediately. They get stuck in thick grass and old dried leaves and stems.

In the dark, when dew falls, the grass hides. The lower knee, twisted into a spiral, begins to gradually unwind and presses the entire stem to the ground, the grain, in turn, strongly screwed into the ground. In the morning, when the sun rises, it unwinds, but does not come out of the soil, since the caryopsis is covered with small, hard bristles that cling to the soil. Therefore, the grain breaks off, and part of its top remains in the ground.

plant species

Exists several varieties of feather grass. For example:

In the steppes of Russia, you can also meet such species as:

The feather grass is narrow-leaved;
The feather grass is reddish;
And many other types.

herbal treatment

Can't say about medicinal properties herbs. This plant contains a lot of cyanogenic compounds, including trigloquinine. They are very important biologically active substances. Since cyanogenic compounds contain a strong acid, they can be poisonous in large quantities. Whereas, in small doses, they can anesthetize and soothe.

The main area where the medicinal properties of this plant are used is the treatment of the thyroid gland. The leaves of the grass are crushed and a milk decoction is made from them, as well as lotions and poultices for goiter.

In medical books, this plant is found under the guise of feather grass (Stipa pennata L.). Gather grass during the flowering period, from the end of May to the middle of July. For various tinctures, it is used in dried form. Also in the fall, roots and grass are dug up, and used in treatment. Decoctions of feather grass are used to treat the thyroid gland, and decoctions based on the roots are used for paralysis.

Currently, feather grass is gaining demand in the form of decoration. They decorate the premises, making a herbarium. How ornamental plant planted in rock gardens.

Care and reproduction

This grass propagates by seeds, but sometimes by dividing the bush, which is carried out in April or August. Self-sowing does not. It is necessary to plant grass in the driest area, which will not be flooded with groundwater. If the site is damp, good drainage and a high location will be required. Moderate watering will be needed when the plant is rooting, then it does not need watering. In autumn, it is necessary to cut off the shoots that have already faded, while the leaves should not be touched.

feather grass plant

All cultivated plants, which are now actively grown in gardens and on household plots came to us from the wild. Over the course of many decades, they have undergone various changes, and now almost every gardener, including a beginner, can grow a real luxurious flower garden on his site without much effort. At the same time, it is not at all difficult to choose those plants that do not require any special efforts in growing. Just one of these is the luxurious Fireworks feather grass, the cultivation from the seeds of which we will discuss further on this page “Popular about health”.

This is feather grass Fireworks (plant photo):

Description

Feather Fireworks belongs to perennials, and is a representative of cereals. It reaches a height of fifty to ninety centimeters. Such a plant has amazing leaves - they change their color throughout the season. In May-June, they look dark green, and by August they turn into gold, pink, orange, red and brown tones. Feather Fireworks throws out openwork spikelets of a greenish-purple color, they appear around June and remain until September. Such spikelets look like a light and picturesque fog over a bush. Feather Fireworks looks great on its own - in single compositions. It is advised to grow it in voluminous garden flowerpots, in the central part of a raised flower bed or an alpine hill. And from the inflorescences you can make amazingly beautiful live and dry flower arrangements.

Feather grass - growing from seeds

Experienced gardeners say that it is best to propagate feather grass by dividing the bush. But if this is not yet possible, it remains to sow the seeds. They can be sown directly into the ground, including before winter. So you can make a hole in the fall, three centimeters deep, moisten the soil and pour three or four seeds into it.
You can also carry out spring sowing - towards the end of April-beginning of May.

It is worth noting that sowing directly into the soil does not always give the expected effect. Seeds may freeze or suffer from spring frosts. Therefore, it is best to grow seedlings.

To do this, you need to stock up on soil. You can buy it in a special store or just pick up land from the garden in the fall. Feather grass is a fairly unpretentious crop, so it does not require any special soil characteristics. Such a plant feels great on not too fertile land.

It is worth sowing the seeds from the very beginning in separate cups. It is quite possible to use special peat containers for seedlings. After all, feather grass has a very delicate root system, thin and fragile sprouts. Therefore, seating may harm him.

We sow feather grass - planting in cups

Sowing seeds of feather grass should be carried out in March. Planting material does not need to be buried deep, it is worth sprinkling it with a small amount of earth and maintaining soil moisture at a sufficiently moderate level. The plant sprouts very quickly - in four days. And in the month of May - when the nights become a little warmer, it is worth planting seedlings in open ground.

What attitude does feather grass love, what kind of care is good for him?

Feather Firework does not require any special care. It is extremely important to clear the area around it from weeds, in order to make this task a little easier for yourself, you can mulch the soil.

As for watering and fertilizing, they are not particularly important. After all, feather grass is inherently a steppe plant that calmly tolerates drought. That is why, experts advise placing it in the driest place in the garden. You can also plant Fireworks feather grass in the most illuminated area - where there is no shadow at all. At the same time, it is worthwhile to take care of good drainage of the soil in advance.

Fertilizing feather grass Fireworks makes sense if the quality of the soil in your garden leaves much to be desired. But fertilizers should be used rarely - once a year, and only in a minimal amount. In order for the plant to grow and develop well, add a little lime to the soil.

Another component of feather grass care is the periodic pruning of dried leaves and already faded shoots. But, it is worth noting that when grown from seeds, spikelets on the plant will not appear very soon. Therefore, you need to be patient.

If the feather grass bush looks very thick, you can divide it. It is best to carry out this procedure in spring time. Separating the bush will not only be a great way to propagate, but will also benefit the feather grass - it will add spectacular flowering to it.

Wintering

It is worth noting that Fireworks feather grass belongs to evergreens. He is not able to winter on the open ground in conditions middle lane. Therefore, in order to preserve this perennial, it is worth transplanting it into a container in late autumn (with special care so as not to harm either the fragile plant or the root system). The feather grass can winter in a bright room, where a low positive temperature is maintained.

Feather Fireworks will become a real decoration of the garden. And you can grow it easily without much effort.

Feather grass - a wild variety perennials from the cereal family.

Drought-resistant culture does not like waterlogging, prefers loose and non-acidic soils, well-drained. Doesn't really need watering. On the contrary, when planting, it is worth choosing the driest, non-flooded areas.

Some species adapt well to living throughout our country. But for the spontaneous growth of this unpretentious plant, a height of about 30 cm to 1 m is more suitable climatic conditions steppes. Previously, scientists counted only a few varieties of perennial, currently more than 300 varieties have been identified.

The planted plant feels good with simple care and does not need to be transplanted up to 15 years.

grass properties

Useful:

Biologists believe that thanks to the long-term habitation of the feather grass steppes, an accumulation of chernozem in the soil has been created.
These cereals are the rescuers of the steppe soil from wind erosion.
Decoctions from dried roots and the ground part, harvested in May - August, are used to treat thyroid diseases and paralysis.
Cattle willingly eat young feather grass and hay from it, harvested in the spring and mowed before the heading period. Being a good fodder for grazing animals before flowering, feather grass still does not have a high economic value in animal husbandry.

Flaws:

With frequent mowing for afterbirth to obtain high-quality feed from young shoots, the plant dies.
With the onset of flowering from the end of May (some varieties bloom only in early July), the cereal is poisonous, they are forbidden to feed goats and sheep.
The second half of summer is dangerous for grazing on feather grass pastures. Livestock is affected by feather grass disease: mature awns, digging into the skin, cause inflammation and even death of animals.

Feather-grass compositions in modern decor

Almost all varieties of this unusual plant are especially popular with specialists in landscape creations, who create their works on the principles of the unique and strict beauty of wild nature. Cereal inflorescences, like all members of its family, are inconspicuous, reminiscent of incandescent filaments. electric lamp, but the extravagant appearance of the leaves and stems awaken artistic imagination. The feather-grass bush is capable, spreading its delicate feathers, beautifully cast in the wind with silvery silk.

Thanks to the long silky awns that create a magical picture from the slightest breath of wind, feather grass is widely used in modern decor.

Cut discreet inflorescences are graceful, bringing harmony unsurpassed in simplicity to lively and dry flower arrangements.

An unpretentious plant is specially propagated using the following:

for decorating home gardens,
as a component in landscape design fashionable style"prairie"
when arranging alpine slides,
in creating bouquet compositions, especially from dried flowers and leaves.

This cereal is planted in open areas with well-drained soil in clumps, creating a natural garden, in rose gardens or on alpine hills, in the neighborhood and in combination with other plants:

drought-resistant, with which they live in the steppe neighborhood or in meadows (fescue, foxtail, poppies, cornflowers, chamomile, echinacea, heather);
with an unusual winning combination of compositions with plants with small flowers, or roses, ornamental bushes, conifers.

Types of landscape feather grasses for central Russia

Which winter-hardy varieties can be purchased by lovers of modest exotics in the middle climatic zone?

For example, in the Moscow region, when decorating territories, preference is given to several types of this cereal:

Feather feathery - it is not without reason that it is popular in gardens and flower beds. This primordial inhabitant of the Russian steppes is accustomed to all climatic vagaries. Shelter for the winter does not require.
The most beautiful feather grass is similar in appearance to the feathery fellow.
"Fluffy cloud" is called a compact bush for its magnificent shape.
The thinnest feather grass, growing in Mexico, is demanding on temperature regime: not lower than 15°С in winter, not more than 25°С in summer. Grow "whim" as an annual.
Fireworks is unique in that it changes color palette of their leaves, turning into rich greens, golden, pink, red and completely brown colors depending on the season.
Zalessky's feather grass feels good on salt licks.
"Hairy" in appearance like horse hair with a silvery and greenish tint.
Lessing's feather grass is unique with unusually curled leaves and a panicle with a purple tint when dried.

Growing methods

Feather grass is traditionally propagated in two ways:

the bush is divided upon reaching a certain density and size into several parts (no more than 3-4 bushes are obtained);
sowing seeds that do not require special care during cultivation.

During reproduction, a number of simple conditions must be observed:

It is necessary to find the right place to “residence” the feather grass away from closely located groundwater and so that there is a lot of sun there.
Choose a species that grows without problems in the climate of the middle zone.

reproduction

seeds

Seeds are placed directly in moistened ground in the habitat in autumn (there is a risk that frosts will destroy the young shoot), or in spring, not earlier than by the end of April. The procedure is simple: place 3 to 4 seeds in a hole up to 3 cm deep and close them up. The distance between the holes is up to 20 cm.

seedlings

To reduce the risk of death from hypothermia, or planting heat-loving varieties, feather grass is bred in seedlings. If the seeds are planted for seedlings in March, the unusual beauty of this plant will delight the eye this season. It is preferable to use separate cups so that fragile seedlings are not damaged during the May transplant into open ground. The soil for seedlings is chosen not too fertile, having prepared it in the fall from the place of "permanent residence" of the cereal, or acquiring it in a distribution network. Sprouts of seedlings appear already on the 4th day.

Features of care

IN current trend slight neglect of the garden, care does not require special agricultural practices. Feather perfectly meets these requirements, having both decorative and unpretentious growth.

These cereals are easy to grow even for inexperienced gardeners.

The requests of the "steppe emigrant" are elementary:

Planting material is planted in dry sunny place area inaccessible to groundwater flooding.
The steppe dweller easily endures a long-term lack of water.
Weeds are pulled out as needed.
You can mulch the soil.
Add lime to the ground when it is highly acidic.
Bushes that have become thick need to be divided - this is both reproduction and plant care.
Additional watering and top dressing are not required (it is possible to water very moderately only during the rooting of seedlings or when transplanting a divided bush, without special requirements for the technology of the procedure).
In autumn, without touching the leaves, only dry inflorescences are cut.

Diseases and pests

Diseases affect this plant a little. Feather grass has practically no natural pests. Its tough leaves will not be a delicacy for insects. The only problem is mites and aphids. There are 2 ways to help the gardener get rid of them:

wash off with strong water pressure,
treat with soapy water.

Conclusion

As a result, it should be noted that feather grass compositions have firmly won the hearts of residents of all regions of our country. Let landscape designers and amateurs continue to amaze with unusual, but beautiful compositions using feather grass in them.