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Distribution
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Needle grass
Needle grass
Needle grass
Needle grass
Needle grass (Stipa)
Also known as : Spear grass
Needle grass is a unique plant with extremely thin leaves and long, feathery seed heads that resemble needles. It is a popular ornamental grass in gardens and natural landscapes, attracting birds and insects with its seeds. Some species of Stipa are also used for medicinal purposes and in traditional crafts such as basket weaving.
Lifespan
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
info

Key Facts About Needle grass

Attributes of Needle grass

Leaf type
Deciduous

Scientific Classification of Needle grass

distribution

Distribution of Needle grass

Distribution Map of Needle grass

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
habit
species

Exploring the Needle grass Plants

8 most common species:
Stipa capillata
Hairy feathergrass
This very slender perennial grass provides interest and movement in the slightest breeze. Hairy feathergrass is commonly used as a low-maintenance ornamental plant, adaptable to various growing conditions and cold-hardy to -15 to -10 ℃.
Stipa lessingiana
Lessing feather grass
Lessing feather grass is a common ornamental grass due to its tufting yellow feather-like foliage. The plant is also favoured for its quick growth habit, self-seeding then spreading by underground rhizomes. It is frequently planted in courtyard, city, cottage and gravel gardens, containers, beds, borders, and patios. Although similar to Stipa tenuissima, it is more refined and more prominent in appearance.
Stipa pennata
Narrow small-reed
Narrow small-reed is a tall deciduous perennial grass. It is called Narrow small-reed because of its fluffy feathers. It loves the sun and is often grown for its foliage as an ornamental in prairie gardens.
Stipa gigantea
Golden oats
Stipa gigantea has leaf blades that are narrow and gray-green, creating a bunchgrass foliage mass 61 to 91 cm in diameter. It is evergreen to semi-evergreen, depending on the climate. The plant has prominent flower spikes emerging silver-laveneder in the late spring, aging to a radiant golden over the summer, and persisting in tan into winter.
Stipa occidentalis
Western needle grass
This perennial grass with blue-green foliage is a North American native. It's indigenous to California, but it's found in Wyoming, Washington, and Arizona as well. It forms a dense tuft and can be used as a protection from soil erosion. Western needle grass is also considered good forage for cattle, sheep, and horses.
Stipa splendens
Chee grass
Chee grass (Stipa splendens) grows in large domed clumps and is topped in summer by long stems of feathery pannicles. It looks great and is often grown ornamentally. A further appeal to this grass is that in fall it turns an attractive shade of gold. To get the most from chee grass keep it in a relatively sheltered spot to protect the panicles from the wind.
Stipa spartea
Sleepy grass
Sleepy grass is known for its large seeds, which are up to20 cm long and as sharp as porcupine quills. Young plants are grazed by livestock, but the sharp seeds of mature plants can cause injury. This plant grows wild throughout its native range, but it can also be used in gardens, landscaping, and habitat restoration.
Stipa thurberiana
Thurber's needle grass
Thurber's needle grass is a cool-season bunchgrass featuring drought-tolerant traits that can be grown in semi-arid locations. It is commonly used in seed mixtures to replenish earth that has been disturbed. It is also a prime forage for grazing wildlife such as elk, deer, antelope, and more.

All Species of Needle grass

Hairy feathergrass
Stipa capillata
Hairy feathergrass
This very slender perennial grass provides interest and movement in the slightest breeze. Hairy feathergrass is commonly used as a low-maintenance ornamental plant, adaptable to various growing conditions and cold-hardy to -15 to -10 ℃.
Lessing feather grass
Stipa lessingiana
Lessing feather grass
Lessing feather grass is a common ornamental grass due to its tufting yellow feather-like foliage. The plant is also favoured for its quick growth habit, self-seeding then spreading by underground rhizomes. It is frequently planted in courtyard, city, cottage and gravel gardens, containers, beds, borders, and patios. Although similar to Stipa tenuissima, it is more refined and more prominent in appearance.
Narrow small-reed
Stipa pennata
Narrow small-reed
Narrow small-reed is a tall deciduous perennial grass. It is called Narrow small-reed because of its fluffy feathers. It loves the sun and is often grown for its foliage as an ornamental in prairie gardens.
Golden oats
Stipa gigantea
Golden oats
Stipa gigantea has leaf blades that are narrow and gray-green, creating a bunchgrass foliage mass 61 to 91 cm in diameter. It is evergreen to semi-evergreen, depending on the climate. The plant has prominent flower spikes emerging silver-laveneder in the late spring, aging to a radiant golden over the summer, and persisting in tan into winter.
Western needle grass
Stipa occidentalis
Western needle grass
This perennial grass with blue-green foliage is a North American native. It's indigenous to California, but it's found in Wyoming, Washington, and Arizona as well. It forms a dense tuft and can be used as a protection from soil erosion. Western needle grass is also considered good forage for cattle, sheep, and horses.
Chee grass
Stipa splendens
Chee grass
Chee grass (Stipa splendens) grows in large domed clumps and is topped in summer by long stems of feathery pannicles. It looks great and is often grown ornamentally. A further appeal to this grass is that in fall it turns an attractive shade of gold. To get the most from chee grass keep it in a relatively sheltered spot to protect the panicles from the wind.
Sleepy grass
Stipa spartea
Sleepy grass
Sleepy grass is known for its large seeds, which are up to20 cm long and as sharp as porcupine quills. Young plants are grazed by livestock, but the sharp seeds of mature plants can cause injury. This plant grows wild throughout its native range, but it can also be used in gardens, landscaping, and habitat restoration.
Thurber's needle grass
Stipa thurberiana
Thurber's needle grass
Thurber's needle grass is a cool-season bunchgrass featuring drought-tolerant traits that can be grown in semi-arid locations. It is commonly used in seed mixtures to replenish earth that has been disturbed. It is also a prime forage for grazing wildlife such as elk, deer, antelope, and more.
Esparto
Stipa tenacissima
Esparto
Stipa tenacissima (esparto, esparto grass, halfah grass or needles grass) is a perennial grass of northwestern Africa and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
popular genus

More Popular Genus

Dracaena
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Ficus
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Rubus
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Acer
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Solanum
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Rosa
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Quercus
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
All Species
More Genus
Needle grass
Needle grass
Needle grass
Needle grass
Needle grass
Needle grass
Needle grass
Stipa
Also known as: Spear grass
Needle grass is a unique plant with extremely thin leaves and long, feathery seed heads that resemble needles. It is a popular ornamental grass in gardens and natural landscapes, attracting birds and insects with its seeds. Some species of Stipa are also used for medicinal purposes and in traditional crafts such as basket weaving.
Lifespan
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
info

Key Facts About Needle grass

Attributes of Needle grass

Leaf type
Deciduous

Scientific Classification of Needle grass

distribution

Distribution of Needle grass

Distribution Map of Needle grass

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
species

Exploring the Needle grass Plants

8 most common species:
Stipa capillata
Hairy feathergrass
This very slender perennial grass provides interest and movement in the slightest breeze. Hairy feathergrass is commonly used as a low-maintenance ornamental plant, adaptable to various growing conditions and cold-hardy to -15 to -10 ℃.
Stipa lessingiana
Lessing feather grass
Lessing feather grass is a common ornamental grass due to its tufting yellow feather-like foliage. The plant is also favoured for its quick growth habit, self-seeding then spreading by underground rhizomes. It is frequently planted in courtyard, city, cottage and gravel gardens, containers, beds, borders, and patios. Although similar to Stipa tenuissima, it is more refined and more prominent in appearance.
Stipa pennata
Narrow small-reed
Narrow small-reed is a tall deciduous perennial grass. It is called Narrow small-reed because of its fluffy feathers. It loves the sun and is often grown for its foliage as an ornamental in prairie gardens.
Stipa gigantea
Golden oats
Stipa gigantea has leaf blades that are narrow and gray-green, creating a bunchgrass foliage mass 61 to 91 cm in diameter. It is evergreen to semi-evergreen, depending on the climate. The plant has prominent flower spikes emerging silver-laveneder in the late spring, aging to a radiant golden over the summer, and persisting in tan into winter.
Show More Species

All Species of Needle grass

popular genus

More Popular Genus

Dracaena
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Ficus
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Rubus
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Acer
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Solanum
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Rosa
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Quercus
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
product icon close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
product icon close
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
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