Molinia c. ‘Skyracer’ ( Tall purple moor grass) is a grass I highly recommend for your landscape. The mounded green, basal foliage grows only about 2′ tall, allowing it to be placed almost anywhere within your beds. The show begins in summer, when the 7-8′ tall seedheads appear. Although they are commanding in height, the stems are not dense, offering a see-through quality. Their stately upright form waves in the slightest summer breeze, adding graceful movement to your garden. Skyracer is especially dazzling when it is planted in front of a solid background, or backlit by the sun.
At the Oregon Garden in Silverton, Skyracer is utilized as a drift on a hillside along the path, drawing your eye to the golden seedheads with a clear blue sky background. (Unless it’s raining, of course) In a stiff breeze, the seedheads dart in unison like a flock of sand birds.
Skyracer grows well in containers, and can be moved around the garden to fill in gaps as the season wears on. The foliage turns a lovely, rich golden color in the fall.
Tall purple moor grasses are native to moist, sunny, open habitats in Eurasia and are hardy to Zone 4. Although they prefer regular water, they are quite drought tolerant once established.
Skyracer is a grass that is not only spectacular but durable as well, gracing your yard for many years. And, since it is a relatively slow grower, you won’t need to divide it for several years. The only yearly maintenance is shearing it about 3″ above the ground in early spring, when the new green growth emerges.
So much pleasure, so little work!
Hi Joy,
Yes, reseeding is a concern for most gardeners, especially in warm climates. The only grass that I grow that predicabley reseeds is Stipa tenuissima. The seedlings are so small that they are easily plucked out, but many of us leave the new plants, and remove the mother plant in a couple of years.