''Celtica gigantea'', commonly called giant feather grass, giant needle grass, or golden oats, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
in the grass
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Poaceae, native to the
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula (),
**
* Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica''
**
**
* french: Péninsule Ibérique
* mwl, Península Eibérica
* eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, defi ...
and Morocco. It is still widely referenced in the horticultural literature under its
synonym
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
''Stipa gigantea''.
[
]
Description
''Celtica gigantea'' is a bunchgrass
Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perennial ...
with leaf blades that are narrow and gray-green, creating a bunchgrass foliage mass in diameter. It is evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...
to semi-evergreen, depending on the climate.[San Marcos Growers: ''Stipa gigantea'' (Giant Needle Grass)](_blank)
. accessed 6.26.2012
The plant has prominent flower spikes emerging silver-lavender in the late spring, aging to a radiant golden over the summer, and persisting in tan into winter. The spikes typically grow to tall, rising high above the foliage.[Fine Gardening Plant Guide: ''Stipa gigantea'' (Giant feather grass, Golden oats)](_blank)
. accessed 6.26.2012
Cultivation
''Celtica gigantea'' is grown as an ornamental grass for planting as single specimens and massed drifts in parks, public landscapes, and gardens.Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
—plant palette gardens.cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
'Gold Fontaene'Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...
's Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
History
The Award of Garden Merit ...
.
See also
* Ornamental grasses
References
External links
Pooideae
Bunchgrasses of Europe
Flora of Spain
Garden plants of Europe
Drought-tolerant plants
{{Pooideae-stub