Grass
Golden oats
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in June | Flowers in July | Flowers in August | |||||||||
| Plant | Plant in April | Plant in May | Plant in September | |||||||||
| Prune | Prune in March | Prune in April | ||||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in June | Looks good in July | Looks good in August | Looks good in September | Looks good in October |
Overview
Formerly Stipa gigantea, this Iberian grass makes a modest clump of narrow grey-green leaves around 60–70 cm tall. From early summer, tall stems rise far above it, carrying open, airy panicles of large, dangling spikelets that glint gold in low evening light. Because the flower stems are so sparse, you see straight through them, making it a perfect plant near the front of a border despite its height. 'Gold Fontaene' is a selection with especially generous flower heads.
Where to grow golden oats
Give it full sun and free-draining soil; it thrives on light sand, chalk and in gravel gardens, and tolerates drought once settled. Avoid heavy wet clay and shade. Place it where the setting or rising sun will backlight the flowers.
Planting
Plant in spring, setting it on its own with about a metre of space so the flower stems can arch freely. Add grit to heavier soils.
Care through the year
Spring
Comb dead leaves out of the clump with gloved fingers or a rake.
Summer
Water only in the first season; enjoy the flowers.
Autumn
Flower stems fade to straw; leave them while they look good.
Winter
Remove collapsed stems after storms.
Pruning
Do not shear this grass back like miscanthus; the evergreen clump recovers poorly. Instead, cut old flower stems at the base once they look shabby, and tease out dead leaves in spring.
Propagation
Divide carefully in late spring as growth gets going, keeping large pieces. It can also be raised from seed sown under cover in spring.
Common problems
Rarely bothered by pests. Rot in wet winters is the main risk. A dead brown centre in old clumps means it is time to divide or replace it.
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in March, April, May and September. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.