Golden oats

Grass

Stipa gigantea

Golden oats

Also known as: Celtica gigantea, Macrochloa gigantea

A dramatic evergreen grass sending up see-through stems of shimmering, golden, oat-like flowers to 2m.

  • Full sun
  • 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
  • 0.6–1 m (2–3 ft)
  • H4 · Zone 8
  • June–August
  • Evergreen
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Overview

Native to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, golden oats forms a low, evergreen tussock of narrow grey-green leaves. From early summer, tall, airy stems rise above it carrying large open heads of purplish spikelets that ripen to glistening gold and catch the light for months, often standing into autumn. Because the stems are so open, it can be planted at the front of a border and still be looked through. Hardy to about -10°C and very drought tolerant once established, it hates winter-wet soil.

At a Glance

Sun Full sun
Height 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
Spread 0.6–1 m (2–3 ft)
Hardiness H4 · Zone 8
Flowers June–August
Soil Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture Dry
Habit Clump forming, Tufted, Upright
Water Low
Maintenance Easy

Growing Conditions

Min. Temperature -10°C (14°F)
pH Range 6–8
Fertility Poor
Drainage Free Draining

Aspect Suitability

  • East-facing
  • South-facing
  • West-facing

Site Tolerance

  • Exposed sites
  • Coastal
  • Drought

Soil Tolerance

  • Chalk
  • Sandy
  • Loam
  • Acid
  • Neutral pH
  • Alkaline

Foliage

Stipa gigantea (Golden oats)
Stipa gigantea (Golden oats)
Persistence Evergreen
Colour Grey-green, Green
Leaf shape / texture linear_rolled
  • Architectural foliage

Foliage interest: 12 months of the year

Seasonal Timeline

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Flowering
Foliage
Fruiting
Propagate
  • Flowering Jun Jul Aug
  • Foliage 12 months of the year
  • Fruiting Aug Sep Oct
  • Propagate Mar Apr May

Maintenance Calendar

  • Mar Comb out dead leaves with gloved fingers rather than cutting the tussock back, because cutting into an evergreen grass can kill it
  • Apr Plant new grasses in spring rather than autumn, so they root well before facing winter wet
  • Aug Leave the golden flower stems standing for autumn and winter interest and for seed-eating birds
  • Dec Cut flower stems down at the base once they collapse or look untidy

Garden Design

Works well in: Cottage, Mediterranean, Modern / Contemporary, Prairie / Meadow, Wildlife-friendly

Plant singly or in a loose group where low evening sun shines through the golden heads; it can go near the front of a border because you see straight through it.

Companion planting: Verbena bonariensis, Eryngiums, Salvias, Kniphofias

Wildlife Value

  • Birds
  • Beneficial insects
  • Shelter
  • Food source
  • Food

Food for birds: August–October

Safety

Not known to be toxic. Seeds have long, sharp awns that can lodge in pets' coats and ears; check animals after walking through the planting.