Molinia

Purple Moor Grasses

Clump formers for slightly better soil in full sun. At their best in autumn as the stems and leaves change colour. Flowers are produced from midsummer and the seedheads usually last until midwinter. For reasonably good soil through to wet - very tolerant!

The two subspecies can help you work out which ones you want to grow:

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea tend to be 1.5m (5') tall or more.
Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea tend to be less than 1.2m (4') tall.

We hold the National Plant Collection® of Molinia.  Visitors to the nursery can see most of the plants in the Molinia Collection growing in the display garden adjacent to our sales area.  In this display garden the Molinia are planted with a mix of other herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses to show them off to their best.  The flowering season starts in June and they will still be looking good, and maybe at their best, when we close at the end of October as the autumn foliage and stem colour kicks off.

While most forms of Molinia provide a good display of airy flowers through summer and autumn the key feature of them is the range of warm buff, yellow and orange stem and leaf colour in mid to late autumn and on into winter.  The stems are usually held up until around Christmas/New Year.  Some new selections (particularly Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Dark Defender') will stand into the new year.

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Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Golden Chimes'

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Golden Chimes'£6.50

A new form with open flower heads on arching stems that turn a brilliant golden yellow in autumn. Best in a good soil in full sun. 2m.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Karl Foerster'

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Karl Foerster'£6.50

One of the taller forms with purple tinted, green flowers to 2.2m in late summer. Bright yellow autumn stems.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Les Ponts de Ce'

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Les Ponts de Ce'£5.00

A beautiful new French introduction with red flushed autumn foliage and dark flower stems that turn ruby in autumn. Very arching flowers to 1.8m. Good soil in sun.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Mostenveld'

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Mostenveld'£5.00

A brilliant new variegated selection from Belgium. Crisp white striped foliage and arching flowers to 1.2m. Good soil in full sun, or with the variegated leaves this could be good in a big pot.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Transparent'

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Transparent'£6.50

Possibly the most popular Molinia due to it's very airy flowers and thin but strong stems. Open panicles to 2.1m in summer and good autumn colour and seedheads.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Windsaule'

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Windsaule'£4.50

Clumps of mid green leaves to 50cm produce tall more or less upright stems topped with greenish brown flowers in mid summer to 2.4m. The heads more open than the better known 'Windspiel'. Good soil, sun.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Dauerstrahl'

Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Dauerstrahl'£6.00

Dense clumps of low foliage and slender upright stems to 1m topped with dark flowers that ripen to a warm bronzey gold. Easy and long lived in good soil in sun.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Heidebraut'

Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Heidebraut'£4.50

Flower stems less erect than other forms, brown flowers age to soft yellow in autumn. 1.2m Good soil in full sun.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Moorflamme'

Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Moorflamme'£6.50

An attractive compact variety with rich green clumps of leaves and slightly arching stems bearing dark brownish flowers in midsummer. Excellent warm autumn/winter stem colour. 80cm.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Sunbeam'

Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Sunbeam'£6.50

A new introduction. Clumps of arching green foliage and stems to 75cm producing the greenish brown flowers in midsummer. Excellent warm golden yellow autumn and winter colour. Good soil in sun.


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Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Winterfreude'

Molinia caerulea ssp. caerulea 'Winterfreude'£6.50

Clumps of greyish green leaves and upright stems of dark flowers in midsummer to 1m. Good autumn and winter seedheads. Reasonable soil in full sun.


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