Saccharum ravennae (Poaceae)

Ravenna grass

Native to northern Africa and the Mediterranean region. Sometimes called hardy pampas grass in areas too cold to sustain the true pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana. Among the largest and most striking of the cold-hardy ornamental grasses. Upright and clump-forming, with leaves to 25mm wide, grey-green, forming a large basal mound to 1.2m tall. Blooms only in regions with long, warm growing seasons. Large, plumy inflorescences are produced in late August or early September, on stout upright-divergent stems to 4.2m tall. The flowers are slightly pink-tinted when first opening, quickly turning lustrous silver, standing tall and remaining attractive through winter. Superb for fresh or dried flower arrangements, best cut before fully expanded. Very drought tolerant once established. A magnificent specimen for sheer size and the vertical, shining effect of its ample plumes. Also effective in groupings in larger gardens.
Ht. 4.2m. Very hardy


Price
  9cm pot       £2.50