Feather grass
Stipa pennata
Silky silver plumes ripple across the steppe in early summer and hold dry soil in place.
Hardiness: zones 4 to 8
Light: full sun
Size: about 2 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide
From: Steppe from Central Europe to Siberia
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: wildlife.
Native to: Central Asian steppe. Hardy in zones 4 to 8.
The story
Feather grass is the emblem of the Eurasian steppe. Each seed carries a silvery plume a foot long; the plume twists and untwists with the humidity and screws the seed into the soil.
Planting
Full sun and dry, limy, well-drained soil.
Growing
Comb out old leaves in spring. No feeding, no summer water.
Harvest and use
June plumes that ripple in any breath of wind, and deep roots that hold dry banks.
What to watch for
Winter wet kills it. Slow and tricky from seed.
See if Feather grass fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home