Celtica gigantea, commonly called giant feather grass, giant needle grass, or golden oats, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, native to the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco.[2] It is still widely referenced in the horticultural literature under its synonym Stipa gigantea.[3]
| Celtica gigantea | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Celtica F.M.Vázquez & Barkworth |
| Species: | C. gigantea
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| Binomial name | |
| Celtica gigantea (Link) F.M.Vázquez & Barkworth
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Species synonymy
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Description edit
Celtica gigantea is a bunchgrass with leaf blades that are narrow and gray-green, creating a bunchgrass foliage mass 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) in diameter. It is evergreen to semi-evergreen, depending on the climate.[4]
The plant has prominent flower spikes emerging silver-lavender in the late spring, aging to a radiant golden over the summer, and persisting in tan into winter. The spikes typically grow to 8 feet (2.4 m) tall, rising high above the foliage.[5][4]
Cultivation edit
Celtica gigantea is grown as an ornamental grass for planting as single specimens and massed drifts in parks, public landscapes, and gardens.[5] It is used in drought tolerant and Mediterranean climate—plant palette gardens.[4]
The tall golden flower spikes are attractive on the plant, especially radiant when backlit by the sun.[6] They may also be used for dried flowers.
Under the synonym Stipa gigantea this plant[3][7] and the cultivar 'Gold Fontaene'[8] have won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Celtica gigantea". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ "Celtica gigantea (Link) F.M.Vázquez & Barkworth | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b "RHS Plant Selector - Stipa gigantea". Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ a b c San Marcos Growers: Stipa gigantea (Giant Needle Grass) . accessed 6.26.2012
- ^ a b Fine Gardening Plant Guide: Stipa gigantea (Giant feather grass, Golden oats) . accessed 6.26.2012
- ^ Perennials.com: Plant Profile for Stipa gigantea - Giant Feather Grass . accessed 6.26.2012
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 99. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Stipa gigantea 'Gold Fontaene'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
External links edit
Media related to Stipa gigantea at Wikimedia Commons