Description | Transparent Tall Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea) as the name would suggest the flowers on the tall stalks seem transparent. |
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Pronunciation | (moh-LIN-ee-ah)(ser-OO-lee-ah) |
Plant Type | Grass Ornamental, Site author's observations |
Hardiness Zone | 5-9 |
Sunlight | full, lightly shaded |
Moisture | average, moist |
Soil & Site | average, moist, avoid dry areas |
Temperature | cool season grass |
Flowers | inflorescence on 3-4 foot stalks, start purplish/brownish turning bright yellow, loose transparent |
Fruit | small fruit (caryopsis or grains) |
Leaves | green, yellow and orange in fall |
Dimensions | 8 feet tall, 3 foot spread, reported to be slow growing |
Maintenance | cut down in the fall or allow to remain over winter for added interest in the landscape |
Propagation | division |
Native Site | Species plants native to moist, sunny open habits including moors, bogs, fens, mountain grasslands, and lake shores. Native region is temperate Europe. (#222) |
Author's Notes | I have observed this plant for many years at the Boerner Botanical Gardens in Wisconsin USA. In the fall you can see through the mass of wispy inflorescence's (flowers). Hence the name "Transparent". |
Notes & Reference | #178-Morton Arboretum ( www.mortonarb.org), #222-The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes (Rick Darke), #211-Bluestem Nursery (www.bluestem.ca) |