Plant Profile: Molinia caerulea

Taxonomy: Molinia caerulea

Names

Purple Moor Grass, Tall Purple Moor Grass

  • Photo of Molinia caerulea (Molinia caeruleas)

Phonetic Spelling:moh-LEEN-ee-ah seh-ROO-lee-ah

Genus:Molinia

Species:caerulea

Family:Poaceae

This perennial grass, characterized by its dense and upright growth, thrives in warm seasons and showcases flat, narrow leaves. In the fall, the foliage transforms into a striking golden yellow. However, as late fall approaches, both the leaves and flower stalks tend to collapse, resulting in minimal visual appeal during winter. To promote new growth, trim any remaining foliage back to the ground in early spring, ideally between late February and March, just before the new leaves emerge.

Establishment of this grass can be slow, and it flourishes best in moderately moist, cool environments. It also shows resilience in areas with low soil fertility.

Molinia caerulea Feature Summary

Molinia caerulea Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#fall color
#water garden
#rain garden
#specimen
#slow growing
#winter interest
#ornamental grass
#cottage garden
#accent plant
#mass planting
#moist soil
#pond
#cool temperatures
#borders
#naturalized area
#poor soils tolerant
#wet soils tolerant
#black walnut toxicity tolerant
#meadows

Similar Plants

Molinia caerulea Feature Summary

Attributes
Europe to Kazakhstan, Mediterranean and Ethiopia
Perennial
Flowers
Narrow purplish panicles in mid-summer held high above foliage that freely move with the wind. Modest flowering in hot, dry weather. Fades to a tawny yellow in fall, breaking off in early winter.
Purple/Lavender
Gold/Yellow
Brown/Copper
Green
Orange
Good Cut
Showy
Good Dried
Leaves
Grows in a dense, low mound of basal foliage. Leaves are flat and narrow, turning golden yellow in fall. Breaks down in early winter. Moderate to fine texture.
> 6 inches
Showy
Long-lasting
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Arching
Erect
Mounding
Clumping
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Mountains
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Fruit
Caryopsis
Landscape
Rain Garden
Cottage Garden
Water Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Specimen
Pollution
Wet Soil
Erosion
Black Walnut
Poor Soil
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Pond
Songbirds

Molinia caerulea Attributes

Molinia caerulea: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe to Kazakhstan, Mediterranean and Ethiopia

Molinia caerulea: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Molinia caerulea: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Molinia caerulea Flowers

Molinia caerulea: Flower Description

Narrow purplish panicles in mid-summer held high above foliage that freely move with the wind. Modest flowering in hot, dry weather. Fades to a tawny yellow in fall, breaking off in early winter.

Molinia caerulea: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Brown/Copper
filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Molinia caerulea: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Molinia caerulea: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Molinia caerulea: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Molinia caerulea Leaves

Molinia caerulea: Leaf Description

Grows in a dense, low mound of basal foliage. Leaves are flat and narrow, turning golden yellow in fall. Breaks down in early winter. Moderate to fine texture.

Molinia caerulea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Molinia caerulea: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Molinia caerulea: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Molinia caerulea: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Molinia caerulea: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Molinia caerulea: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Molinia caerulea: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Molinia caerulea: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Molinia caerulea: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Molinia caerulea: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Molinia caerulea Whole Plant Traits

Molinia caerulea: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Molinia caerulea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Molinia caerulea: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Molinia caerulea: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Molinia caerulea: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Molinia caerulea: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Molinia caerulea Cultural Conditions

Molinia caerulea: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Molinia caerulea: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Molinia caerulea: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Molinia caerulea: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Molinia caerulea: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Molinia caerulea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Molinia caerulea: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Molinia caerulea Fruit

Molinia caerulea: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Molinia caerulea Stem

Molinia caerulea: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Molinia caerulea Landscape

Molinia caerulea: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Molinia caerulea: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Molinia caerulea: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Molinia caerulea: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Molinia caerulea: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees