Moor Grass

Molinia

Molinia caerulea
A cool-season, dense, clumping grass, native from Europe to western Siberia; south to northern Africa to the Middle East. In warmer parts of its range, it is usually found in mountain meadows. In the British Isles, it is found on heaths and bogs.
The foliage and flower height varies depending on variety, however the linear leaves are narrow, only up to 0.3 inches in width.
The flower panicles, up to 20 inches in length, are usually dark purple, ripening mid-summer and remaining attractive until mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on moist, acidic to very acidic, light soils. Tolerant of wet conditions. It is often slow to establish. Propagation is from division or seed.

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

'Continuous Ray'
Also called 'Dauerstrahl'. Forms a foliage clump, up to 2 x 4.8 ( rarely over 1 ) feet in size. The intense bright green foliage turns to glowing, golden-yellow during autumn.
The arching flower plumes up to 4.5 ( rarely over 4 ) feet high, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 12 inches in length.

'Cordoba'
Forms a long-lived clump up to 3.2 x 7 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, with green foliage, that turns to glowing deep golden-yellow during late autumn.
The purple flower spikes, reaching up to 7.5 feet in height, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 18 inches in length.

'Heidebraut'
Also called 'Bride of the Heath'. Forms a foliage clump, up to 2.4 x 5.7 feet, with green foliage that turns glowing deep golden-yellow during autumn.
The deep purple flower spikes, reaching a height up to 5 feet, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 12 inches in length.

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Moor Flame'
Forms a compact deep green foliage clump up to 2.3 x 5.8 ( rarely over 1.8 x 3 ) feet, with purplish flower plumes up to 4.7 ( rarely over 4 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 15 inches in length.
The fine-textured deep green foliage turns to glowing orangish-red during autumn.

'Moorhexe'
Forms a foliage clump up to 1.7 x 4.6 feet. The foliage turns to golden-yellow or orange during autumn.
The deep purple flower plumes, up to 4 ( rarely over 3.3 ) feet high, are borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 10 inches in length.

'Source of Ray'
Also called 'Strahlenquelle'. Forms a foliage clump up to 2 x 4 feet; with arching, heavy, large, purple flower plumes up to 4.2 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower panicles are up to 15 inches in length.

'Variegata' ( Variegated Purple Moor Grass )
Forms a foliage clump up to 2 x 3 feet, with arching flower plumes up to 4 ( rarely over 3 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 7 inches in length.
The attractive foliage is striped yellow.
Thrives in full sun to partial shade.

* photo taken on July 15 2013 in Harford Co., MD

Molina littoralis ( Tall Purple Moor Grass )
Hardy zones 4 to 8

'Fontaine'
Forms a foliage clump up to 4 x 5 ( often closer to 2 ) feet with gracefully-arching, purplish flower plumes up to 6 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 16 inches in length.
The foliage turns golden-yellow in autumn.

'Friend of the Mountain'
Also called 'Bergfreund'. Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 5.2 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, with rich-colored, purplish flower plumes up to 5.7 ( rarely over 5 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 24 inches in lenght.
The foliage turns golden-yellow during autumn.

'Karl Foerster'
Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 5.5 feet with purplish flower plumes up to 7 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 21 inches in length.

'Skyracer'
Stiffly upright, forming a gray-green foliage clump up to 3.5 ( often under 2.5 ) x 5.6 feet with showy golden-yellow flower plumes up to 9 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 18 inches in length.
The foliage turns to golden-yellow and orange during autumn.

* photos taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.

* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

'Staefa'
Forms a foliage clump up to 3.3 & 6.8 feet with abundant, finely-textured flower plumes up to 8.3 & rarely over 5 ) feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 30 inches in length.

'Transparent'
Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 5 with gracefully arching, large, purplish flower plumes up to 8 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 20 inches in length.
The foliage turns golden-yellow during late autumn.

'Wind's Game'
Also called 'Windspiel'. Forms a foliage clump up to 2.8 & 6.7 feet with coppery to purplish-pink, upright flower plumes up to 7 feet high borne during mid to late summer. The individual flower plumes are up to 40 inches in length.