Stipa gigantea syn. Celtica gigantea

Feather or Golden oats grass- a dramatic, statement plant, not only because of its size, but also because of the large heads of oat-like flowers which shimmer in the soft morning and evening sunlight as if they are made of gold. Blue green leaves in a compact fountain... but then the real fountain explodes out the top. An impact plant that sits so well with mediterranean shrubs or a border of perennials. In these case it can protrude dramatically. But also think of using it in drifts with other airy plants for example the big thalictrums, Verbena bonariensis, veronicastrum and sun loving foxglove species like Digitalis ferruginea, D. grandiflora and D. thapsi . Perhaps a few eryngium, taller echinacea and rudbeckia. Don't forget some bulbs for early spring! Drought tolerant for full sun, easy care. Just trim off the flowers in late winter as the dead seed heads are almost as impressive when the skies become gloomy. 

The flower here in late November, they look especially marvellous when their stigmas and styles are hanging in the wind... however they do not set seed. Which is a blessing as you can divide them instead. If you harvest a lot of seed you might get one or two. Not sure why this is, these maybe an improved and possibly sterile variety or they may be the same clone. 

1.8m high in flower and as much wide. Give them a bit more to shine and space to flutter. 

From south western Europe and northwest Africa.

Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons