# Feather Grass (*Stipa*)

Feather Grass is a delicate plant with slender stems and fluffy, feather-like flowers that sway gracefully in the wind. It adds a touch of elegance to meadows and gardens.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands
- **Also known as:** Needle Grass, Stipa

![Feather Grass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Green_Needle_Grass.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green_Needle_Grass.jpg)

## Appearance

The Feather Grass has delicate, hair-thin green leaves that form elegant clumps. Its most striking feature is the tall, airy plumes of silvery-white to golden-tan flowers, which shimmer and dance gracefully in the slightest breeze, resembling soft feathers.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Angiospermae
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Stipa

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people sometimes used strong Feather Grass fibers to weave baskets.
- Its plumes are so soft, they feel like touching a cloud!
- Some Feather Grass seeds can "walk" themselves into the ground.
- When wind blows, entire fields of Feather Grass create shimmering "waves."

## Special abilities

- **Wind Weaver:** Feather Grass can scatter its lightweight, feathery seeds far and wide using the wind, helping it spread to new places.
- **Drought Defender:** Its deep roots and narrow leaves help Feather Grass survive long periods without much water, thriving in dry environments.
- **Burrowing Seed:** Some Feather Grass seeds have tiny "tails" that twist and turn, drilling the seed safely into the soil.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 40-100 cm
- **Spread:** 30-80 cm
- **Flower Size:** 15-40 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [American Bison](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bison) (*Bison bison*) — A main food source for grazing animals in prairie ecosystems.
- **Shelter:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Provides cover and nesting material for small rodents.
- **Eaten by:** [Bighorn Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bighorn-sheep) (*Ovis canadensis*) — Grazed by wild sheep on mountain slopes and dry plains.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Steppe](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/steppe): This habitat trait describes species found in steppes, which are dry, treeless grasslands characterized by extreme seasonal temperature variations and low precipitation.

## Collections

- [Grasslands](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasslands)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy the beauty of Feather Grass from a distance and avoid touching or picking it.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Feather Grass?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Feather Grass?

40-100 cm

### How wide does Feather Grass spread?

30-80 cm

### How big are the flowers on Feather Grass?

15-40 cm

### When does Feather Grass bloom?

Late Spring to Summer

### Is Feather Grass edible?

No

### Is Feather Grass toxic?

None

### What is Feather Grass's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Alta Murgia National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alta-murgia-national-park) — IT · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Feather Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/feather-grass)