Purple Moor Ornamental Grasses (Molinia Caerulea)

Purple Moor Ornamental Grasses Description

Purple Moor Grass is a native British ornamental grass that offers elegance, movement, and texture to gardens. With its upright, arching green foliage, it creates a graceful, airy mound that works well in naturalistic planting schemes, wildflower meadows, or damp garden areas. In late summer, it produces delicate purple tinged flower spikes that rise above the foliage, creating an ethereal effect. As autumn approaches, the flowers mature to a soft, golden brown hue, maintaining seasonal interest well into the winter months. The plant reaches a height of about 1 metre (3 feet), with the flower spikes extending to around 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall, making it an excellent choice for adding vertical interest without overwhelming smaller plants.

This grass thrives in moist, well drained soil and is best suited to full sun or partial shade. It is perfect for planting near ponds, streams, or in rain gardens, and its tolerance of damp conditions makes it an ideal choice for wetland areas. Purple Moor Grass is also relatively low maintenance, making it a versatile and attractive addition to any garden.

Pruning Advice

When to Prune: Prune Purple Moor Grass in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.

How to Prune: Cut the plant back to approximately 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches) above the ground using sharp secateurs or garden shears. This will remove any dead or damaged material and encourage fresh, healthy growth. Be careful not to cut into the crown of the plant.

Additional Tips:

The dried flower heads can be left standing over winter to provide winter interest and offer shelter for wildlife.

If the plant becomes too large or congested, divide it every 3 to 4 years in early spring to rejuvenate it and maintain its vigour.

A light mulch applied in spring can help retain moisture and suppress weeds around the base of the plant.

Further Information

Seasonal Interest: Purple Moor Grass provides a stunning display in late summer with its purple tinged flower spikes, which turn golden brown in autumn and persist throughout the winter, adding texture and interest to the garden.

Wildlife Friendly: The flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while the dried flower spikes and foliage offer shelter for birds and insects during the colder months.

Versatile: Well suited to a variety of garden settings, including wildflower meadows, naturalistic gardens, and damp areas near water features.

Low Maintenance: Once established, it requires little care, making it an ideal choice for gardeners looking for a hardy, low maintenance plant.

Aesthetic Appeal: With its graceful form, Purple Moor Grass adds softness, texture, and movement to any planting scheme, creating a naturalistic, flowing effect in the garden.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £9.98 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £250 | or £24.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £350 | or £82 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £1500 | or £450 charge.