Gossamer grass

It's been another busy day - my hair's been chopped, Chris passed his driving theory test, more clothes shopping and a bit of garden tidying. It was while I was out there that I spotted the wonderful colours of this Gossamer Grass, also known as New Zealand Wind-grass and Pheasant's-tail Grass. Its scientific name is Anemanthele lessoniana, though it used to be known as Stipa arundinacea.


I bought a plant not long after we first moved into our current house, twenty years ago, and it has self-seeded quite freely, and indeed has turned up in several neighbours' gardens too. It's beginning to move out into the countryside as well - I've recorded it from several sites in Lincolnshire and Essex. 

It is very attractive, particularly when in flower and in the winter when reddish tones develop on the leaves. It'll be interesting to see whether it becomes a problem species, as so many British species are in New Zealand.