Stipa

Stipa is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae, commonly known as feather grasses. It comprises several dozen species native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In some classifications, many species formerly placed in Stipa have been reassigned to Nassella, while horticultural usage sometimes retains Stipa for ornamental forms.

The plants are tufted perennials with slender, linear leaves and flowering culms that carry an open, often plume-like inflorescence. The spikelets have long awns, which aid wind dispersal of the seeds. Plants are typically hardy to cold and drought-tolerant, and many tolerate poor soils.

Stipa species occupy a range of habitats, including steppes, prairies, dry meadows, and rocky slopes. They are adapted to well-drained soils and full sun; some are used for erosion control and prairie restoration due to their dense tillers and tolerance of drought.

In cultivation, feather grasses are valued as ornamental grasses for their architectural form and movement. They generally require full sun and well-drained soil; many benefit from annual or biennial cutting back after flowering to maintain vigor. Some species can reseed aggressively in suitable climates.

Notable species include Stipa pennata (European feather grass), Stipa gigantea (giant feather grass), and Stipa tenuissima (Mexican feather grass). The genus is important in native grasslands and has a long history of use in landscapes, though taxonomic revisions continue to refine species boundaries and generic limits.