Molinia Heidebraut

Description

Molinia ‘Heidebraut’ – purple moor grass

Botanical name: Molinia caerulea ‘Heidebraut’
Common names: Purple moor grass, moor grass
Family: Poaceae (grass family)
Plant type: Deciduous perennial grass
Habit: Upright, vertical, clump-forming
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 1.2–1.5m tall in flower × 0.4–0.5m spread
Foliage: Fine green leaves in a neat tuft, turning warm gold in autumn; deciduous
Flowers: Airy, narrow panicles of tiny flowers on tall, near-vertical stems, summer into autumn, ripening to golden-buff (July–September)
Scent: Not scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich; prefers neutral to acid; tolerates a range of soils
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Open or lightly shaded
Native range: Species native to Europe including the UK
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Molinia ‘Heidebraut’ is an elegant, upright purple moor grass with airy flower panicles held on near-vertical stems, turning warm gold in autumn. Beautiful for see-through screens and naturalistic borders.

GardenAdvice notes

A refined, upright form of the native purple moor grass, ‘Heidebraut’ (meaning ‘heather bride’) forms a neat tuft of fine green foliage from which rise tall, near-vertical stems carrying airy, narrow flower panicles. Light and transparent, it gives height without bulk, glows warm gold in autumn, and is one of the most elegant grasses for naturalistic and prairie-style planting.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in full sun to partial shade — it prefers neutral to acid soil but tolerates a range. Its narrow, see-through habit means it can be planted towards the front of a border to look through. Space about 45cm apart.

Care & maintenance

Wonderfully low-maintenance. Molinia is ‘self-cleaning’ — in late autumn the whole plant turns gold, then the stems and foliage drop away cleanly of their own accord, so little or no cutting back is needed; simply tidy any remaining debris in early spring. Water while establishing. Divide congested clumps in spring.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide established clumps in spring, as growth begins.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and robust, with few pests or diseases. An easy, reliable native grass.

Uses in the garden

Superb in naturalistic and prairie-style borders, as a light see-through screen, in bold drifts and among perennials, where its airy vertical stems add height, transparency and movement, and fine autumn colour.

Wildlife value

As a native grass it supports a range of insects, and the seedheads provide food for birds, while the airy structure adds valuable habitat to naturalistic plantings.

Toxicity & safety

Purple moor grass is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

‘Heidebraut’ is beautifully ‘see-through’ — its airy flower stems give height without blocking the view, so it’s one of the few tall grasses you can plant near the front of a border to look through rather than behind. And it’s wonderfully low-effort: in late autumn it turns gold and drops its stems cleanly by itself, so there’s barely any cutting back to do.

Our plants are guaranteed for 24 months for more details Click Here