Molinia 'Skyracer' is an elegant tall growing moor grass known for its narrow upright clumps of green foliage and dramatic flowering stems that can reach up to 8 ft. In late summer airy purple tinted panicles rise well above the foliage.
Height & Spread: 36 - 48 in x 24 - 30 in (Flowers 72 - 96 in)
Bloom Time: Late summer to fall
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained soil; tolerates heavier clay
Watering Needs: Moderate; prefers regular moisture, drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from Molinia arundinacea, a species native to Europe and western Asia. It is widely used in ornamental landscaping for its dramatic form and fall display.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Provides nesting cover and seed forage for songbirds such as finches and sparrows, especially in fall and winter if left standing.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 24 - 36 in apart to allow graceful clumps to develop and flowering stalks to rise freely without crowding.
Landscape Placement
- Ideal as a vertical accent in prairie plantings, borders, and naturalistic gardens. Its tall airy plumes pair beautifully with lower growing perennials and contrast well with bolder foliage textures.
Companion Plants
- Rudbeckia triloba (Brown Eyed Susan) - Adds warm gold color and abundant late season blooms beneath Molinia’s rising plumes.
- Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) - Offers warm toned fall foliage and a shorter vertical counterpoint.
- Echinacea pallida (Pale Purple Coneflower) - Brings structure and elegance with nodding purple blooms in mid to late summer.
- Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' - Provides a red toned upright grass to echo Molinia’s vertical lines with more color variation.
- Calamintha nepeta - Softens edges with fine foliage and lavender blooms while attracting pollinators through summer.