Celtica gigantea, commonly called giant feather grass, giant needle grass, or golden oats, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, native to the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco.[1] It is still widely referenced in the horticultural literature under its synonym Stipa gigantea.
Celtica gigantea is a bunchgrass with leaf blades that are narrow and gray-green, creating a bunchgrass foliage mass 2feet-3feetft (-ft) in diameter. It is evergreen to semi-evergreen, depending on the climate.[2]
The plant has prominent flower spikes emerging silver-lavender in the late spring, aging to a radiant golden over the summer, and persisting in tan into winter. The spikes typically grow to 8feet tall, rising high above the foliage.[3] [2]
Celtica gigantea is grown as an ornamental grass for planting as single specimens and massed drifts in parks, public landscapes, and gardens.[3] It is used in drought tolerant and Mediterranean climate—plant palette gardens.[2]
The tall golden flower spikes are attractive on the plant, especially radiant when backlit by the sun.[4] They may also be used for dried flowers.
Under the synonym Stipa gigantea this plant[5] [6] and the cultivar 'Gold Fontaene'[7] have won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.