Grass · Poaceae family
tall moor grass
Molinia arundinacea
In short a 10-second read
Tall moor grass (grass) grows to 0.4–1.8 m tall and 0.7 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −23 °C.
× spread 0.7 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −23 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, humus-rich
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
cut back to the ground (February–March)
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–October
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −23 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −23 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does tall moor grass tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does tall moor grass need?
At maturity 0.7 m wide and 0.4–1.8 m tall; recommended spacing 70 cm.
Does tall moor grass survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −23 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (8)
- LWG Veitshöchheim — Eppel-Hotz
- GBIF — occurrence search Molinia arundinacea
- Pladias — Databáze české flóry a vegetace
- Foerster-Stauden, katalóg — Molinia arundinacea
- RHS — Molinia arundinacea
- RHS - How to grow ornamental grasses
- Iowa State Extension - How to Plant Perennials
- RHS - Ornamental grasses: cutting back
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