![](https://www.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/stipa-tenuissima-feather-grass-dorset-england-border-gardenista-376x400.jpg)
![](https://www.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/fields/stipa-tenuissima-feather-grass-dorset-england-border-gardenista-376x400.jpg)
Stipa—a family of frothy feather, needle, and spear grasses—adds structure, texture, and movement to the calmest of landscapes.
Stipas are versatile: Plant them en masse, in a long border, or as a single specimen in a planter. Use Stipa to soften a driveway, to add a golden backdrop, or to create a moody winter landscape. The popular S. tenuissima (Mexican feather grass) turns from bright green to golden, and S. gigantea will grow to eye-catching heights, topping out at around eight feet.