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Hairy Melic Grass

Melica ciliata (MEL-ih-kah sil-lee-AY-tah)

Family: Poaceae Non-native Herbaceous

M. ciliata is a deciduous, perennial grass forming a spreading clump of stiff, narrow green or blue-green leaves. In late spring it produces upright or arching stems with flower spikes up to 6 inches long made up of small, pale cream flowers with silky hairs. It is short-lived and goes dormant in the south. Self-seeds manageably.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 39 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous Optimal soil pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Erect; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaf blades are flat and stiff.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Narrow, silky white inflorescence fade to cream; last about a month; good for fresh arrangements if cut before fully open
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, Northern Africa, Southwestern Asia
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Caryopsis
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Small Space
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden
Design feature
Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#showy flowers #ornamental grass #seeds #dwarf #dried arrangements #clumping #cutting garden #perennial #blue leaves
Problems & Resistance
Propagation
Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.