If you want to give your garden an appeal in the colder months, Have you ever thought about Sesleria autumnalis? Do you know what plant we are talking about?
Learn more about this winter plant so that your garden shines with the silvery inflorescences it puts out. Do we discover it?
How is the Sesleria autumnalis
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Sesleria autumnalis is a grass also known as autumn moor grass. It is a grass that grows grouped in bushes, approximately 30 centimeters tall. Depending on the climate, we could say that it is perennial or semi-perennial. Its leaves are rigid and green or bluish-green in color and can measure about 25 centimeters.. These form tufts that can give rise to different shades.
It is native to Italy and Albania, but is currently distributed throughout almost the entire world. Even so, in its natural habitat it is found in mountainous forests.
In late summer and early fall it is common for it to bloom. To do this, it produces spikes, which will reach 45 centimeters in height. (more than the plant), grayish white with heads that are pollinated over time. These golden colored heads (full of elongated seeds) are kept during the winter, to be harvested at the end of it.
Sesleria autumnalis care
Source: Amateur plantsman
As you can see, this Sesleria autumnalis can be a good alternative for your garden in the cold months (or if you live in a mainly cold climate). But, Did you know how to take care of it? We start from the fact that it is very easy to maintain and care for. It does not entail problems to have with other plants and it is not demanding in terms of its needs.
But, so that you have a care guide for Sesleria autumnalis, we leave it here:
Location and temperature
The first thing you should know about Sesleria autumnalis is that it can be kept both in a pot and in the ground.. Normally, it is planted directly in the ground because, being a ground cover, it can create a beautiful garden. But just so you know that you can have more control in a pot.
That being said, Sesleria autumnalis is a plant that likes warm weather (at least in its natural habitat) but adapts to anything. Of course, it is to have it abroad, since requires good lighting, even direct sun, so that it is nourished. That does not mean that it cannot be placed in semi-shade or full shade, it can, but its growth, and even flowering, will be much less.
If you place it in full sun, you must make sure that, for at least six hours, it has that direct sun for the plant. On the other hand, if you put it in semi-shade you have to give it at least four hours of direct sun at least. If you live in an area where the sun burns a lot in summer (temperatures above 40ºC) we advise you to put it in semi-shade and give it light early in the day or late in the afternoon.
As for the temperature, the cold is perhaps its "strong point", because it can withstand temperatures of -25ºC. On the other hand, with the heat it has some problems because an environment that is too hot, arid, etc. If the rest of the care it needs is not taken into account, it could be deadly for the plant.
Substratum
Sesleria autumnalis is not a very demanding plant in this regard. The truth is that it adapts to everything. But if you want to give it a substrate that really brings out the best in the plant, then our recommendation is that you look for a calcareous soil.
In a pot you can mix it with some perlite or other drainage to better oxygenate the soil. But in the case of the garden it may not be necessary to do so.
This plant is relatively slow growing, so you may need to repot it every four years or so. Actually, what is usually done is to divide it, in such a way that new plants are removed.
Irrigation
We are not going to tell you that Sesleria autumnalis is a plant that requires a lot of watering. Because is not like that. But neither can we tell you that it withstands droughts very well when they last a long time. And it is that you need to have the soil somewhat humid.
It is resistant to drought but you must take into account that during the dry period (spring and summer) it needs enough water to stay green. Otherwise, if you lack watering, the most normal thing is that you see how its green color changes to a brown one.
No, it will not be dead, but you will lose the characteristic green it has.
Therefore, our recommendation is that, in spring and summer, you water it 2-3 times a week. In winter, not so much water will be necessary, especially if it rains, being able to water it once a week.
Once it is established (that is, after a few years), it is normal for it to be able to withstand more periods of drought. However, in young specimens this does not happen.
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Pruning
It is advisable, at the beginning of spring, to cut it a little, or even at ground level, to promote its growth and to re-emerge with more force. This will also help you to be able to comb and rake the leaves and flowers that have withered or that they are dead and you will eliminate all the dirt that could be on the plant.
During that spring and summer it will grow again and be vigorous again to flower again in winter.
Multiplication
The Sesleria autumnalis is a plant that can reproduce through the seeds that you can collect at the end of winter (and plant them in spring so that they thrive during those months and in winter they flower for you), or by dividing the bush.
It is the latter that is usually done, especially when it is kept in a pot. If you have it in the garden, it is normal to let nature take its course. That is, it expands by itself.
As you see, Sesleria autumnalis can be a good choice for your garden in winter that will make it continue to look greenish with a very striking touch together with other plants. Do you dare to have her and take care of her?