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Molinia caerulea 'BANSHEE' purple moor grass
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Molinia
Purple moor grass is an attractive species of ornamental grass that can be found in moist to wet habitats throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa around the Mediterranean Sea. In the lowlands it is found on heaths and moors accompanied by other ericaceous plants which is somewhat atypical for a grass species. In elevated altitudes it occupies places that soak up water at least during the spring thaws and rains as they do not require as much water later in the season. It was first described Carl Linnaeus in 1753 and included in the genus Aira and it was not until 41 years later that it was reclassified and transferred into a new genus Molinia, named in honour of Chilean historian and naturalist Juan Ignacio Molina (1740-1829). He wrote detailed studies on the local flora and fauna and became a significant contribution to the previously undocumented Chilean nature and its history.
Banshee is a fantastic cultivar purple moor grass, deserving attention for its elegance and variability. It forms compact, fresh green clumps of narrow leaves, from which slender, upright stems emerge from June through autumn, topped with abundant, airy panicles of flowers. These begin in a deep purple hue, gradually shift to soft pink, and finally fade to light beige. In autumn, both stems and foliage turn golden-orange, allowing the plant to retain a striking silhouette even after flowering, adding structure to the garden throughout the winter months.
‘Banshee’ originated as a spontaneous mutation discovered by Tomasz and Katarzyna Grochowscy at their nursery, Szkółka Roślin Ozdobnych Katarzyna i Tomasz Grochowscy in Poland in 2016. It was introduced to the market in 2025 by Polish gardener Artur Maj in collaboration with Plantipp. That same year, it was awarded a gold medal at the prestigious international novelty fair Plantarium – a noteworthy achievement for an ornamental grass variety.
In the landscape, ‘Banshee’ serves as a delicate yet prominent vertical accent. It looks stunning in larger groups, where its shifting colors and gently swaying inflorescences bring movement and light to perennial beds. It pairs beautifully with flowering perennials such as Echinacea, tall Sedum, Aster, or even spring blooming meadow sage which provides mass and early blooms while ‘Banshee’ is still a baby. With a height of around one meter and a spread of up to 70 cm, it’s suitable even for smaller gardens, where it can act as an elegant specimen or part of a structured planting. In naturalistic designs, it can serve as a transition between perennials and looser vegetation. Thanks to its resistance to drought, wind, heat, and pollution, ‘Banshee’ is an ideal choice not only for natural gardens but also for urban settings or coastal plantings. Moreover, it is very low-maintenance and sterile – it does not self-seed.
Molinia is a slow-growing grass that takes time to get established in a new location. It is a moisture-loving species that can even handle moderate waterlogging in muddy soil and shallow ponds or lake margins, but it does not necessarily require so much water when cultivated in a garden. It prefers deep and more acidic soil that will not dry out completely, although once established it is very tolerant of short-term dry spells in summer. You can grow it in full sun or partial shade. In the spring, before new leaves emerge but after all frosts, cut it back 5-10 cm above the ground. It grows in compact clumps, does not weed around or gets invasive, and forms larger clumps very slowly – consider planting several plants into one nest. Hardy to min. -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
Last update: 07-10-2025
