Highlander Ornamental Grass is a striking open-pollinated cultivar of Setaria italica that brings architectural beauty to gardens with its sturdy bronze-colored plumes. This member of the Poaceae family grows as a compact bush reaching maturity in just 60 to 70 days, making it quick enough to fit into most growing seasons. It's prized by florists and garden designers for its exceptional quality as a cut or dried flower, offering months of visual interest long after harvest.
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Moderate
4-9
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High
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Bronze plumes with genuine staying power set this variety apart from yellower ornamental grasses. The plumes remain fully open and intact whether fresh or dried, holding their color and structure through arrangements and seasonal displays. Direct seeding after the last frost produces mature plants in under two months, so you can sow in spring and have harvestable plumes by midsummer.
Highlander shines as a cut flower for fresh arrangements and as a dried grass for long-lasting displays. The bronze plumes work beautifully in both contemporary and traditional bouquets, and because they dry so readily while maintaining their color and form, they're equally at home in permanent installations, wreaths, or dried arrangements that can last for years.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date. Sow in seedling trays or individual containers; small seedlings can be separated directly from the tray without disturbing the root system and transplanted to the garden.
Transplant seedlings to the garden after the last frost date. Plants started indoors and grown in individual containers can go straight into the garden without division.
Direct seed outdoors after the last frost date. Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep and cover lightly with soil.
Harvest the plumes when they're fully open but before they become fluffy. At this stage, they transition seamlessly from fresh cuts to dried arrangements. Cut the stems at the base and hang in a warm, dry location if you're drying them for storage and display.
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