Melica nutans

Melica nutans, also known as mountain melic and nodding melic, is a small short-lived perennial grass that thrives in the edge of woodlands and in moist soils. It forms a tuft of light appearance, composed of broad fresh green leaves. In spring, arched stems emerge from the foliage carrying slender panicles adorned with round, purple-brown and white-cream spikelets that sway at the slightest breeze. Its compact habit is perfectly suited for small spaces.

Melica nutans is an herbaceous perennial plant with slender rhizomes belonging to the large Poaceae family. This herb is native to Europe, the Caucasus, and Siberia. It is well adapted to most climates and is perfectly hardy. 

This melic forms a light tuft of flexible, broad, and flat leaves with a light green colour, reaching 60cm (24in) in height when flowering, and 30cm (12in) for the foliage. The slender oval flower spikes, hanging on curved pedicels, are white-cream in colour, surrounded at the base by a brown-purple sheath. This flowering is carried by gracefully arched stems above the foliage, which adds to the charm of this plant.

Hardy and undemanding in terms of soil quality, nodding melic grows in any good garden soil, preferably in semi-shade. It likes moist but not overly wet soil. It works wonders on the edge of a grove or planted at the base of a bushy hedge. It can be paired with hostas, lungworts, Epimedium alpinum, Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost', or even with tall foxgloves.