Silver Tip
Triticosecale spp.
Wikimedia Commons
Green-to-white glumes and awns. 4" heads (not counting the awns). Easy textural element for fresh and dried bouquets. Vigorous wheat/rye cross.
Harvest
60-75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
1–11
USDA hardiness
Height
3-4 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Silver Tip in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 grass →Zone Map
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Silver Tip · Zones 1–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – September | June – August | — |
| Zone 2 | — | July – August | May – July | — |
| Zone 11 | — | February – March | January – February | — |
| Zone 3 | — | June – August | May – July | — |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | April – June | — |
| Zone 5 | — | May – July | April – June | — |
| Zone 6 | — | May – July | April – June | — |
| Zone 7 | — | May – June | March – May | — |
| Zone 8 | — | April – June | March – May | — |
| Zone 9 | — | March – May | February – April | — |
| Zone 10 | — | March – April | January – March | — |
Succession Planting
Silver Tip is a warm-season annual grass grown as a single-cut or single-harvest crop, so succession sowing is worth doing if you want a continuous supply of fresh culms across the season. Direct sow every 3 weeks from March through early May in zone 7; stop when daytime highs are consistently above 85°F, as germination drops off sharply and the resulting plants tend to lodge before reaching the 3-to-4-foot harvest height. A final sowing in late August or early September can work in zones 6–8, giving you a fall flush before first frost ends the season.
Complete Growing Guide
Growing Silver Tip (Triticosecale spp.) grass. Light: Full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 1 to 11. Days to maturity: 60. Difficulty: Moderate.
Harvesting
Silver Tip reaches harvest at 60 - 75 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 4" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
This is an ornamental variety — not grown for harvest. Enjoy in the garden landscape.
Storage & Preservation
For fresh arrangements, store Silver Tip stems in a cool location (60-65°F) with moderate humidity away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Keep stems in water and change daily for optimal freshness; counter display lasts 5-7 days, refrigeration extends to 10-14 days. For preservation: (1) Air-dry bundles upside-down in a dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks for long-lasting dried arrangements; (2) Hang-dry with stems bundled loosely to maintain head shape; (3) Store dried stems in airtight containers in a cool, dry location for 1-2 years without significant degradation.
History & Origin
Triticale is a hybrid of wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale) first bred in laboratories during the late 19th century in Scotland and Germany. Commercially available triticale is almost always a second-generation hybrid, i.e., a cross between two kinds of primary (first-cross) triticales. As a rule, triticale combines the yield potential and grain quality of wheat with the disease and environmental tolerance of rye. Only in 1970 did the first commercial variety become available. Depending on the cultivar, triticale can more or less resemble either of its parents. It is grown mostly for forage or fodder, although some triticale-based foods can be purchased at health food stores and can be found in some breakfast cereals.
Advantages
- +Quick harvest — ready in about 60 days
- +Wide hardiness — grows in USDA zones 1-11
Considerations
- -Moderate difficulty — some growing experience helpful
Companion Plants
The drought-tolerant perennials — Sedum, Russian Sage, and Artemisia — are the best neighbors for Silver Tip because they share a preference for lean, well-drained soil and won't compete aggressively for water. Ornamental Alliums and Lavender pull double duty: both stay shallow-rooted and compact, so they don't crowd Silver Tip's root zone, and both repel aphids and thrips that occasionally cruise through grass plantings. Purple Coneflower and Black-Eyed Susan fill a slightly different role — their open, daisy-type flowers draw in beneficial wasps that prey on grass-feeding larvae.
Mint is the one to cut from this bed entirely. It spreads by underground runners and will physically invade Silver Tip's root space within a single season, making the whole planting a mess to manage. Black Walnut is a structural problem rather than a competitive one: it produces juglone, a root-zone toxin that stunts most grasses within its drip line — don't site Silver Tip anywhere inside that canopy's reach.
Plant Together
Lavender
Attracts beneficial insects and provides contrasting texture and color
Black-Eyed Susan
Creates beautiful color contrast and attracts pollinators
Sedum
Similar water requirements and provides ground-level interest
Catmint
Complements ornamental grasses and deters rodents
Purple Coneflower
Provides structural contrast and attracts beneficial insects
Russian Sage
Similar drought tolerance and creates textural harmony
Ornamental Alliums
Complementary growth habit and natural pest deterrent
Artemisia
Similar silver foliage creates cohesive design and repels pests
Keep Apart
Mint
Aggressive spreading can overwhelm and compete with grass root system
Impatiens
Requires frequent watering which can cause root rot in drought-tolerant grasses
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many ornamental grasses
Troubleshooting Silver Tip
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Stems lodging (falling over) before harvest, usually after a stretch of wind or heavy rain
Likely Causes
- Overcrowding — planting at less than 12 inches apart produces weak, etiolated stems that can't support themselves
- Excess nitrogen pushing fast, soft vegetative growth
What to Do
- 1.Thin to at least 12 inches between plants as soon as seedlings are 3-4 inches tall
- 2.Skip high-nitrogen fertilizers once plants are established; a single side-dress of balanced 10-10-10 at planting is enough
- 3.Install a simple grid of jute twine and bamboo stakes at the 18-inch height mark before stems start to lean
Silvery-gray powdery coating on leaf blades, showing up mid-season when temperatures sit between 60–80°F
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici or the closely related secalis form) — common on triticale and related grasses in humid conditions with poor airflow
What to Do
- 1.Pull out and discard the worst-affected culms; don't compost them
- 2.Space remaining plants to no closer than 12 inches and clear any debris around the base to improve airflow
- 3.A diluted potassium bicarbonate spray (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) applied in the morning can slow spread on ornamental plantings where appearance matters
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall does Silver Tip grass grow?▼
Can I grow Silver Tip grass in containers?▼
When should I plant Silver Tip grass?▼
How long does Silver Tip grass take to harvest?▼
Is Silver Tip good for beginners?▼
What's the difference between fresh and dried Silver Tip arrangements?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.