Ornamental grasses can play a part in most gardens, from providing calming accompaniments to more colourful flowering plants to being the sole focus of the design. There are grasses for damp or dry soil, shady as well as sunny situations. Many are great to add to the cutting garden; others perform well in containers.

Cultivation: ornamental grasses tolerate a wide range of conditions, but most like a sunny position in light, moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil. They do not need much feeding; this can encourage lush foliage at the expense of flowers. One application of a balanced fertiliser in spring is adequate.

Planting: It's important to plant grasses at the correct time. Grasses from cool climates such as Deschampsia, Festuca, Helictotrichon and Stipa come into growth in late winter and flower before mid-summer and so should be planted in autumn for the best establishment. Grasses from warm climates such as Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum and Spartina come into growth in late spring, flower after mid-summer and are usually cut back in late winter. They are best planted in late spring.

Container cultivation: Grasses are good plants for containers. Use loam-based compost, such as John Innes No 2 with 20% loam-free compost to lighten the mix. Evergreen grasses such as Carex combine well with winter bedding to give height and a contrast in texture.

  • Acorus calamus Variegatus 3L pot

    Sweetflag. An aquatic plant with thick creeping rhizomes. Sword like upright green leaves striped white and cream. Height 80cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from May to June. Herbaceous. Hardy.

  • Acorus gramineus Ogon 3L pot

    Japanese rush. A semi-evergreen aquatic with fans of glossy, narrow, variegated leaves striped with pale green and cream. Height 20cm. Spread 15cm. Semi-evergreen. Hardy.

  • Anemanthele lessoniana Sirocco

    Clump-forming, semi-evergreen to evergreen grass, with arching, mid-green leaves turning shades of red, bronze, yellow, and orange in autumn. Airy, arching panicles of reddish-pink flower spikelets in late summer.

  • Arundo donax Variegata

    Giant Reed. Stout stems of arching green and gold-striped bamboo-like foliage. Panicles of green to purple spikelets. Height 1.8m. Spread 60cm. Flowers from September to October. Herbaceous. Sheltered sunny site.

  • Bouteloua gracilis 3L pot

    A perennial grass with leaves to 60cm long, lightly curling at the tips giving a bushy frothy effect. Brownish purple spikelets form the flower head in summer.

  • Calamagrostis acutiflora Overdam 3L pot

    Feather Reed Grass.Small weed. Clump-forming perennial grass with arching green leaves with pale yellow margins and stripes which fade to pinkish white. Bears purple flowers that fade to greyish pink. Height 1.2m. Spread 60cm. Flowers from July to August. Semi-Evergreen.

  • Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Forester 3L pot

    Feather Reed Grass. Smallweed. Clump-forming perennial grass with arching mid-green leaves. Erect stems of pink-bronze flowers that fade to pale brown. Height 1.8m. Spread 60cm. Flowers from July to August. Semi-evergreen. Hardy.

  • Carex albula Amazon Mist 3L pot

    Carex 'Amazon Mist' is an evergreen, unusual, small, ornamental grass, with arching, silvery, hair-like foliage, that forms a lax mound, giving it a misty appearance. Ideal for pots, borders and banks. Height 40cm. Spread 30cm.

  • Carex brunnea Jenneke 3L pot

    A small compact growing grass with thin corn-yellow coloured leaves that are margined with a thin dark-green line. Very graceful and superb for planting in groups with other grasses and in containers too.

  • Carex brunnea Pagira 3L pot

    A small compact growing grass with thin corn-yellow coloured leaves that are margined with a thin dark-green line. Very graceful and superb for planting in groups with other grasses and in containers too.

  • Carex buchananii Red Rooster 3L pot

    Leatherleaf Sedge. Upright clumps of narrow pinkish brown leaves which curl at their tips. Has orange tints in winter. Brown flower spikes. Height 60cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from May to October. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Carex comans Bronze form 3L pot

    Sedge. Dense, evergreen clumps of narrow hair-like, brownish leaves. Inconspicuous brown flower spikes. Height 30cm. Spread 75cm. Flowers from April to October. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Carex comans Frosted Curls 3L pot

    New Zealand Hair Sedge. Dense evergreen clumps of narrow hair-like light whitish green leaves. Compact habit. Inconspicuous whitish green flower spikes. Height 45cm. Flowers from June to February. Evergreen.

  • Carex elata Aurea 3L pot

    Bowls Golden Sedge. Elegant clumps of richly golden yellow leaves with green margins and jet-black flower spikes. Green and brown flower spikes. Height 70cm. Spread 90cm. Flowers from April to June. Deciduous. Hardy.

  • Carex flacca Blue Zinger 3L pot

    Recent cultivar and forms an attractive, compact clump with blue-green evergreen leaves. It is suitable to grow in the shade or partial shade in moist, soft, neutral to alkaline well drained soil. A good grass to grow in a pot; cascading foliage which remains evergreen all year round.

  • Carex flagellifera 3L pot

    Sedge. Dense, evergreen clumps of arching pinkish-brown leaves with orange tints. Small light brown flower spikes. Height 45cm. Spread 1m. Flowers May to September. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Carex flagellifera Bromzita 3L pot

    Sedge. Dense, evergreen clumps of arching pinkish-brown leaves with orange tints. Small light brown flower spikes. Height 45cm. Spread 1m. Flowers May to September. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Carex howardii Phoenix Green 3L pot

    Sturdy, upright, narrow-leafed sedge has bright green foliage. Good heat tolerance and easy-care.

  • Carex In Variety 3L pot

    Narrow, coppery blades and graceful habit distinguish this unusual evergreen grass. Incorporated into a container or ornamental bed, it provides textural interest to complement both blooming plants and other foliage.

  • Carex morrowii Ice Dance 3L pot

    Sedge. Lustrous narrow green leaves beautifully margined with white forming stiff clumps. Green and brown flower spikes. Height 60cm. Spread 75cm. Flowers from April to June. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Carex morrowii Vanilla Ice 3L pot

    Sedge. Slowly spreading mounds of attractive tapered creamy white edged green leaves. Good in sun or part shade. Great for containers in shade. Height; 30cm - 40cm. Evergreen

  • Carex oshimensis Everest 3L pot

    A dense mound forming Carex with a distinctive white mid stripe which makes the foliage stand out in the winter months.

  • Carex oshimensis Evergold 3L pot

    Sedge. Clumps of slender long-arching leaves, with a glowing gold band between green margins. Brown flowers spikes. Height 35cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from May to June. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Carex testacea 3L pot

    Unusual olive green arching leaves, turning orange in full sun. Moist soil.

  • Carex testacea Prairie Fire 3L pot

    Sedge. Elegant arching, fine leaves, olive-green at the end, bright green at the base, turning almost orange in sun and almost green in shade. Brown flower spikes. Height 45cm. Spread 45cm. Flowers from July to September. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Cortaderia selloana Evita 3L pot

    Pampas Grass. Densely tufted, clump-forming perennial grass with arching mid-green leaves and tall stems of silky silvery plumes. Height 2.5-3m. Spread 1.5m. Flowers from August to September. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Cortaderia selloana Pumila 3L pot

    Pampas Grass. Densely tufted, clump-forming perennial grass with arching mid-green leaves, and tall stems of silky, silvery yellow plumes. Height 1.5m. Spread 1.2m. Flowers from August to September. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Cortaderia selloana Silver Star 3L pot

    Densely tufted, low growing, clump-forming perennial grass with arching variegated leaves, and tall stems of weather resistant, silky, white plumes. Height 1m. Spread 2.5m. Flowers from August to September. Evergreen. Protect from frost.

  • Cortaderia selloana Sunningdale Silver 3L pot

    Pampas Grass. Densely tufted, clump-forming perennial grass with arching mid-green leaves, and tall stems of weather resistant, silky, white plumes. Height 3m. Spread 2.5m. Flowers from August to September. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Cortaderia selloana White Plume 3L pot

    Pampas Grass. Densely tufted, clump-forming perennial grass with arching mid-green leaves. Tall stems of silky white plumes. Height 2.5-3m. Spread 1.5m. Flowers from August to September. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Cortaderia selloana White Plume 3L pot

    Pampas Grass. Densely tufted clump-forming perennial grass which arching mid-green leaves. Tall stems of silky white plumes. Height 2.5-3m. Spread 1.5m. Flowers from August to September. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Cortaderia Splendid Star 3L pot

    Densely tufted, low growing, clump-forming perennial grass with arching variegated leaves and tall stems of weather resistant, silky, white plumes. Height 1m. Spread 2.5m. Flowers from August to September. Evergreen. Protect from frost.

  • Festuca amethystina 3L pot

    Large Blue Fescue, Tufted Fescue. A densely tufted evergreen grass with narrow enrolled grey-green leaves, panicles of greenish purple flowers. Height 45cm. Spread 25cm. Flowers from April to June. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Festuca cinerea Eisvogel 3L pot

    'Eisvogel' with its silver-blue foliage is well-suited for mixed and permanent beds.

  • Festuca glauca Elijah Blue 3L pot

    Blue Fescue. A densely tufted evergreen grass with narrow inrolled silvery blue arching leaves. Panicles of silvery blue flowers fading to brown as they seed. Height 30cm. Spread 45cm. Flowers from May to June. Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Festuca glauca Golden Toupee 3L pot

    Golden Toupee Fescue. A tight cushion-forming evergreen grass with soft narrow needle-like yellow leaves in spring, becoming yellow-lime, panicles of yellow-lime flowers, fading to brown as they seed. Height 25cm. Spread 25cm. Flowers from May to July. Evergreen. Hardy. Protect from winter wet.

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