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.
Switch Grass. A deciduous perennial grass forming a clump of flat, linear leaves turning yellow in autumn, and large purple flowering panicles. A deciduous perennial grass forming a clump of flat, linear leaves turning yellow in autumn, and large purple flowering panicles.
Forms an upright clump of deep burgundy-purple leaves, bearing arching bottlebrush flowers that change from red to tan. Not winter hardy.
This grass is big and bold, with large purple, broad leaves. Ideal Conditions: Prefers full sun, or partial shade with free-draining soil or compost. Possible Situation: Use either in the back or middle of a container. Alternatively it is great in the border especially in dramatic in clusters, mass plantings, or along slopes.
A tender, swaying perennial grass often grown as an annual. In summer, it produces swords of deep purple hanging flower heads on leafy stems.
Pheasant's Tail Grass. A perennial grass with narrow leathery dark green arching leaves turning orange-brown in winter. Pendent purplish green spikelets from late summer to late winter. Height 1m. Spread 1.2m. Flowers from August to February. Evergreen. Frost hardy.
Mexican Feather Grass is an unbelievably important plant for the garden. It provides an almost unique texture either individually or, especially, when planted in drifts. Loose tufts of fluffy delicate green leaves wave and flutter in the breeze, resembling an elven shaving brush. Given a position in full sun and dry soil, its uses within the garden are limited purely by your imagination. Stipa tenuissima 'Ponytails' is superlatively effective when grouped together into a soft, swirling ground cover beneath strongly architectural plants like yuccas and dasylirion. It will seed around generously to soften the effect too.
An evergreen perennial with pretty greenish red to rich reddish brown leaves. Narrow spikes of brown to black flowers from mid to late summer. Height 30cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from July to August. Evergreen. Frost hardy.
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