What more can you ask for? Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) comes from areas around Mt. One of the most widely planted border grasses is Liriope muscari. Here, a clump of fountaingrass subtly complements bold black-eyed Susans, canna, coleus, and petunia along a deck. Great when planted in bulk; Id save this only for the larger of borders Miscanthus sinensis Morning Light Another larger but meatier grass is from the Miscanthus species. Read on to discover how you can use grasses in your garden and which ones to choose for the best effect. It is easy to forget that bamboo (Bambusa sp. It grows best in damp, rich soil and likes moisture during the hottest months. It has a tight growth habit making it good for borders, along paths in both sun or shade. Tall, architectural grasses make fabulous screens while shorter species soften the edges of borders and containers. Well, not as low as closely sheared turf grass. Nearly all ornamental grasses can be cut back anytime from early fall to late Spring. Dont underestimate the impact that grass plants could have upon your garden! Purple fountain grass can almost be a year-round performer if you treat it right. In landscape design, muhly grass looks best in large or mass clumps in perennial borders or native gardens, where its wispy pink blooms offer a lot of visual impact. Pink muhly grass is also known as sweetgrass, gulf muhlygrass, mist grass, hairawn muhly, and the botanical name, Muhlenbergia capillaris. Will tolerate a range of soils with good drainage. With such a diverse group of plants there is something to fit every space and style. Best for USDA zones 5 through 9 with well drained soil. In a garden, it looks striking next to lime green and silver grasses and plants such as oat grass or sweet potato vine. It is especially beautiful in fall container arrangements and autumn gardens. However, the fluffy white flower heads are far from ordinary, having the appearance of fluffy rabbits tails. To add more confusion, turf fescues are classified as tall fescues, the seeds of which were brought to the United States from Europe in the early 19th century. Switch grass prefers areas that receive full sun and moist but good-draining soil. It has a striking, fountain-like form, reddish-purple color, and feather-like flowers that make it appealing from a distance and for up-close viewing. Glyceria maxima var. For best results, keep this ornamental grass in medium to wet soils. It is striking in containers or as a color accent in borders, especially with darker green plants or those with purple flowers.It requires regular watering, weekly, or more often during hotter temperatures. See more ideas about Grasses landscaping, Ornamental grasses, Plants. Give this grass sun to light shade in fertile, well-drained soil on the moist side. When it starts to spread out and the feathered flowers resemble wheat, it is time to deadhead the grass. It is a small cool season grass growing to 12-18 high and is great for tough sights. This is a magnificent structural grass that remains neat and compact, despite its height, so it wont need much space. For darker brown, pink-tinged foliage try C. Milk Chocolate. June Grass: Koeleria macrantha June Grass is a hardy perennial to zone 3 and is tough enough to take some foot traffic. or Phyllostachys sp.) Hardy, compact and drought tolerant, this low maintenance Carex is easy to grow in any well drained soil. Ornamental Grass Care Cutting Back In The Winter. This is a great choice for containers and Japanese gardens where its golden striped foliage forms a wonderful, rounded clump. Give it ample space in mass plantings. Well-drained, fertile soil. Actually, some fescues are grown as lawns, such as the clumping red fescue. M. sinensis 'Strictus' is visually very similar, though a little taller. Slender, bright green leaf blades deepen to ruby red at the tips. Whether edging a pathway, filling a container or providing yet another texture for the front of the 'border', small ornamental grasses are fun to use and easy to design with. The two best reasons for growing miscanthus are their statuesque presence in the garden and their Imperata cylindrica. The Japanese Silver Grass can be planted as a border or hedge, and they need to be planted 3 to 4 feet apart. Well, not as low as closely sheared turf grass. Carex comans 'Bronze Perfection' is a superb sedge grass with stiff, wiry foliage that arches from a neat mound. Sedges (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'). Graceful and elegant, ornamental grasses like pennisetums and molinia effortlessly combine with flowering plants, creating striking and varied plant combinations that cant fail to impress. Stipa tenuissima is one of my favourites, and for good reason! M. sinensis 'Strictus' is visually very similar, though a little taller. Note: Imperata cylindrica is an invasive species that, according to U.S. federal law, is illegal to grow without a permit. It is also sometimes called porcupine grass (Miscanthis sinensis 'Strictus').This green and pale yellow upright beauty dies back in winter, then comes back strong in the spring, whether or not it hasbeen trimmed. Bronze-pink, feathery panicles rise on tall, slender stems in late summer, turning silvery white as they mature. Plants grow 4 to 5 feet tall. The vertical stems are well worth leaving to provide dramatic winter interest. All rights reserved. Designing with grasses Piet Oudolf is an internationally acclaimed Dutch garden designer whose naturalistic planting style is shaking up traditional notions of border composition. variegata can be planted up to 25cm (10") below water level, making an eye-catching marginal aquatic. Definitely a plant for the back of the border, where it will add plenty of late summer interest and architectural structure. Eriophorum angustifolium is commonly known as Cotton grass - its easy to see why! Grasses for small gardens Molinia caerulea. The grass is great for rock gardens with succulents, native landscaping, borders, and mass plantings. Hakone in Japan and is popular for its beautiful and exotic clumping habit. Small clumping grasses, such as dwarf varieties of silver grass, provide a lovely border between plant beds and walkways while small spreading grasses, such as ribbon grass, make an excellent ground cover. In addition to blue fescue, other popular ornamental fescues include atlas fescue (Festuca mairei), California fescue (Festuca californica), and sheep fescue (Festuca ovina). Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') grows to only about 8 inches high but is a spreader, making it an ideal ground cover. Its dark maroon foliage forms an arching clump that deepens to burgundy throughout the growing season. Dwarf mondo grass does well in full sun or partially shaded areas. It can be identified by its fountainlike silver-blue blades with a light beige dome that appears in the summer. Grasses grow across a wide range of conditions - this one loves to have wet feet! Kathleen Miller is a Master Gardener and Horticulturist with over 30 years experience in gardening and sustainable farming. Loose, airy flower heads appear in late summer, bringing a lovely textural contrast. Choose the best habit for your garden needs. Here are some of the best ornamental grasses for your garden and top tips from the Horticultural Trades Association on making the most from these plants Top 4 ornamental grasses Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Whether you decide to dot a few around your patio pots or go the whole hog and opt for a prairie planting scheme, theres always room for some ornamental grasses in the garden. Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum') has become an extremely popular landscaping plant in both residential and commercial settings. These bottle-brush flowers create a swaying haze above clumps of slender green foliage in summer - perfect for adding texture to borders and softening the silhouettes of late summer perennials. If you can contain it, though, this grass is quite lovely, especially when it blows in the wind. Miscanthus sinensis 'Kleine Silberspinne' makes an excellent cut flower! Some types are evergreen in zones 5 and above. Cyperuspapyrus is sometimes called an African native grass or a grass-like plant. GRASSES ORNAMENTAL Ornamental grasses are excellent for the flower border, containers, patio pots, landscaping and cut flowers. While it is considered low-maintenance, that is often because gardeners and landscape maintenance workers cut it to about a foot high when it starts to look dry in late falland it resembles a cropped bale of hay. The long, arching blades stay clumped. Moreover, ornamental grasses are an While this is not an easy task, after you have separated the clumps and replanted them elsewhere in the garden, you will have gained new plants for free. These grasses grow in clumps that reach about five feet tall. How low does blue fescue (Festuca glauca) grow? This grass must be de-clumped every few years. Mexican feather grass survives in dry conditions and thrives just fine after being cut back. It requires virtually no maintenance once established, happily tolerating hot, dry soils. Blue oat grass likes full sun and weekly water. Unlike lawn or turfgrass varieties, ornamental grasses are meant to grownot be cut or mownand most are not used as ground covers. 100 Freshly dug plugs of Mondo Grass. Gorgeous ornamental grasses add movement, color and texture to gardens made in the shade or sun. It is named after botanist/chemist/mineralogist Henry Muhlenberg. Ornamental grasses are perfect plants for sunny borders. A native of China, bamboo was introduced to the Western world sometime after the mid-19th century. Unlike evergreen trees and shrubs, ornamental grasses grow very quickly, usually reaching their mature size in two seasons. Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silver Grass) and Cultivars. The foliage is fairly unremarkable, so this grass is best planted among other grasses or spring flowering perennials to provide interest earlier in the year. They look beautiful in borders and along ponds and streams. Browse 240 Ornamental Grass Border on Houzz Whether you want inspiration for planning ornamental grass border or are building designer ornamental grass border from scratch, Houzz has 240 pictures from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Cabinetworks and Pacific Exteriors LLC. Calgary Plants offers a variety of grasses for sale. Hameln is a great way to add texture to garden borders and ponds. For more details, see our, 10 Best Ornamental Grasses for Containers, 8 Best Ornamental Grasses to Add Privacy to the Garden, 20 Best Tall Plants for Container Gardens, 15 Best Zone 7 Plants to Put In Your Garden, 15 Recommended Flowering Shrubs for Your Home, 15 Best Zone 8 Plants to Put In Your Garden, 12 Fall Plants for Container Gardens and Hanging Baskets, 13 Types of Colorful Ornamental Grass for Fall, 11 Great Fragrant Trees for Your Landscape. Despite its beauty, some regions consider it invasive. You can opt-out at any time. Like standard pampas grass, the dwarf variety can become invasive, so plant it Evergreen grasses such as Carex combine well with winter bedding to give height and a contrast in texture. Our native purple moor grass, Molinia caerulea first flowers in May and adopts subtle shades of green, Miscanthus sinensis. The mature size of this grass is fairly predictableusually 2 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. It also tends to get taller, reaching a height of 5 feet or more, and about 4 feet wide. You can also grow them as accents or specimens in the center of the flower bed or a large pot. In regions that do not experience freezing temperatures, this grass is a perennial. Even if a grass becomes too large during the growing season, they can be pruned for shape. Softer edges are achieved by using grasses with wispy habits such as blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens and cvs., Zones 49) and small fountain grasses (Pennisetum spp. Possessing a similar deep-red, purplish- bronze color, New Zealand flax's leaves are more broad or strap-like than the finer fountain grass. Once established, this plant is both drought and soggy soil tolerant. The vertical stems are well worth leaving to provide dramatic winter interest. Grasses are good plants for containers. 12 Best Ornamental Grasses for Your Landscape Blue Fescue. Perfect for adding a soft, wispy feel to gravel gardens, and borders, associating well with other grasses and perennials. This ornamental grass is admired for its fall- and winter-blooming pink flowers or featherlike plumes. Ornamental grasses typically have either a spreading habit or a clumping habit. In borders, tall grasses can be used as screens or as a background plant, according to the authors of Ornamental Grass Gardening. Tall grasses to consider include giant reed grass, which is suited for use near ponds; pampas grass, which features white feathery plumes; spiky-leafed Japanese silver grass; and feather grass, which needs full sun and is suited for well-drained soil. Zebra grass is known as Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' botanically. Bamboo naturally grows in warm climates, but you can also find cold-hardy varieties, such as Bisetti (hardy to zone 4), Nuda (hardy to zone 4), Giant Leaf (hardy to zone 5), and Spectabilis (hardy to zone 5). It is also called cogongrass. Some varieties bloom in warm months with small purple flowers. Test Garden Tip: Tuck grasses in here and there in your landscape. Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens, Avena candida) grows to about3 to 6 feet in height and 1 to 3 feet in width. This deciduous grass can be identified by its slender stems, which look like tiny bamboo stalks. If youre looking for colour in the garden, this vibrant perennial grass is hard to beat! Lisa Hallett Taylor is a writer and editor with 12+ years experience covering architecture, landscape design, and do-it-yourself projects. Mexican feather grass also spreads. It can be drought-tolerant after it is established. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. But in the world of ornamental grasses, fescues are considered low-growers and are often used as edgings, borders, and ground covers. If you are able to offer a boggy, acid soil, this hardy perennial makes a superb marginal aquatic for natural planting schemes. Not actually black, it is more of a dark greenish-purple; it looks striking when paired with lightlavender, chartreuse, or lime-colored plants. Feb 19, 2020 - Explore My Info's board "grasses & borders" on Pinterest. Photo by Janet Loughrey. You might have noticed Mexican feather grass ( Nassella tenuissima or From lush variegated sedges to bushy gray fescues, they provide an important grassy texture in your garden without making you commit to larger specimens. Although frost hardy, it is best protected from cold, wet winter weather. Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' is an excellent grass for adding height and structure to the back of borders. Warm-season, clumping If the soil is too dry, it can fade away or die. For nearly nonstop performance, strength, and visual impact, few plants compare to ornamental grasses. A word of warning though - if happy, this hardy grass will seed freely, often popping up elsewhere in the garden! Dwarf fountain grass is a clumping, warm-season grass that grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. In very cold areas, bamboo canes often die back in winter, but the roots survive. This species of ornamental grass grows to about 3 to 6 feet tall with coarse, thick foliage. Uses: A lovely accent in borders and rock gardens, planted alone or in masses. What more can you ask for? This eye-catching grass is best known for its early summer foliage with distinctive cream bands that stripe each blade. For the chance to be featured, share your plant pictures with uson Instagram by using the hashtag #YourTMGarden. Thankfully, not all ornamental grasses are aggressive growers, and several low, mounding species can grow successfully as ground covers or border plants alone or in masses. Colourful foliage and textural flower heads bring plenty of interest to the garden, and evergreen grasses can even be used to create year round structure. Depending on what you pair zebra grass with, it can have an exotic, tropical look and is striking planted near broad-leafed tropical plants with colorful flowers such as canna, ginger, hibiscus, and plumeria. Shop the large inventory on our website. 100 plugs - Mondo Grass also called Monkey Grass, Ophiopogon Japonicus, Evergreen, No Mowing, Great for Borders, Pots and Accents Low Maintence and great looking. The soft, subtle hues of Hameln grasses is a perfect combination to offset bolder colors like those found on Blanket Flowers and Salvia. The foliage softens edges, adds colour and provides fabulous texture. Use loam-based compost such as John Innes No 2 with 20 percent loam-free compost to lighten the mix. Sedges (Carex spp. Bamboo grows upright and spreads quickly (sometimes too much), and it requires a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Growing just 4-5 feet tall, dwarf pampas grass develops showy white flower plumes in the late summer and fall. Imperata cylindrica'Rubra' or Japanese blood grass is a colorful red, yellow, and green grass that is native to Australia,Africa, Southeast Asia,India, Micronesia,and Melanesia.Upright clumpsspreadslowly underground by runners. Japanese forest grass. You can also use an ornamental grass in a container garden, as part of the thriller, filler, spiller theory. How low does blue fescue ( Festuca glauca) grow? Egyptian Papyrus fits nicely into the ornamental grass category. This grass sends out huge plumes of yellow to white flower heads and reaches 1.5 2m in height. This vibrant grass makes a fabulous feature plant, providing architecture and colour to the garden. A Naturalistic Border Idea with Perennials and Grasses Perennial Combinations, Plant Combinations, Summer Borders, Fall Borders. To Zone 4. is actually a member of the grass family. By late summer the foliage has turned to gold, accompanied by tall plumes of copper-pink flower that make a showy architectural feature. A division of BVG Group Ltd. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Vegetable Seeds, Miscanthus sinensis 'Kleine Silberspinne'. Why not browse our extensive range of ornamental grasses, and buy yours online today. plant is bright green with blue flowers in the summer. and cvs., USDA Hardiness Zones 39), which are not technically grasses but act like them, fall into this category. Spreaders tend to be taller and more dramatic, while clumping grasses form relatively short mounds. Awash with colors and shapes from mid summer to fall, this naturalistic planting is really fascinating. Find great deals on eBay for grass border. Commonly called liriope or lilyturf, this grass has solid green or variegated foliage, depending on the variety. Grasses are a great accent plant for beds and borders. and cvs., Zones 611). To be safe, confirm that your state's laws permit use of this grass before buying or planting it. Add beautiful ornamental grass plants to your landscaping. It is also deer-resistant and is drought-tolerant once established. Some native plant organizations consider it invasive. Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'is an excellent grass for adding height and structure to the back of borders. The seeds are at the very tips of the featherlike "blades," which wave in the gentlest of winds. Although not the hardiest grass, Imperata cylindrica Rubra will happily grow outdoors if protected with a straw mulch in winter. Most grasses associate beautifully with each other, blending gracefully into perennial borders and creating a rich tapestry. Common border grasses include Liriope (Liriope muscari), mondo-grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) and flax lily (Dianella tasmanica). Dwarf grasses and annuals are ideal for the borders, tall grasses like Millet, Melica, Stipa and Cortaderia Pampas grasses are ideal for Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' is a stunning ornamental grass with an elegant, cascading habit. Cultivars such as 'All Gold' and 'Aureola' have variegated green and gold leaves. P. Hameln has longer, less cylindrical flower heads, while P.Hameln Gold brings a splash of bright yellow foliage to the garden. Shop with confidence. Ornamental grasses offer subtle beauty and multi-seasonal interest, even when theres not much else going on in the garden. *Your 20% discount only applies to plants, bulbs and seeds. 2020 Thompson & Morgan. This hardy grass forms a neat clump of fine, thread-like blades which create a fabulous billowing movement in summer borders. Previous Next. Pennisetum 'Rubrum' is quite spectacular! One of the many advantages of ornamental grasses are they extremely hardy and tolerant. It can grow 5 feet tall or taller and about 5 feet wide, even if you prune it during its growing season, which is spring and summer in the western United States. 100 plugs - Mondo Grass also called Monkey Grass, Ophiopogon Japonicus, Evergreen, No Mowing, Great for Borders, Pots and Accents Low Maintence and great looking. The foliage emerges with a pink tinge, maturing to green and yellow with an elegant variegated pattern. For a more natural looking display choose the species, G maxima, which has simple, bright green foliage. Once you start landscaping with ornamental grasses you will be amazed by how many varieties, sizes, shapes, and colors are available. This British native is found in acid, peat bogs where it spreads to form an evergreen colony of rather unremarkable foliage. By late summer the foliage has turned to gold, accompanied by tall plumes of copper-pink flower that make a showy architectural feature. Trim grasses under one metre in height to about 5 centimetres tall; those over one metre to about 10 centimetres tall. Miscanthus sinensis Kleine Silberspinne A short miscanthus, the dark green leaves turn deep reddish orange and gold, then the mature to straw colour. Cut the old foliage to the ground after winter or in the early spring. Like fountain grass, New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) has become increasingly popular in residential and commercial applications. The rosy pink flowers open in August on unusually bright green, upright stems, then become brown and fluffy as they mature - ): This 4- to 6-inch (10-15 cm.) Actually, Mexican Feather Grass. Use it in the back of the border where you can enjoy the flower heads all winter long. Plant it in bold clumps in the herbaceous border or as part of a mixed container. Preferences: Full sun or light shade. Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) is another popular border grass. By late summer the leaves have coloured to green-gold and dark garnet. Equally good as a single specimen or planted in bold groups to form dense ground cover. These exotic beauties can grow up to 72 inches or more, they like moist soil, and they can thrive in a water garden. It is hardy only to zone 9; in cold-winter areas, it is typically grown as an annual. However, the 'Rubra' cultivar is relatively less aggressive and is sold in garden centers in many cold-winter areas, where it is easier to control than in warmer zones. Frost Grass (Spodiopogon sibiricus) Frost grass brings a bamboo-like look to the garden with horizontal leaves, which take on purple to burgundy tints in fall. Below are some popular types of ornamental grass that stay small and make great additions to the landscape: Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon spp. Mexican feather grass is even grown on green roofs. This hardy grass is best grown in large ponds where it has room to spread and develop dense stands that offer good cover for wildlife. In late summer it is topped with a sumptuous display of slender, fluffy, red flower heads that droop demurely towards the ground. Grown for its unusual bronze colour and evergreen foliage, it makes the perfect addition to winter containers. It likes partial to full sun and moist, well-drained soil. You might have noticed Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima or Stipa tenuissima) showing up in gardens and other areas all over town. 100 Depending on the variety it will add plenty of late summer the leaves have coloured to and! Border or hedge, and borders best ornamental grasses you will be by Copper-Pink flower that make a showy architectural feature consider it invasive, acid,! Maroon foliage forms a wonderful, rounded clump & borders '' on Pinterest Kew, Vegetable,. 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