• Trudy's Tried and True

• Rick's Picks for Sun

• Rick's Picks for Shade

• Butters and Hummers

• Trudy's Curios

GREAT GRASSES

With its wide, strappy leaves measuring 1/4 to 1/2 inch across, this carex makes a bold statement in the shade garden. The leaves are dark green with bright white variegated edges. This variety will grow in a variety of conditions, from nearly full sun to shade in average to moist soil.

Carex 'Evergold'
Common Name: Sedge 'Evergold'

One of the most popular variegated sedges, this selection has creamy-yellow leaves with deep green margins. They cascade softly to the ground in a fountain-like manner. Unlike many other sedges, this one prefers dry to average soil moisture. Foliage color richer in shade than in sun. It makes an excellent groundcover and is also interesting in pots.

Carex 'Blue Zinger'
Common Name: Sedge 'Blue Zinger'

'Blue Zinger’ is a sedge cultivar that features attractive blue-green grass-like foliage. It typically grows in clumps to 10-20” tall. It is grown in the landscape for its foliage effect.   Easily grown in medium to wet soils in part shade to full shade.

Best grown in moist, humusy, well-drained soils in part shade. Plants need consistent moisture. Leaf variegation color is affected by the amount of sun exposure and the growing climate. In St. Louis, the variegated striping appears gold in part shade. Plants will grow well in deeper shade (particularly in hot summer climates), but the gold variegation changes to lime green.

This ornamental switch grass cultivar features some of the best burgundy-red foliage of the many panicum cultivars. Foliage emerges bluish-green but rapidly turns burgundy-red (by late June) to form a compact, narrow, erect, 3' tall clump of foliage which is topped in summer by finely-textured, reddish-pink flower panicles which hover over the foliage like an airy cloud. Best massed or in groups

Absolutely ideal for growing in decorative containers, this hardy Red Switch Grass is a perennial substitute for the annual Red Fountain Grass.  Measuring in at just 3ft (2ft before blooming), 'Cheyenne Sky' forms a tight, vase-shaped clump of blue-green foliage that begins turning wine red in early summer.  By late summer, nearly the entire clump is drenched in color and is topped by matching wine-red flower panicles held just above the foliage. 

'Carousel' is a dwarf and somewhat mounded selection of little bluestem. Unique rounded, bowl-shaped habit and superior resistance to lodging in winter. Its fine green foliage has hints of pink even in the summer and becomes a kaleidoscope of colors in autumn that includes copper, pink, orange and tan.  'Carousel' will reach 30" tall and 30" wide

'Lucerne’ is a variety of blue-eyed grass  is noted for its profuse bloom of large, one inch diameter, star-like, intense blue flowers with yellow centers over a long May-June bloom period. This is a clump-forming perennial that features a fan-like tuft of narrow, stiffly, grass-like, blue-green leaves that grow stiffly erect to 8” tall.

'Tara' has flowers and a vase shaped habit which is much more upright than the species.  18 to 24 inches, one foot shorter than regular dropseed.  Elegant in the landscape and small enough for container gardening. Plant of Merit.