Great Grasses

great grasses

Grasses are a great way to add texture, height and winter interest to a garden. They can be use in mass as a backdrop or as aliving fence. They can be groupe for a natural look. Or they can be used alone, as a single specimen within the garden. Ornamental graases add a natural whispy appearance and provide structure during the winter months. Fall is when most grasses come into their prime, their ornamental plumes and brilliant fall colors shine. But grasses can be planted anytime during the growing season. Almost all ornamental grasses prefer sun or light shade and good drainage is important. These are some of our favorites.

Calamagrostis Karl Forster

Feather Reed Grass

Feather Reed Grass or Calamagrosts 'Karl Forester' is a narrow upright stiff grass that blooms early -wheat like plumes in late spring remain attractive all season. I like Feather Reed grass because it stays narrow and upright and does not require the division that many ornamnetal graases need. 5 ft.
Miscanthus purpurenses

Flame Grass

Purple Maiden Grass (Miscanthus purpurenses) or Flame Grass starts out green but turns red early in the summer. By fall it is a vivd purple shade. White showy plumes grace the colorful foliage in late summer throughout the winter. 4-6 ft.
Northern Sea Oats River Mist

Northern Sea Oats 'River Mist'- New!

Green and bright white variegated bamboo like foliage. Imparts an exotic Asian look in the garden, by a water feature or in a patio pot. Silvery papery oat-like seed heads appear on the arching stems in late summer. 30-36 inches.
Red Head Fountain Grass

Red Head Fountian Grass

Stiff upright bottle-brush like plumes in mid summer are 8-10 inches long and very showy. Plumes turn smoky purple and last throught the fall. The green foliage turns golden in the fall. 3-4 ft.
Switch Grass Ruby Ribbons

Switch Grass 'Ruby Ribbons'- New!

'Ruby Ribbons' is suppose to turn red a bit earlier in the season and be a bit shorter that 'Sheandoah'- see above. Shiny blue-green upright foliage becomes colorful in June and is followed by airy late- summer airy flowers. Decorative and fun in a container. But also, left uncut, provides much needed winter interest in the garden.3-4 ft.
Japanese Forest Grass

Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa or Japanese forest Grass is a lovely, exotic looking clumping ornamental grass. Green and yellow variegated leaves have a weeping habit. 1-2 foot. Performs best in out climate with some morning sun but afternoon shade. Spreads slowly but is worth the wait.
Carex Ice Dance

Variegated Sedge 'Ice Dance'

Carex or Sedge 'Ice Dance' is a welcome addition to our gardens with some afternoon shade. The grassy texture attractive with coral bells, astilbe and hardy ferns. Green and bright white clumps af foliage stand 12-16 inches tall. Can also tolerate full sun, if the soil is constantly moist.
Carex Evergold

Variegated Japanese Sedge 'Evergold'

Carex or Sedge "evrgold' is another nice addition to a partly shaded garden. Bright gold and green foliage lightens up the landscape. The 12 inch foliage cascades in a fountain-like manner. Needs atleast some morning sun, no haevy shade, for best foliage color.
Prairie Dropseed Tara

Prairie Dropseed 'Tara'

Sporobolus or Prairie Dropseed 'Tara' is a fine textured, vase-shaped native prarie grass. Equally pretty in the meadow, praire or perennial garden. Prarie Dropseed is especially lovely when plants at two foot intervals in a border. Airy panicles or seed heads grace the slender foliage in September and October, followed by an orangish autumn hue.
Little Bluestem Carousel

Little Blue Stem 'Carousel'

A tough, drought tolerant American native grass. 'Carousel' starts out blue-green in color but matures to an interesting carousel of pink, tan, bronze and orange-red fall colors. A nice medium height of 30 inches.