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Ornamental
Grasses
Long relegated exclusively
to lawns, grasses are now becoming the darlings of the perennial garden--so
much so that the 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year is an ornamental grass.
Grasses provide multi-season interest, with striking foliage and ornamental
seedheads. Many have feathery plumes that make a welcome addition to cut
flower arrangements.
Grasses and perennial
flowers are naturals together. Look at any wild meadow, and you'll likely
find the two growing side by side. However, ornamental grasses differ
from their wild cousins in a number of ways. First of all, ornamental
grasses have been bred for a variety of foliage colors and forms, and
many have very showy seedheads. Ornamental grasses are also better behaved
than wild grasses--that is, they won't spread wildly and take over entire
beds.
Although grasses lack
the large and colorful flowers of many ornamentals, their beauty is found
in their foliage textures, colors, and forms. Not only does their straplike
foliage provide striking contrast for flowering perennials, they also
add vitality to a planting as they sway in the breeze.
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'Karl
Foerster' Feather Reed Grass
2001
Perennial Plant of the Year!
This trouble-free
ornamental grass starts out in spring with a striking clump of
narrow green leaves. Then the
showy golden plumes appear in early summer and last well into
winter--truly an all-season plant!
'Karl
Foerster' grows 5 to 6 feet tall, with a spread of 2 to 3 feet.
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Types
of Grasses
Grasses
can be categorized as either clumping and spreading. Clump-forming grasses
form tidy mounds and spread slowly. Spreading grasses spread by creeping
roots, and some can become invasive. When considering an ornamental grass,
make sure it is classified as clump-forming, or at least described as
slow-spreading. If you have your heart set on a variety, only to find
out it can become invasive, consider sinking a large pot into the soil
and planting it in there. The pot will contain the roots to limit spreading.
Choosing
Grasses
Let's look at some popular ornamental
grass groups.
| Type
of grass |
Qualities
|
Example |
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feather
reed grass
(Calamagrostis)
|
- strongly
vertical in form
- tough and
adaptable
- long bloom
season
|
'Karl
Foerster'
|
blue
fescue
(Festuca) |
- intense steel-blue
color
- forms compact
mounds
- multiplies
rapidly (but not invasive)
|
'Elijah
Blue'
|
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Japanese Silver
Grass
(Miscanthus)
|
- graceful
arching foliage
- feathery
plumes
- good for
cut flowers
- silver-green
foliage and copper red plumes
|
'Japanese
Silver Grass' |
Caring
for Ornamental Grasses
Like their
cousins, the lawn grasses, ornamental grasses are generally relatively
durable and reliable. Most grasses prefer full sun. They tend to be tolerant
of a wide range of soil types and prefer a pH between 5 and 7. Once established,
most ornamental grasses have deep, far-ranging root systems, making them
resistant to drought. However, give them some extra TLC during their first
season by watering them throughout dry spells. Ornamental grasses are
also remarkably pest-free.
Like
many perennials, grasses respond well to shearing back in late winter.
Although you can also cut back dead foliage in fall, most grasses are
attractive well into winter, and many have seedheads that attract birds.
Whenever you decide to prune, simply cut down each clump to 3 to 6 inches
above ground, using sharp scissors or pruners. In the spring, the grass
will resprout from the crown.
Attractive
Combinations
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