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No one warned me ornamental grasses are addicting!

16 years ago

I have some older clumps that I planted years ago - zebra grass, fountain grass, Chasmanthium and have always enjoyed them. There didn't used to be that many varieties availabe at the nurseries, pretty much just the old standbys back then - back then meaning about 5-6 years ago. (certainly was not easy finding Chasmanthium in the past, only one local nursery carried it)

So I went looking for some blood grass, and was surprised at the variety of ornamental grasses now available locally! Many of them are simply beautiful, and I'm glad they are now easily available.

I ended up getting (6) blood grass and (3) variegated bamboo (pleobactus - ? spelling), that ought to satisfy my urge for a while LOL!

If I had a bigger plot, though, or more room in the beds I have, I'd definitely add more :)

I get so many compliments on my mature clumps of zebra grass, that one seems to attract a lot of attention from folks.

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Comments (6)

tjsangel
16 years ago
There's no going back now : ) Even if you were warned you'd still be addicted! I have 2 fountain grasses, a Pennisetum, couple sweet flag grasses and I want to add at least 4 more. I get addicted to most perennials though, I have no shame. Daylilies are my thing now. Happy gardening!

Jen
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
Watch out for the bamboo!! Pleioblastus is a great little groundcover form, but spreads like greased lightning. This is one of the running bamboos and needs to be contained or it will claim your entire garden. And the neighbor's :-)

Ornamental grasses are excellent additions to perennial beds or mixed plantings. My preferences are to the evergreen forms (sedges, etc) because of their size and year round presence but a taller Miscanthus or Calamagrostis makes a great focal point! I just consider them another form of perennial and include them wherever appropriate.
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Certainly Miscanthus is one of the most common ornamental grasses of that size. Without seeing the flower/seeds, that would be my best guess. Some of the large native grasses in nurseries now are cultivars of Panicum virgatum such as 'Heavy Metal'. If you are interested in something native instead.
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There are both evergreen and deciduous (herbaceous) grasses - typically the deciduous ones get cut back in late winter or early spring and the evergreen ones do not. Deciduous grasses - in general - grow taller than evergreens and produce very showy seedheads. They also turn straw-colored in late fall and winter. Evergreen grasses tend to hold their color year round. Bronze colored grasses are most often of the genus Carex and are considered evergreen (or everbronze). Also most of the blues will be evergreen as well - the fescues, helichtotricon, elymus, etc. These only need occasional grooming to remove old fronds. Most grasses propagate easily from division which is typically done in spring. Some will self seed easily as well - like the bronze carex. Many named cultivars produce few or sterile seeds so harvesting may be futile. Blue coloring can vary from species to species and cultivar to cultivar - some will hold color better than others. In a hot, dry summer climate it is pretty common to have fescues and oat grass fade in their color intensity. btw, the Darke book is essential if you have an interest in growing OG's.
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Donn, Doncha' just love Google Images?? I get most of my references from Google! Anyway yeah I love the look of some of those pots. The type of pot, what will be in it and where it will be placed were alrady on my mind. Resin pots are really the best as I am not sure how a clay/terra cotta pot painted in the necessary steps (definitely a good two or three coats of XIM primer (two on inside and one on inside) would affect the actual plant. Acrylic or anything water born would peel right off. So resin would be the way to go. I do not have the paints & glazes necessary to do a ceramic or porcelain pot nor do I have fast access to a kiln! I don't know though. I need to go talk to my boys' art teacher. She wanted me to come by and possibly demonstrate what I do for a living to some classes anyway so maybe I could talk with her about firing a thing or two. But that is a big maybe since we just moved here and I do not have the relationships with these teachers that I did in Savannah. Ok so you want to pick a pot size and style? Or would you like me to just go to Lowe's and see what they have that is paintable, take some pics, send them to you and purchase what you would like? Color schemes would be good to so what ever I do will flow with what you have presently. Lots to figure out for a pot, huh? Think about what I deal with doing whole rooms! The money is good and I can't wait to get back to work!! I had rotator cuff surgery in July and am still on the mend. Ok thaks. I am enjoying the emailing and process of creating a pot or two for you! We'll see how it goes from here! Thanks adn God bless! Tara
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cfmuehling
16 years ago
I also have an addiction. I won't name them all (because I'd have to go look) but counting in my head, I have 23 different kinds.

What bothers me is that they take over. I'm dumping Northern Sea Oats right now because although I absolutely love it, I can't stand the stupid reseeding it does.

One of my favorites is Pony Tail Grass. It's medium in size, very blow-y in the wind and never flops. Blue fescues are great, too. I like switch grasses because again, they don't flop.

I gave away Miscanthus varigatus and Indian Steel because although gorgeous in color, one strong wind and they smush out everything underneath and beside them. I love Black Moudry because of it's low, large clumps.

And ... so on! :)

Yes, addicting.

Christine
chelone
16 years ago
When "gardeners" tell me the don't like grasses I have the same reaction I do when men tell me they "don't like cats". I'm instantly on "alert" and wary...

I think grasses are "way cool". Tall, drought resistant, and effortless graceful for fully 3 seasons! in a cold zone, how can you beat that? Like cats, they're perfect in every way!

And every man I dated who "didn't like cats" showed his true colors readily. The helpmeet was ambivilent about cats. But now he can't nap without one.
LisaH
16 years ago
Try Miscanthus "Morning Light"! It's beautiful, especially when it's backlit by the sun.
rodja in NZ
16 years ago
Hi I saw and took a liking to miscanthus 'Rigoletto' in the States last year. Worth checking out. Its smaller than M. variegatus and a real top notch grass.

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