Pulaski County Home and Garden
Gardening by Beth Phelps
Although not always green
Although not evergreen, ornamental grasses provide interest and beauty to the
garden all year long. In fact, it could be argued that ornamental grasses are at
their best in the winter landscape, providing structure and interest with their
dormant foliage and a delicate crown of dried flower plumes.
Plants are placed in the landscape for visual effect. They have to add beauty
to the garden to justify their space and care. Ornamental grasses are so low
maintenance that their visual contribution far outweighs their maintenance
requirements. They are essentially insect and disease free. They do require
water under extremely dry conditions but most are very drought tolerant once
established. And best of all, while the lawn needs to be mowed weekly,
ornamental grasses only need to be "mowed" once a year. In the late winter or
early spring cut the plant back to 3 - 6 inches above ground, removing the dry
foliage that has graced the garden but is beginning to look worn. This will
renew the plant and insure that the fresh new spring leaves can be enjoyed
without distraction.
The only other maintenance ornamental grasses require is periodic division.
Like many perennials, the center tends to die out if left undivided for several
years. To prevent this, every three to four years dig up the root ball and cut
it into four to six clumps. Replant one and share the others with friends and
neighbors.
The ornamental grasses are a very diverse group of plants; there is sure to
be a selection to fit into any garden and thrive under just about any growing
conditions. The great variety available also means they can be used as ground
covers, screens or as specimen plants.
The genus Pennisetum, commonly called fountain grass, with it fuzzy foxtail
like flower plumes offers lots of size and color variety from which to choose.
The term fountain grass describes their graceful presence in the garden
all year long. Although the foliage is beautiful these grasses are really prized
for their flower plumes, which dry well and persistent in the garden from early
summer through the winter months.
The best-known fountain grass is purple fountain grass, Pennisetum
setaceum 'Rubrum', which although not perennial is worth planting every
spring. It graces the landscape with burgundy foliage topped by purple plumes
all spring, summer and fall. Purple fountain grass is probably the most popular
of all the ornamental grasses because of its color. I guarantee, once you see it
at the nursery you will find a place in your landscape for this plant.
The fountain grasses also offer variations in color, from the showy pink
plumes of Oriental fountain grass, P. orientale to the silvery charcoal
plumes of P. alopecuroides 'Moudry' or 'Hameln', another variety of P.
alopecuroides, with its dark green foliage and white plumes. 'Hameln' was
chosen as an Arkansas Select plant in 1998 because of its proven problem free
performance and at three ft tall, it will fit into most perennial gardens. Last
but not least there is 'Little Bunny' the smallest of the fountain grasses, at 1
- 2 feet., it can be tucked in anywhere with its spiked leaves providing a
backdrop for flowering plants.
The genus Miscanthus, whose flower plumes are feather like, also offers
variety in both size and color. From the grandeur of zebra grass, at 7 - 9
feet., with it boldly banded leaves of yellow and green to the brightly colored
flame grass, M. sinensis 'Purpurascens', which tops out at 3-4 feet.
Flame is a good description of the foliage on this plant, as it turns brilliant
red in the fall and keeps its color all winter. For more subtle color choose
M. sinensis 'Kascade' with its pink plumes which hold their color into the
late summer or 'Morning Light' for its bright green foliage accented with a
touch of yellow.
Although most ornamental grasses perform best in full sun there are a few
selections that will do well in light shade.
Northern Sea Oats are treasured for its showy, drooping seed heads and sturdy
foliage. The woven seed heads turn from green to copper then light brown in the
winter. They are wonderful in fresh or dried arrangements. Miscanthus
sinensis 'Variegatus' with its green and white leaves tolerates partial
shade and give rise to pink flower plumes. Golden hakonechloa combines well with
green plants in the shade garden where its variegated yellow and green foliage
turn pinkish in the fall. And in a shady spot you can't beat Luzula nivea
'Snow bird' with its ruffed, ecru colored plumes.
Just about any ornamental grass will add fall and winter interest to the
landscape as the foliage goes dormant and the plumes dry. For a bold statement,
Japanese Blood grass is a real eye catcher. When the new leaves emerge in the
spring they are green with a reddish burgundy tip. But, by August the foliage is
blood red. Japanese Blood Grass does not grow in a clump thus it will spread
providing a drift brilliant foliage. Because it is not too tall, 1 - 1.5 feet.,
Japanese Blood grass fits into any landscape.
By choosing the right variety, many ornamental grasses serve well as a ground
cover. Weeping Love Grass is great for stabilizing a sunny slope that is too
steep to mow. Its thin dark green leaves turn to reddish bronze after the first
hard freeze of the season. It is tough and once established very little water is
needed. This is why it is used by highway departments on steep roadsides that
receive no maintenance after seeding. Although tall for a ground cover, 2-3
feet, its airy, gracefully weeping clumps look great covering large sunny areas.
Blue Wild Rye, Prairie Dropseed and Ribbon Grass also make low maintenance
ground covers for sunny spots.
There are grasses that reach great heights and can screen unwanted views.
Pampas grass, 8 ft., with its white or pink plumes is widely known and commonly
grown. Other choices that can be used to block a view are Giant Miscanthus at 10
-14 feet. and Giant Reed Grass, 12 - 15 feet. Just remember that all grass
should be cut down in early spring leaving the view exposed for several weeks
before the foliage reaches its full height.
Sedges and rushes, although not truly grasses, look very similar with their
upright blade like foliage. They also produce flowers and seed on tall stalks.
The sedge most familiar to southerners is nutsedge. Don't let this noxious weed
spoil the whole family.
Sedges, as a group, do well in poorly drained or wet areas where grasses do
not thrive. This allows for the look and texture of an ornamental grass in
landscape situations where they would not survive. Blue Gray Sedge, which grows
6 - 8 inches tall, will tolerate both light shade and light traffic making it a
wonderful ground cover. Papyrus and Bulrush are two varieties that make bold
statements in water gardens or boggy areas.
Now is the time to plant ornamental grasses in your landscape and enjoy their
graceful upright foliage and delicate flower plumes spring, summer, fall and
winter.
This article was Originally Published in
Active Years Magazine
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