Ornamental grasses have been gaining in popularity as of late. Imagine each blade of grass to be representative of a hair in an artist’s paintbrush. Brought together to form a multitude of blades, the brush has endless possibilities in the creation of form. This is precisely the effect that ornamental grasses have in a garden. They can add fluidity with the whisper of a breeze or become majestic as they stand tall against a backdrop of snow. This diversity of form distinguishes ornamental grasses from all other plants.
There are three groups of ornamental grasses:
1. Small Grasses-this variety includes grass like plants such as Sedges. They are excellent for rock gardens or can be mass planted as an attractive ground cover. Good companions for Spring flowering bulbs or as border edging.
2. Mid Size Grasses-range in height from 45cm-100cm. They make attractive focal points in perennials borders or annual bedding schemes. Varieties of Fountain Grass provide for an alternative to the usual Draceana when it comes to adding height and interest.
3. Tall Grasses-the most famous of which is the Pampas Grass (Cordateria), unfortunately, this is not hardy enough for many regions. A close equivalent for the hardier regions is a Miscanthus variety or Plume Grass (Erianthus ravennae), which produces flower heads up to 3m tall.
There are ornamental grasses for shady areas, such as Northern Sea Oats (Chamanthium latifolium), grasses that prefer sun such as Blue Oat Grass (Helictrotrichen sempervirens) and Silver Feather Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silver Fether5’), some that are better adapted to wet sites like the Manna Grass (Glyceria maxima ‘Variegata’) and Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus strictus).
The planting of ornamental grasses is ideal for the gardener who is looking for low maintenance. Most plants adapt easily to a wide range of soil conditions. Invasive types like Blue Lyme Grass (Elymus arenarius glaucus), Manna Grass and Gardener’s Garters (Phalaris arundinaceae) actually grow better if planted in uncultivated soil or heavy clay.
The beauty of ornamental grasses is that they are virtually disease and pest free. Being perennials, the only care they really need is for the dead foliage to be cut down to a few centimetres above the ground in early Spring. These grasses are very forgiving in that they can easily be cut back at any time during the growing season and they will rejuvenate themselves with new, fresh growth immediately.
Ornamental grasses offer a myriad of choices. Choices in height, colour, form, foliage and season of flower. No longer should you think in four shades of green, these grasses come in shades of steel blue, cinnamon brown, ruby red, copper, tan and even zebra stripes. Heights ranging from dwarf forms as edging for beds to tall majestic grasses used as screens or backgrounds for borders. The seed heads are unmatched in their beauty ranging from delicate puffs of smoke to heavier nodding pods.
No matter what time of year it is, the presence of ornamental grasses will inspire restfulness and provide a link with the natural landscape.
