Grass season is in full swing. From August through September, the warm season ornamental grasses are coming into their full glory. In honor of the season, I’d like to list ten and a half of my favorite grasses. The great thing about grasses is that most of them are very adaptable, and relatively pest free. So if you’re frustrated by your heavy clay, or the builder left you nothing but a thin veneer of topsoil, grasses are a good option.
#1: Miscanthus sinensis (Japanese Silver Grass) – Though not the largest, this species is the King of all ornamental grasses because it is the most recognizable, most adaptable, and has a bazillion cultivars. The fine textured leaves of ‘Gracillimus’ are probably the most familiar, but then there are variegated ones, short ones, tall ones, fat ones, skinny ones…. Two to check out: ‘Morning Light’, a white variegated cultivar, and ‘Zebrinus’, a gold striped variety.
Height ranges from three to eight feet. Their flowers begin various shades of reddish pink and mature to a silvery gray. They’re not fussy about soil, and even do well in wet, heavy clay. Full sun is best.
#2: Pennisetum alopecuroides (Dwarf Fountain Grass) – If Miscanthus is King, this grass has got to be Queen. Though she reaches only 3 feet with her flowers, she does well in our soils. Though not as many as the King, she does have several cultivars available. ‘Hameln’ is probably the most popular but people also love ‘Little Bunny’ which only stands 18” tall. And now there’s ‘Burgundy Little Bunny’ with red tinged leaves that supposedly “explode” with red in the fall.
Pennisetums like full sun to part shade. They will do okay in heavy clay soils, but wet, sticky situations are not to their liking. Once established, they are drought tolerant, though their tips will burn if left too long without a drink.
#3: Hakonechloa macra (Hakone grass) -Hah cone’ ee cloe uh is how I pronounce this grass. It’s a must have, but it’s fussy. Native to wet, rocky cliffs in Japan, it doesn’t like dry sites, but wet, heavy clay will not do either. It also prefers shade which is unusual for an ornamental grass.
The cultivar ‘Aureola’ is a yellow variegated form that is supposedly less hardy than the green species, but it did survive last winter in my garden. It’s cascading horizontal form reaches only twenty four inches high at best, and fall can bring a tinge of pink to its leaves.
#4: Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue oat-grass) – Another hard to pronounce grass, but it is one of the most gorgeous grasses. Unfortunately, it totally hates our soils and weather. Once you see its thin blue blades radiating out straight out from the crown though, you’ll want it.
It’s relatively small reaching only about 24 inches tall, but it definitely commands respect.
I grow it in full sun on a dry slope between pieces of concrete stepping stones. The get a bit of a black leaf spot but from a distance you don’t notice. This might be a good plant for a gravel mulched bed that’s got the hot blazing sun beating down on it all day. Worth a try if you can find it.
#5: Arundo donax (Giant reed grass) – From small to tall we go with this grass, and we’re talking very tall, 12-14 feet tall. Awesome is the word to describe this grass. It is no wonder that they’re researching utilizing its biomass to produce energy.
It has no special needs and is tolerant of our soils both dry and wet. Full sun is best, though it will take some light shade. It does run, but not like bamboos of that size. Makes a great privacy screen, but don’t do any nude sunbathing until July. As a warm-season grass, it doesn’t even really start growing until June.
To be continued…next week, five more grasses for your landscape. Also to be revealed: the half grass.
