Grasses

 

Grasses are a key ingredient in the contemporary garden, providing texture, color, movement and in most cases a seasonal display of showy plumes.  Grasses vary in size from compact mounds of slender foliage to graceful, willowy specimens of 8' or more.  The varieties offered here are mostly clumping forms and are not invasive.  It is best to cut them back in late winter or early spring.

 

CALAMAGROSTIS  Feather Reed Grass  -  Sun  -  Zone 4

Calamagrostis arundinacea 'Karl Foerster'  Exceptional early blooming grass forms slender, upright clumps to 4’.  Seed heads go from airy reddish sprays to tawny, wheat-like spires, lasting well into winter.

CAREX  Sedge  -  Sun to Part Shade  -  Zone 5

Carex siderosticha 'Banana Boat'  Low clump-forming grass has wide strap-like leaves with chartreuse centers and green margins.  Does well in part shade, but will also take sun in areas where the soil is not excessively dry.  Grows to about 10".

HAKONECHLOA  -  Part Shade  -  Zone 5

Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’  Showy mounds of slender gold foliage.  Great for brightening up a shady spot.  Grows 12-18”.

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'  Showy mounds of slender gold foliage with narrow green stripes.  Great for brightening up a shady spot.  Excellent massed.  Grows 14”.

KOELERIA  -  Sun -  Zone 5

Koeleria glauca  Mounds of narrow blue foliage topped with tan seed heads in late summer. Grows 8-12”.

MISCANTHUS  -  Sun  -  Zone 5

Miscanthus sinensis 'Graziella'  Excellent accent grass lends texture and movement to the border or foundation.  Long slender blades.  An excellent choice owing to its early bloom time (usually by late August) which assures bloom before early frosts.  Gows to about 4'.

PANICUM  -  Sun  -  Zone 4

Panicum virgatum 'Coud Nine'  Tall upright grass with attractive pale blue foliage all season.  Plant is striking in late summer as an abundance of delicate seed heads appear in a great billowing mass.  Grows to about 5'.

PENNISETUM  Fountain Grass  -  Sun  -  Zone 5

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Piglet’  Charming little grass forms dense little tussocks of fine green leaves with an abundance of airy seed heads in late summer.  Sun.

Schizachyrium  Blue Stem  -  Sun  -  Zone 4

Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'   Wonderful clump-forming native grass with stiff, slender blue leaves.  Masses of fuzzy ornamental seed heads rise above the foliage in the fall and the leaves are infused with ruddy color.  Tolerates dry soils.