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The showy
flower heads of many grasses catch and reflect the light better than any
other plant selection you can make. Try to plant grasses where they will
receive some backlight to accentuate this characteristic. Some grasses
provide winter interest with their dramatic plumes that remain above the snow
line throughout the winter. As Canadian gardeners, we are just beginning to
explore the wonderful world of grasses. They deserve a place in everyone’s
garden. Try to plant at least one grass this year and you will become a
convert. This year we will continue to carry a full line of grasses at the nursery. Most of our grasses are grown in one and one and half-gallon containers but we also stock two and three gallon sizes in some varieties. Our grasses are not available by mail order. The following grasses will be available at the nursery
throughout the season. As we
trial other varieties in our display gardens they will be added to our
inventory. |
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ARUNDO DONAX (Giant Reed Grass) |
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Ht: 4 m Sun Huge imposing plants with corn like
stalks. Needs a big space. Although only considered hardy to zone five has
been reliable in our garden for three years. Foliage is grey green. Rarely
blooms in our climate. >Versicolor=, the variegated form is
occasionally available and not fully tested for hardiness. |
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CALAMAGROSTIS (Feather Reed
Grass) |
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arundinacea var >brachytricha= Ht: 120cm Sun to
partial shade Very upright green foliage with good form all summer long.
In late summer blush pink flower spikes appear. More tolerant of shady sites than the other Reed Grasses.
Warm season grass. >Karl Foerster= Ht: 150cm Sun to
light shade Extremely reliable and highly recommended. Strongly upright
clumps. Deep green lustrous
foliage emerges early and lasts well into the winter. Feathery plumes and tan
spikes. Perennial Plant of the Year 2001.
>Overdam= Ht: 150cm Sun to
light shade Upright clumps of mid green foliage with creamy white
edges. Looks best from spring to
early summer. Can look a little shabby later in the summer especially if the
season is dry.
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CAREX (Sedge) |
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caryophyllea ‘Beatlemania’ (Mop
Headed Sedge) partial shade Finely
textured dark green leaves with wide, creamy yellow edges. They cascade to the ground forming
dense. sprawling clumps. Useful in the rockery or as an edger in a woodland
garden. Also lovely in containers. morrowii >Ice Dance= Ht: 30cm Sun to
partial shade Dark green leaves with a crisp white edge. Forms a nice
slow growing compact mound. Great edger. Good in partial shade. muskingumensis Ht:60cm
Sun to partial shade The foliage is a bit like Papyrus.
Excellent grass for shade gardens and for waterside plantings. Likes
consistently moist soil. |
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HAKONECHLOA (Japanese Forest Grass) |
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Partial to full shade An intriguing grass, which is perfect for the formal garden and
wonderful in hosta gardens. It has an unusual flowing shape like a waterfall
with all of the leaves arching in the same direction. It is slow to establish
in our climate requiring rich and evenly moist soil in partial shade. Plant all varieties of this grass
where it will cascade down slopes, drape over rocks, crawl over the edges of
walls, at the front of the garden, or use in containers for shady sites .
>Aureola= Ht:
30-65cm This is a variegated grass that is nearly all yellow except for the
very fine narrow green edge. Hakonechloa is grown mainly for its beautiful
foliage, although it does produce seed heads. Tiny, inconspicuous flower
spiklets appear in airy clusters from late summer thru mid-fall. Though this
grass does spread by stolons, it is a slow grower and will not rapidly
overtake its neighbours. When grown in part shade, the yellow tones in the
leaves will be most pronounced. In deep shade, the variegation will be more
lime green.
>All
Gold= Ht: 15-20cm An exciting new form that has proven its worth in our
garden. Although it is a slow grower it has produced an impressive clump in a
shady corner of our shade garden where it seems to glow. Well worth trying. |
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FESTUCA (Fescue) |
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Soft, spiky foliage that
keeps its colour all year round makes Fescue a top pick among the smaller
grasses. ‘Elijah Blue’ A very durable
and long-lived grass. It is a small, clumping grass with a rounded habit. In early
summer, wheat-like seed heads are produced on tall, spikey stalks in great
numbers. Prefers dryer conditions. This is the perfect grass for rock
gardens, in stone troughs or pots or for use as edging. It has more impact
when planted in groups of three or five.
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HELICTOTRICHON SEMPERVIRENS (Blue Oat Grass) |
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Ht: 40cm foliage Sun Blue Oat grass looks like a miniature water fountain with its densely
packed leaves gently spraying upward and arching back downward at the tips. It
adds a wonderful coarse element to rock gardens, coastal gardens, or dry
hillsides. Plant this grass in a dry sunny site. Once established it is very
drought tolerant. Trim back the
old foliage to 3-4" in spring before the new growth emerges. It should
be divided every 3-4 years in the spring to keep the plant looking fresh. ‘Sapphire’ This cultivar displays spikey, intensely coloured blue-grey foliage
that looks great all season. When snow cover is heavy it will remain
evergreen. In early summer, small,
tan seed heads appear on tall stems held well above the foliage. |
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MISCANTHUS (Eulalia or Maiden Grass) |
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Miscanthus
are large bold grasses suited to mass planting or integration into the perennial
border. They are warm season grasses tolerating heat and humidity well. The
flowers are fan shaped panicles, which are very showy and long-lived in the
faIl border. The Miscanthus varieties listed below have proven hardy in our
garden for at least two winters. All varieties of Miscanthus prefer full
sun
floridulus Ht:
4 metres Sometimes known as Siberian bamboo this impressive grass towers
above any other grass. It rarely flowers but it makes an impressive stand of heavy
bamboo like canes. Excellent for screening or at the back of a border. sinensis
‘Graziella’ Ht: 180cm a German introduction, this lovely
grass has showy silvery white flowers that are held well above the foliage.
Copper red fall colour develops in the leaves.
>Huron
Sunrise= Ht: 180cm This Miscanthus is one of the most profusely blooming of
the Miscanthus varieties. The green leaves with silver mid-ribs form
beautiful clumps, but the most outstanding feature of this new cultivar is
its flowers. In late summer, a profusion of full, burgundy plumes sweep the
sky. The plant maintains its graceful form throughout winter, providing
tremendous winter interest. Hardy to zone 4, this variety is a great choice
for our area. Martin Quinn, whose nursery is on the shores of Lake Huron,
developed ‘Huron Sunrise’.
‘Huron Sunset’ Ht: 120cm A short and compact grass suitable for the
smaller garden. The gorgeous
burgundy plumes are produced in late summer.
‘Malepartus’ Ht: 2.1m One of the showiest of the Miscanthus
varieties that we grow. Lovely
pink toned plumes in late summer. purpurascens Ht: 75-90cm One of the very best Miscanthus
cultivars available today. Its fantastic fall colour, upright habit, early
flowering time, and extreme cold hardiness make it an exceptional choice.
From early to midseason, the leaves are a pleasant grey-green. In the fall,
they turn brilliant reddish orange, hence the name 'Flame Grass'. The seed
heads, which begin to appear in late summer, develop magenta hues. As winter
approaches, they transform into silky white plumes, which are especially
lovely when backlit by the early morning or late afternoon sun.
Variegata= Ht: 150-210cm A popular antique variety of
Miscanthus, this grass has been used in gardens since the turn of the
century. This grass really glows
in the garden because of the predominance of white in the foliage. The habit
is cascading although it has not required staking in our garden. Give this
grass plenty of room to grow but it does not spread aggressively. It requires a very long, hot growing
season to be able to produce flowers. When it does, the plumes appear in
early fall and open with strong red tints. As the seeds mature, they become
fluffy, and are a great accent to the almond coloured winter foliage.
>Strictus= (Porcupine Grass) Ht: 180-240cm Distinctive
yellowish-white, horizontal banding on the leaves of this cultivar
distinguish it from nearly all other grasses. These irregularly spaced marks
seem to glow when backlit by the early morning or late afternoon sun. This grass is nearly identical to M.
'Zebrinus', differing primarily in form. 'Porcupine Grass' is an upright,
stiff grass whose leaves stretch skyward instead of arching downward like
those of Miscanthus. 'Zebrinus'. This grass usually produces plumes in our
area in early fall. The fluffy seed heads are a great accent to the
reddish-tan winter foliage.
Zebrinus Ht: 1.8m Tall
upright and arching grass with bright gold bands on green foliage. Plumes are
pink toned. |
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MOLINIA (Moor Grass) |
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arundinacea >Skyracer= Ht: 240cm Full sun to light shade Handsome leaves,
ease of culture, and great fall colour make this a perfect choice for mass
plantings or borders. This species is an amazing architectural selection of Tall
Moor Grass. It has an upright habit and the flower stalks are unusually tall.
The mound of leaves is typically vase-shaped, standing an erect 60-90cm tall.
In midsummer, long, brownish-purple spikes emerge from these compact clumps
and can either be upright or arching to 3 metres. In fall, the entire plant
typically turns rich golden-yellow. It is best cut back in early winter.
Caerulea >Variegata= light shade The very distinctive green and creamy yellow leaves
add a bright touch to the edge of a border. This grass is happiest in a
lightly shaded site with protection from the heat of the afternoon sun. |
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PANICUMS (Switch Grasses) |
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Panicums are very easy to grow native grasses that are tolerant
of a broad range of soil conditions. They perform best in full sun. In more
shade they become floppy. They are wind and salt tolerant making them an
excellent choice for areas that are salted in the winter. ‘Northwind’ Ht: 120cm A dark green upright and rigid clumping
selection of Panicum. Roy Diblik of Northwind Perennials, who introduced this
variety, describes the unique flower stalks as being similar to an arranged
bouquet placed in the center of a clump of foliage. Most of the seed heads
are situated in the middle of the clump rather than arching away from it like
most other varieties. ‘Northwind’ blooms in late summer and is a fast grower. >Prairie
Fire= Ht: 150cm A spectacular switch grass with sturdy, upright, blue-green
stems and wine-red leaves. In the spring, the foliage is blue-green, but by
early summer the leaves begin to turn a stunning shade of deep red. Most red
switch grasses do not begin to turn colour until late summer, so this grass
is quite remarkable in that it changes colour so early in the season. In late
summer, a bouquet of rosy panicles is displayed just above the foliage. When
in bloom, the leaves curl slightly, which gives the impression of red ribbons
woven throughout the flowers.
>Shenandoah=
Ht: 120cm Foliage begins to tip red in late July and is burgundy by
September. Flowers have a reddish colour and are very fine. Good substitute
for Japanese Blood Grass. |
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SPARTINA
PECTINATA AUREOMARGINATA |
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Sun Ht: 1.5m Tall upright
arching grass with green leaves edged with yellow. Strong grower spreading
out a little more than the Miscanthus varieties. |
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GRASSES IN CONTAINERS |
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Have you
considered using a grass as the focal point of a container? We have used several
varieties of Miscanthus, including ‘Morning Light and ‘Little Dot’ very
successfully. Because they
are already well established, they shoot up quickly and make a real impact in
a very short time. It sure beats the high cost of buying annuals! |
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