Ornamental Grasses for Structure and Interest

Ornamental Grasses for Structure and Interest

Ornamental grasses are becoming quite popular with garden designers. They add texture and interest to the garden, and when combined with a gentle breeze, the garden comes to life with sound and motion. The smaller, clump forming grasses are valued as accent plants, while the larger ornamental grasses such as Pampases are useful for their architectural stature, and combine well with evergreen shrubs to create a privacy screen.

The graceful, arching foliage of grasses display rich colors over a long season. Greens and blues are common in the summer, followed by rich, autumnal colors in fall and winter. Most have seedpods, flowerheads or plumes that dry well and last into winter. Leave the seedpods and plumes on the plants to add interest to the garden over winter, or cut them for long-lasting indoor arrangements.

Ornamental grasses need full sun and well-drained soil. They are a good choice for busy gardeners because they require little or no pruning, they are resistant to most insects, and they tolerate drought well. Deciduous grasses are cut back in mid- to late winter to make room for new growth.

More about using Ornamental Grasses:
Plans for An Elegant Border using Ornamental Grasses
A New Twist on Beds and Borders

A Few Favorites:

Festuca cinerea Blue Festuca Neat, blue foliage accents paths, rock gardens, beds. Needs watering only during drought. White plumes in midsummer. Multiplies rapidly. Try planting it with coreopsis. Height: 8-12 inches Width: 8-10 inches

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' Zebra Grass In midsummer, the foliage of this exotic-looking grass develops distinctive golden horizontal bands. In autumn, silvery white plumes that look great in dried arrangements appear and last up to two months. Use as an eye-catching accent or in a dramatic grouping. Height: 4-7 feet Width: 3-5 feet