Interesting Varieties of Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses are very valuable additions to any landscape. They give interest in the garden for up to 9 months- emerging in the late spring, giving beautiful foliage texture all summer and coming into bloom in the fall and persisting into the winter. There are few plants that contribute that much to the garden. We want to feature a few interesting varieties that you may be familiar with.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘ Yakushima’– This is a dwarf variety of the popular Maiden Grass. It goes only 3-4’ tall and 3’ wide. It has showy clumps of silvery white blooms in the late summer into fall. It prefers partial to full sun and can be used in a perennial border, mass planting and because of its hardiness it will withstand coastal exposure. Another bonus is that it can be used in containers because of its compact size.

 

Panicum virgatum- Commonly known as Switch Grass, this columnar growing ornamental grass has beautiful foliage and is topped in mid-summer by finely-textured, pink-tinged, branched flower panicles which hover over the foliage like an airy cloud. Like most grasses, Switch Grass prefers full sun and does well as a screen, in perennial borders, native plant gardens or naturalized areas. It grows 3-6’ tall. Another bonus is that as the flowers mature producing seeds, they attract many birds in the winter.

 

 

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’– This is the most dwarf of all the fountain grasses with fluffy, buff colored blooms. It does well in rock gardens, borders and perennial beds. Little Bunny only reaches 12 inches tall and wide and requires full sun. The foliage turns golden russet in the fall. This dwarf grass also works well in mixed container gardens.

 

 

 

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’- Commonly called Porcupine Grass, this variety of Miscanthus has green foliage with striking horizontal bands of gold. This variety grows up to 8’ tall and 3 ‘ wide. It blooms in the late summer into fall with reddish bronze plumes. Great as a specimen or planted in groups.

 

 

 

Ask our staff which variety would be appropriate for your specific landscape and enjoy them all year round.