Ornamental grasses – Page 4

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’

Eulalia

‘Variegatus’ is a clump-forming deciduous grass to 1.7 m tall, with narrow arching leaves striped with white, and sometimes sparse, reddish flowerheads in early autumn. Moist but well-drained soil. Hardy but not evergreen.
Eventual size: 1.2 to 1.7 m
Position:

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yakushima Dwarf’

Eulalia

‘Yakushima Dwarf’ is a compact deciduous grass to 1 m tall, forming a clump of narrow leaves, with feathery pale brown flowerheads in mid autumn. Hardy but not evergreen.
Eventual size: 1 m
Position:

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’

Zebra Grass

‘Zebrinus’ is a deciduous grass with arching, linear leaves bearing transverse bands of cream or pale yellow. Moist but well-drained soil. Hardy but not evergreen..
Eventual size: 1.5 to 1.8 m
Position:

Molinia arundinacea ‘Karl Foerster’

Purple Moor-grass

‘Karl Foerster’ is a tufted deciduous grass forming a clump of arching, linear leaves that turn yellow in autumn, with narrow panicles of purple flowers in summer.
Hardy but not evergreen.
Eventual size: 1.2 to 1.5 m
Position:

Molinia caerulea ‘Heidebraut’

Purple Moor-grass

‘Heidebraut’ forms dense tussocks of narrow upright leaves, colouring in autumn. Slender plumes of densely-set dark purple spikelets are borne on deep purple-black arching stems, to around 1.2 m tall. The stems turn colour as they age, becoming orange-yellow by late autumn. Hardy, evergreen. Moist but well-drained soil.
Eventual size: 1,2 m
Position:

Molinia caerulea ‘Igel’

Purple Moor-grass

‘Igel’ is a compact deciduous grass forming a dense clump with narrow brown flower heads in late summer. Attract butterflies. Hardy but not evergreen. Normal, moist soil.
Eventual size: 20-30 cm
Position:

Molinia caerulea ‘Moorhexe’

Blue Moor-grass

Moorhexe’ is a compact deciduous grass forming a dense clump of narrow, upright leaves turning pale brown and orange in winter, with narrow purplish flower heads in late summer. Hardy but not evergreen.
Eventual size: 30-80 cm
Position:

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Niger’

Black Snake Beard

Evergreen soil covering plant that spreads through root shootsbut isn’t aggressive. Sword-shaped, deep black purple leaves. The leaf feels leathery due to the wax layer. Small, inconspicuous, lilac flowers in late spring, and small bells in summer.
Eventual size: 20 to 30 cm
Position:

Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’

Switch Grass

‘Heavy Metal’ is a rhizomatous perennial grass forming clumps of upright metallic blue-grey leaves, turning yellow in autumn. Broad, diffuse, weeping panicles to 50cm long of tiny purple-green spikelets in early autumn. Hardy but not evergreen.
Eventual size: 60 cm to 1.2 m
Position:

Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’

Switch Grass

One of the few truly upright forms of P.virgatum having a very distinctive narrow vertical habit and wide blue grey foliage that turns yellowy orange in autumn. Superb as a vertical accent in the garden or containers. Well drained soil, moderately fertile. Hardy but not evergreen.
Eventual size: 1.5 to 2 m
Position:

Panicum virgatum ‘Rehbraun’

Switch Grass

Pendant clusters of tiny, purple-green spikelets and upright mid-green leaves turning rich reddish-purple in autumn. This deciduous ornamental grass is renowned for its striking autumn colour. It’s perfect for providing vertical interest in a sunny, well-drained new perennial border. Moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Hardy but not evergreen.
Eventual size: 60 cm to 1.2 m
Position:

Panicum virgatum ‘Squaw’

Switch Grass

This grass provides a wash of winey, reddish-purple flowerheads against which to show off late-summer flowers. But Panicum virgatum ‘Squaw’ is ever-changing, with fresh, bright green leaves in early summer and pink inflorescences from midsummer. Autumn is the glory time. In winter it fades to straw-coloured fluff. Moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Hardy but not evergreen.
Eventual size: 1 m to 1.3 m
Position: