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Ornamental grasses
are my most favorite plant and I will use them whenever possible. They are drought and salt tolerant, birds are attracted
to the seed plumes and dried stalks. Grasses are late to start growing, but come June you would swear they grew before your
very eyes. All summer they sway with the breezes, can flatten with heavy rains, then bounce right back when dry. Late summer
brings on the airy seed plumes reaching high into the sky. Late fall the deciduous plant drys out to a wonderful creamy-tan.
Leave alone all winter for interest in the landscape and cut back close to the ground in early spring before new growth arrives.
Group with other flowering perennials for a dramatic low-maintenance landscape.
Carex hachijoensis 'Evergold'
Variegated Japanese Sedge
- Zone 6-9
- Part Shade to Shade
- 12" high x 18" wide
- Small green flowers lacking both sepals and petals.
- C. hachijoensis 'Evergold' is a deciduous sedge, however I list it with the ornamental grasses
because it resembles such. An excellent choice for under shade trees, in time it will create dense clumps by spreading rhizomes.
Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'
Lilyturf, Big Blue
- Zone 6-9
- Full Sun to Full Shade
- 10" high x 18" wide
- Small violet purple flower spikes emerge in summer, followed by bunches of small black berries.
- Lilyturf is actually an evergreen perennial, however I list it with the ornamental grasses because
it resembles such. An excellent choice for under shade trees, in time it will create dense clumps by spreading rhizomes.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'
Maiden Grass, Morning Light
- Zone 5-9
- Full to Partial Sun
- 5' high x 2 1/2' wide
- Taller flower stalks, late summer with reddish plumes
- Aptly named for its characteristics, hair-like green blades with highlighted midveins create
a silvery appearance. Good as a screen or standing alone.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'
Porcupine Grass
- Zone 4-9
- Full Sun
- 8' high x 3' wide
- Taller flower stalks with late summer purplish plumes
- Thick green blades with dramatic yellow horizontal banding, drying out to a nice creamy-tan in
winter.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'
Variegated Japanese Silver Grass
- Zone 4-9
- Full Sun
- 7' high x 3' wide
- Taller flower stalks with late summer purplish plumes.
- Broad vertically banded white and green blades make this cultivar stand out. 'Frosty Morn'
Sedum with its green and white variegated leaves compliment M. sinensis 'Variegatus'.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
Dwarf Fountain Grass
- Zone 6-9, 5 with winter protection
- Full Sun
- 3' high x 2' wide
- Buff-colored summer plumes arch over dark green blades.
- Perfect sized mounds are very fun all covered in the fluffy plumes.
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