Gardening with Grasses

Filed under: Gardening, Flowers, Garden Tours, How-To, Experts

Use grasses to soften edges and to reduce hard labor in the garden.

When it comes to using grasses in our gardens, there is an embarrassment of riches from which to choose. Ranging from whimsical ground covers, to swathes of undulating, feathery inflorescences, to the drama of a single massive focal point, grasses fill just about every niche that our varied gardens possess. Many grasses are overused in the landscape, so that we tend to see the same miscanthus over and over again. I have chosen four that are less well known and which perform well in shade and sun, en masse, or as potted focal points.

First up, Switchgrass: in this case Panicum virgatum "Shenandoah". Native to the plains, switchgrass likes company, so buy three or more and plant them together. I love all switchgrasses, but Shenandoah, growing to about four feet, is a cultivar which becomes an intense red and whose color deepens as the season progresses. Backlit at sunset it is a gorgeous sight. Plant it in full sun where it can be appreciated from a window or a garden seat, and consider the orientation of the sun for that sunset bling effect. Hardy to USDA Zone 4, and tolerant of drought, wet feet and salt air, the only care it needs is a severe haircut in late winter.

Another sun-lover is Pennisetum alopecuroides "Little Bunny". This is a miniature form of the familiar, bushy-tailed fountain grasses and is very pretty in bloom, no taller than sixteen to eighteen inches. It was was developed on Long Island and is reliably hardy to Zone 6, and possibly lower. Little Bunny is beautiful planted in sweeps, or set alone as a pot plant on a sunny terrace or deck. It is the perfect grass for a small garden where it can be appreciated up close.

I am often asked by the owners of shady gardens to recommend a grass that will cope with little sun. Two come to mind at once.

The first, wild-oat, or Chasmanthium latifolium, native to the northeastern and southeastern USA, prefers dappled shade, where sunlight filters through deciduous leaves overhead. It is a tall grass, growing three to four feet. Beautiful, arching spikelets turn from rich green to gold as the season progresses. It is tolerant of drought and of poor drainage, and is hardy to Zone 5. Cut back hard in late winter to allow new growth to come through.

My favorite grass for shade is Japanese ribbon grass - Hakonechloa macra. This is a slower-growing grass, so excellent for containers, or planted near a path where its ribbony leaves can brush the ankles. The fine, feathery seedheads are delicately beautiful, and I look forward to them all year.The striped cultivar "Aureola" is well-known, but I prefer the solid green of the species, which turns a delicious yellow-gold in late fall.

Once you start gardening with grasses, you might find it hard to stop. They are versatile and forgiving, and reward by lending graceful structure to our private landscapes, from our cramped urban rooftops, to lush suburban acreage, to every green place inbetween.

For reference, and for both inspiration and instruction, I recommend Rick Darke's beautifully photographed The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes.

 

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