Garden Talk

They Joys of Ornamental Grasses

Garden Talk with Janine Winlaw | Instagram @janinewinlaw

Late summer is when many grasses come into their own, with golden seed heads shimmering and swaying in the breeze. They look great in big drifts, acting like a neutral foil to colourful late flowering perennials like echinacea, gaura, anemones, sedums and Verbena bonariensis. But they also work well dotted around smaller gardens knitting plants together and adding a naturalism, movement and texture to planting. Most grasses like sun and free draining soil though some such as anemanthele lessioniana and deschampsia thrive in semi shade. Here are a few to try: Photo by firdaus ramadhan on Unsplash

Tall And Statuesque Calamagrostis brachytricha which has pale fluffy

Miscanthus. Some of the best grasses for striking flower heads in late August, that turn buttery silky seed heads, they tend to flower late but coloured – it also has a more relaxed arching habit. make a real statement when they do. M. sinensis ‘Malepartus’ is a statuesque variety (2m) with a fountain of burgundy flowers, while M. Ferner Osten’ is slightly smaller. M. Adagio is a compact variety with a mass of shimmery silvery flowers. Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’. A mound-forming evergreen grass, this has silvery purple flowers in the summer, maturing to a cloud of delicate golden seed heads. It’s happy in sun or part shade, in well-drained soil.

Stipa giganteum. This is a big statement grass, which throws its tall oaty flower heads high into Small And Perfectly Formed the air – and is best in an open spot where the sun Festuca glauca. This is a useful low growing can shine through, turning them golden. It needs evergreen grass that creates mounds of fine bluefull sun and good drainage. green foliage. It needs plenty of sun but doesn’t

Calamaacutifolia x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’. A like to dry out, and in the right conditions sends up great grass with a very upright habit and fabulous silvery grey flowers in summer. It works well with seed heads. Unlike many grasses, the fresh green purples, pinks and whites. leaves arrive early in the season, before the fluffy Hakonechloa macra. This is a gorgeous short grass purple flowers emerge, which finally turn to strawwith lush green foliage – a little like bamboo in coloured seed heads in summer, lasting through feel. It’s happy in dappled shade and is fantastic the winter. en masse underplanting trees, where it cascades

Medium Sized Grasses like flowing water, or for edging paths and borders. Sesleria autumnalis. A new favourite of mine, this

Stipa tenuissima. Also known as ‘Mexican feather is a low growing evergreen grass with mounds of grass’ this is useful semi evergreen grass with fine bright green strappy leaves that turn more lime wispy leaves and feathery silvery gold seed heads coloured in winter. It has short silvery flower spires in summer. It’s lovely mingling with perennials in the summer. such as salvia nemerosa ‘Caradonna’ or knautia.

It likes full sun and well-drained soil. Comb out Grass Care tatty bits or cut right down in spring for a fresh Cut deciduous grasses right back in late winter, flush of green. before the new growth has got going. Remove

Calamagrostis ‘Overdam’. Rarer and smaller (1m) seeds heads from evergreen varieties and comb than Karl Foerster, this is a pretty grass with an them through with your fingers to remove tatty old upright habit and cream striped leaves. Or try growth.