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NATIVE GRASSES, THE UNSUNG HEROS… ✦ Daniel “Chook” Fowler from Greenbourne Nursery talks Australian Native Grasses and using them to add contrast with their unique colours and structures.
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few years ago, I was growing hundreds of thousands of grass tubes for the highway upgrades between Port Macquarie and Ballina. It now seems like a lifetime ago. Loads of species like Lomandra, Dianella and Themeda, just to name a few. The species list was basically to replace endemic varieties that had been removed in the road making process. The majority of the plants requested by the RMS were standard re-vegetation varieties that can be considered a little boring to the home ornamental garden. However, they all were very hardy and drought tolerant. These plants were planted into barren areas, watered a couple of times, then left to fend for themselves. The survival rate was always high, even in the toughest of situations. So, it makes sense that they should be used in a more domestic capacity. Along come organisations like Ozbreed. They noticed this and began developing a range of grasses that not only are tough survivors, they are also select forms that are quite spectacular in their appearance and seasonal displays. From the common native wild species, they have bred and selected varieties that are now sold all over the world. Australia’s ornamental native grasses look great in the garden. They can add contrast with both their unique colours and structural appearance. There are ornamental grasses for all conditions. Some for the dry areas, some for the wet, the hot, the cold and the poor soils and the rich soils. There is certainly a native grass out there for you to try in your garden.
Here are some examples of some of the great options available… Pennisetum ‘NAFRAY’ Nafray is a beautiful mid-sized grass with green foliage and masses of foxtail-like flowers held just above the foliage from late summer to autumn. Nafray is a great grass for damp areas in the garden and, for this reason, they are often called Swamp Foxtail Grass. A mid-sized native grass with foxtail flowers in autumn.
Pennisetum ‘CREAM LEA’ Cream Lea is a select variety of the Australian native grass, Pennisetum alopecuroides. Cream Lea is a tall grass with
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Pennisetum ‘NAFRAY’
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Pennisetum ‘CREAM LEA’
