Ornamental GrassesFor the garden

With many native and exotic ornamental grasses available for sale, it is easy to find a variety suited to most gardening needs. From heat tolerant native grasses to those that cope well in cold wet conditions, they add interest and a low maintenance alternative to other ground cover plants.Ornamental grass can be a great feature in a garden, widely used as borders, ground covers or they can be grown in pots. With the wide range of Ornamental Grasses now available it is even possible to construct an entire grass gardenIn many cases what we call ‘ornamental grass’ is actually not a ‘grass’ as such, but rather a strap leafed plant. ‘Mondo Grass’ for example is actually a member of the Lily Family.

AcorusAcorus plants and species are a clump forming grass growing from rhizomes, readily available for sale in Australia.Species include : Acorus ogon, Acorus calamus and Acorus gramineus and these are the three best known. Commonly called ‘Sweet Flag’ these are an ornamental grass that likes moisture through the year.Acorus is a clump forming grass or rush and as such prefers a damp position. Sprays of dark green and cream variegated leaves. Evergreen and a good plant for the edge of a pond or water feature. A good plant to grow around ponds and they can be grown in pots submerged in water features to add colour and interest.When container grown they will need to be divided every 4 – 5 years to prevent over crowding and improve the growth habit.

Ornamental Grass Hedge – stunning!

Arthropodium cirratum ‘Matapouri Bay’Commonly known as the Renga Renga Lily, Arthropodium cirratum is one the best landscaping plants for dry shade.Evergreen, growing well in poor soils and coping with both dry and wet conditions. With broad strap like foliage A. cirratum grows well in all soils as long as drainage is good. The flowers that appear in summer are attractive and rise above the foliage in sprays.

Austrostipa stipoidesAlso known as Prickly Spear Grass and Coastal Speargrass, Austrostipa stipoides (syn.Stipa stipoides) is a tussock forming grass found widely in coastal areas.Forming neat tussocks Austrostipa stipoides does come in a number of forms and will vary a little in height.This is a very low care ornamental grass that requires little pruning. Excellent is sandy soils and well drained poor soils.Occasional applications of slow release native plant fertiliser will be beneficial.

Height – From 60 cm to 1mSpread – Will form a dense tussock to .5m and greater.Position – Full sun.Foliage – Brown to Bronze green.Flowers – Pale yellow.Flowering period – Spring to summer.Frost tolerant – Yes, Medium to High.Coastal conditions – Well suited.

CalamagrostisGrown both for the foliage as well as the flowers or seed heads that rise above in late summer and last well into winter

Are a very useful landscaping grass. Most species can be used in a variety of landscaping projects. Mass planting to act as a ground cover plant. Planted in the garden border to form a clump where the foliage adds interest year round and flowers and seed heads an extra architectural impact, or even grown in containers.You can also use then to plant along driveways to soften the edges.

VarietiesC. ‘Karl Foerster’ has dark green foliage with a reddish tinge.C. acutifolia is known as ‘feather grass’ and is a clump forming evergreen to semi evergreen grass which is used as an ornamental grass.C. x acutiflora ‘Overdam’ – Variegated Feather Reed Grass has green and white foliage and is a most attractive ornamental grass.

Cordyline banksii Electric PinkIf you are looking for brilliant colour in an ornamental grass then a stunning cultivar this one with its brilliant foliage makes an excellent choice for either garden or container.As a feature in a container or planted in groups in the garden this is a cordyline that will bring a touch of the tropics to any garden.A clumping variety that will send up new vividly striped foliage with a good upright habit, this is easy care and could easily be used as a low hedge beside a path, or as a contrast plant against a lighter or darker background.’

As the weather gets cooler Cordyline banksii ‘Electric Pink’ gets even better as the foliage deepens in color and adds interest trough the dull winter months.

Cordyline Red FountainGrown for the bold foliage Cordyline Red Fountain is popular amongst landscapers and home gardeners alike.Excellent as a container plant, and grown for the lovely red foliage Cordyline ‘Red Fountain’ also makes a good low maintenance ground cover. A single plant in a container makes a strong architectural statement.This is a form with typical strap like foliage however it does have a ‘weeping’ habit which makes it well suited to be left to cascade over the lip of a stylish container. Consider the height of the pot in proportion to the plant and maybe consider contesting colour for the pot to enhance the red colour.

Imperata cylindrica rubra ‘Japanese Blood Grass’A popular landscaping grass with attractive foliage that is red tinged. Japanese Blood Grass with its new red tipped shoots amongst the older foliage is used widely as an ornamental grass. Excellent colour in autumn. Requiring little care other than removal of overly green sections. Excellent in a container where it adds brilliant colour to garden or courtyard.

It does have a tendency to creep and spread, so maybe consider a root barrier if planting in the garden.

Golden Japanese Forest Grass Japanese forest grass plant is an elegant member of the Hakonechloa family. These ornamental plants are slow growing and require little extra care once established. The plants are semi-evergreen (depending on where you live, and may die back over winter) and show best in a partially shaded location. There are several different colours of Japanese forest grass plants. Choose a colour that enlivens the surrounding landscape when you are growing forest grass.

Liriope MuscariWidely used in landscaping as an easy care, flowering ground cover Liriope Muscari or ‘Turf Lily’ is an evergreen perennial strappy leafed plant sometimes used as a lawn substitute in no traffic areas.

Available as tube stock for mass plantings, more mature plants are also sold for an immediate effect as a feature plant.

With a range of varieties available for sale online including the well known ‘evergreen giant’, ‘big blue’, ‘variegata’, and’ majestic’ Liriope Muscari is a tough, drought resistant plant and easy to establish.

Liriope muscari may also be suitable for erosion control in some situations. This is a clump forming species that does not ‘run’ or become invasive like some other lirope species.

Liriope Muscari VariegataIf you are looking for a ground cover that will give your garden a bit of a ‘lift’ the maybe the Liriope Muscari Variegata is the one to do it. Similar growing habits to other forms but this clump forming groundcover has wonderful green and yellow to cream striped foliage as well as the pretty lavender blue flowers from spring through summer.When mass planting a spacing of around 30cm will allow clumps to fill in fairly quickly as mature plants reach around this width. It will reach a height of 30cm with flower spike around 15cm above this.

Sisyrinchium angustafolium ‘Devon Skies’A wonderful ornamental clumping grass Sisyrinchium ‘Devon Skies’ has strap like leaves and very pretty blue flowers. The common name is ‘Blue Eyed Grass, and this is a sterile cultivar, so it will not self seed and is only propagated by division.The large blue flowers with darker veins and a deeper blue ring surrounding a yellow centre, the flowers appear over a long period in summer, reaching around 15cm in height and forming a clump over time. (flowers can be a little variable in colour).Although this is a native of North America, this is a chance seedling of Sisyrinchium angustafolium found in Devon in the UK, hence the common name.

Thysanolaena Maxima – Tiger GrassWith the common name of Tiger Grass, Thysanolaena Maxima is a perennial grass originally from Thailand that just looks like a small growing bamboo. This is a clump forming plant that is used widely as a fast growing screening plant. Tiger grass is also used as an ornamental grass for growing in pots and is well suited to tropical gardens or balinese style gardens.Thysanolaena Maxima is a fast growing clumping grass, that will quickly form a clump of 1m or more across.Growing to 2.5m to 3m, it makes a great screening or background plant. In some Asian countries the broad leaves are used to wrap food.Also called ‘broom grass’ it is easy to care for, can be grown as a green filler plant for containers and grows well in part shade to full sun.

It is fast growing so give it space and consider a root barrier if you really want to contain it.

Questions?