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ORNAMENTAL GRASSES GALLERY - show us your favourites.
Plantminded
Posts: 3,580
in Plants
As autumn turns to winter, ornamental grasses can become a welcome sight in the garden when everything around them starts to decline, reflecting light and adding movement to what could be a rather gloomy outlook.
You may like them, dislike them or not be too sure, but here's an opportunity to showcase their characteristics and merits. To inspire some fresh planting ideas for next year, please let us see photos of your favourite grasses, at any time of year, either as newly emerging plants in Spring, flowers in full glory in Summer or ageing russet stems and flowers in Autumn/Winter.
To start off, here's some shots of a few in their Autumn phase showing their fading flowers highlighted in sun:
1. Miscanthus malepartus 2. Calamagrostis Karl Foerster 3. Molinia Skyracer 4. Miscanthus gracillimus 5. Carex Red Rooster
You may like them, dislike them or not be too sure, but here's an opportunity to showcase their characteristics and merits. To inspire some fresh planting ideas for next year, please let us see photos of your favourite grasses, at any time of year, either as newly emerging plants in Spring, flowers in full glory in Summer or ageing russet stems and flowers in Autumn/Winter.
To start off, here's some shots of a few in their Autumn phase showing their fading flowers highlighted in sun:
1. Miscanthus malepartus 2. Calamagrostis Karl Foerster 3. Molinia Skyracer 4. Miscanthus gracillimus 5. Carex Red Rooster
Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.
7
Posts
The only one here deserving it's photo taken just now is pennisetum Hameln.
I have just three large photos of my garden, all black and white, yes they include grasses, unique art on a budget. I don't have a clue about taking photos all point and press although I did grow up in a camera mad household, my brother is a professional landscape photographer.
Here is one photo that is upright , Hooray! The bleached out grass in the photo is Pannicum virgatum Mum's Good Red, I think, I was given it but have never seen it for sale?
This is it last January. It is one of my favourites as it turns a firery orange/ red in the Autumn but needs a long growing season to flower. Now lifted and split it has been replanted so that it weaves it's way to the back and makes more of a statement. I don't think this border would look the same without it but I accept grasses are not for everyone. It is cut down end of February just as spring bulbs start to get going and when they have finished the grass is already regrowing.
@Plantminded that large pot was really difficult to get into the garden it is VERY heavy.
We slide it along using two pieces of wood like the Egyptians. It is full of leaves and a litter picker is the only way to get them out. I just hope any new owner wants it as I really don't want to move it again. I have been asked if I might plant it up. Not sure it would look right and I have no idea how much compost would be needed.
We always used pieces of fencepost to roll heavy objects along, but that would be no use with a pot. I used to think of building the Pyramids or Stonehenge!
Hameln has been growing here for me for many years, it's quite hardy. It looks good through winter into spring as it bleaches. It retains it's shape well too. I have to make myself cut it down before the green shoots get too advanced. It has divided well but I must add that this year it has flowered much better for me, no doubt due to the hot summer.