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Looking for a nice ornamental grass
hello
i want to have a go an some ornamental grass. Not pampas grass though; a friend told me that they were a secret sign in front gardens for 'swingers parties' in the 1970s which has put me right off! Wonder if that's true?!
Anyhow, I was looking at Briza Maxima as I saw a close up photo and it looked very pretty, but when I googled it, the plants looks a bit messy. Has anyone got any ideas for a pretty grass that's manageable and makes a swishy noise in the breeze?! Thanks
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How tall a grass do you want?
B.Maxima only gets to about 60cm. In my garden it self seeds like a demon.
im looking for something around knee to waist height. I have the fear that a grass may look messy and out of control hence wanting one that is ornamental and not too wild looking.
Miscanthus nepalensis is a lovely grass. The grass bit is lower than the flowery bit, but it's a lovely thing. Cut as hard as you like in Spring and up it'll pop again.
Knee height, how about Millium effusum Aureum? Self seeds nicely, but not invasive.
Stipa gigantea is really lovely. The main plant is only about a foot tall and grassy but it puts up stems of fascinating golden inflorescences that are about 4 ft tall but you can see through it. I think it is also called oat grass. I love it. It changes through the season. It looks well in the winter though gets a bit knocked around eventually if it is windy. But only the flower stalks need to be cut down, which is easy. And then it starts again next summer.
I have Spartina, which is very easy, but very few people grow it in gardens. It will take any weather you chuck at it, and will happily cope with prolonged wet as it's a tidal grass. Forms a large clump of green/gold arching leaves.
Don't forget one of our favourites here - Hakonechloa Aureola. Forms a lovely mound of golden foliage.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Janie, S. Gigantea gets up to about 2m easily in these parts. That's high knees.
Hostafan1 , that may be out of place then. Mine never get that high. I am very biased though, can't imagine a garden without one!
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/17802/Golden-oats/Details
Yup Stipa Gigantea, and some of the lovelly coloured grasses