I have a stipa gigantea next to the pond which regularly overflows and the roots must be sitting in water from time to time. I'm sure " the books" wouldn't approve.
Well, we're definitely on chalk and it's very close to the surface just here - there's a chalk pit and tunnels a couple of hundred metres from our front door - we'll have to wait and see what happens
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Dove - my soil is alkaline too but is also a deep, fertile loam. I planted my molinia first in the damp bed near the back of the house but their stems were repeatedly flattened by strong winds so I moved them over by the pond where they were more protected and I now get the tall stems I was after.
Stipas of any sort curl up their toes here. Much too cold in winter even in the well drained parts.
I like hakonechloa and it did well in the damp bed but has been smothered this year by exuberant large leaved hostas which really enjoyed the long wet start to spring and summer.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
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Really? Mine are fine after a year on chalk in my fairly free-draining garden
Do you think they'll not last? 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Verdun
this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3314808/How-to-grow-Molinia-caerulea.html says they're fine on limey soil and certainly mine are fine after a year here - looks like you can give them a try 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have a stipa gigantea next to the pond which regularly overflows and the roots must be sitting in water from time to time. I'm sure " the books" wouldn't approve.
Just as well they can't read.
Well, we're definitely on chalk and it's very close to the surface just here - there's a chalk pit and tunnels a couple of hundred metres from our front door - we'll have to wait and see what happens
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
PM Dove, on a completely different topic.
Dove - my soil is alkaline too but is also a deep, fertile loam. I planted my molinia first in the damp bed near the back of the house but their stems were repeatedly flattened by strong winds so I moved them over by the pond where they were more protected and I now get the tall stems I was after.
Stipas of any sort curl up their toes here. Much too cold in winter even in the well drained parts.
I like hakonechloa and it did well in the damp bed but has been smothered this year by exuberant large leaved hostas which really enjoyed the long wet start to spring and summer.