GardeningSphere

Grass - Little Bunny Fountain Grass

The Ornamental Grass, Pennisetum 'Little Bunny', Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny', is an extremely adaptable grass with a low level of maintenance care. This miniature Fountain Grass is ideal for rock gardens. With a plant height of 8-10" and a spread of 12-24", it is one of the smallest in its family. 'Little Bunny' should be planted in full sun to part shade and needs medium to wet moisture. The plumes on Little Bunny will appear from August to October, appearing whitish green. It is very suitable for border fronts, and the plumes can be used in fresh and dried flower arrangements. Fountain grass has no known pest or disease problems.

Grass - Little Kitten Miscanthus

The Ornamental Grass 'Little Kitten', 'Miscanthus 'Little Kitten', is one ornamental grass that cannot be missed. Being similar to a cat's tongue, this Miscanthus forms a foliage clump to only 15" tall. The pointed, narrow leaves are showy, with plumes of silver-white with pink and reddish tinges that appear in August. The plumes will last well into the winter and can be used as fresh or dried flower cuttings. 'Little Kitten' should be planted in full sun to part shade and prefers a moist soil area. Try this ornamental grass as a front of the border plant with Coreopsis, Echinacea or Liatris.

Mexican Feather Grass

The Grass 'Mexican Feather Grass' Stipa tenuissima', is a beautiful mounded ornamental grass. It's Needle-like flexible leaves form dense, bright green clumps. The flowers are silky awns that appear in June and change from green to gold as they mature. It has shown cold-hardiness and also is a trooper in the sweltering hot summer. This is an environmentally friendly grass with virtually no pests or diseases. Spectacular when backlit at night, they are striking alone, or in large masses or drifts.

New Zealand Hair Sedge Grass

The Grass 'New Zealand Hair Sedge', Carex comans Frosted Curls, is a tufted, fine textured, evergreen sedge with 1/16"-wide, hair like, almost cylindrical leaves that form dense tufts. The slightest breeze causes the iridescent, light green foliage to shimmer and glow. When allowed to spill over rocky slopes or walls, this variety creates the illusion of falling water. Does best in moist, fast-draining soil. Plant this perennial in full to partial sun.

Northern Pampas Grass

The Grass 'Northern Pampas Grass', Erianthus ravennae, grass is an outstanding plant. The tall flower stalks of this grass stand well above the foliage. The foliage grows in an arching, fountain-like way. The silvery white flower stalks are good for drying. Northern Pampas grass makes an excellent specimen plant. This amazing grass can grow in hard, rocky areas, flooded areas, dry and damp ground plus its normal habitat. The leaves die during frosts in northern climates, but grow back in the spring.

Northern Sea Oats Grass

The Grass 'Northern Sea Oats', Chasmanthium latifolium, is upright and arching. It is treasured for its showy, dropping flowers and slender, bamboo-like foliage that changes from green, to copper, to rich brown. It self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season. Magnificent for winter contrast, it flourishes in containers or even in a shady, damp site -- including coastal areas. Pest and disease free.

Orange Sedge Grass

The Grass 'Orange Sedge', Carex testacea, is a mounded ornamental grass. This lovely evergreen grass has a ine-textured, glossy foliage that emerges as olive green and turns a rich russet orange with the arrival of cool fall temps. A fantastic choice for mixed autumn containers, it also thrives in areas with moist, well-drained soil.

Oriental Fountain Tall Tales Grass

The Grass 'Oriental Fountain Grass Tall Tales', Pennisetum orientale Tall Tales, is upright and arching. Wonderful in the border plantings or in planters, this beautiful and elegant Pennisetum is prized for its showy pink flowers. Oriental Fountain Tall Tales Grass is one of the longest blooming and best clumping grasses. Prefers well-draining soil in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. Also tolerant of high temperatures, high humidity, high wind, drought, acidic to alkaline soils, and is pest free. Makes a dramatic statement anywhere in the landscape.

Perennial Quaking Grass

The Grass 'Perennial Quaking Grass', Briza media, is the most common perennial Quaking Grass. The flowers rise a foot or more above the slender foliage to quiver in the breeze. Outstanding all-purpose grass both as a specimen, massed in groups, in borders, or as a groundcover. It is a clumping deciduous grass with tall inflorescences with little bead-like seed heads from late spring into summer. Very hardy, tolerant of a range of soil conditions and pretty drought tolerant once established. and is not invasive.

Prairie Dropseed Grass

The Grass 'Prairie Dropseed', Sporobolus heterolepis, is a native American prairie plant. Prairie Dropseed produces a magnificent fountain of fine-textured, emerald green leaves, adding a touch of elegance to any planting. Considered by many to be the most handsome of the prairie grasses, it makes a well-defined and distinctive border when planted 18 to 24 inches apart. As the seed ripens, it droops over. The plant turns a golden yellow in the fall.

Purple Fountain Grass

The Grass 'Purple Fountain Grass', Pennisetum setaceum, is a fast growing, clump grass. It has purple foliage and purple foxtail-like flowers. This plant is only an annual in northern climates. It makes a great specimen plant and can be used as a centerpiece in a container. Plant in fertile well-drained soil in full sun after all danger of frost has passed. "Purple Fountain Grass" is a vigorous grower that will quickly fill in any bed or container. The foxtail like plumes will appear mid summer and last until first frost.

Red Bunny Tails Fountain Grass

The Grass 'Red Bunny Tails Fountain Grass', Pennisetum messiacum, is an upright arching plant. It has green foliage with beautiful red foxtail blooms that become buff-white with maturity. This lovely grass is a wonderful specimen as a plant or in borders. Red Bunny fountain grasses are excellent for large containers. The flowers look like a rabbit's foot, Glossy green foliage with burgundy highlights, and stockier, cattail-like flowers. Pest and disease free.

Grass - Redhead Fountain Grass

The Ornamental Fountain Grass 'Redhead Fountain Grass', 'Pennisetum 'Redhead', produces very soft plumes that are smoky rose in color, all season long. 'Red Head' begins to show its enormous bottlebrush plumes in mid to late summer. The deep purple buds mature to smoky purple plumes. In the fall the leaves turn gold in color. Use this plant in containers, in sunny borders, meadows, rock gardens, and foundation plantings. 'Red Head' looks great in late-season containers. The bushy plumes are great as cut flowers if they are cut soon after they emerge. In late fall or early spring cut the foliage back almost to the ground before growth starts in spring. This plant has no serious insect or disease problems and is not usually appealing to deer.

Shenandoah Switch Grass

The Grass 'Shenandoah Switch Grass',Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah', has a burgundy-red color to the foliage. This one starts out red in June, by mid-summer it looks like Blood grass, and in fall, it is a rich burgundy. The foliage starts out as deep green but takes on the red color thru the summer. This plant will grow in dry to moist soils or well-drained, loamy, sandy or clay soils with a pH of a neutral to slightly alkaline. It's attributes include naturalizing, attracting birds and suitable for cut and dried flowers.

Slender Veldt Grass

The Grass 'Slender Veldt Grass', Pennisetum spathiolatum, has slender leaves that grow to 12", with blooms that reach another 2-3 feet higher. It has the perfect vertical accent with its "see-through" form. This South African native is drought tolerant but needs good drainage and is a large container show-off. Slender Veldt grasses have unique bunny tail flower spikes studded with black seeds that rise from this easy to grow beauty. The gray-green evergreen foliage adds interest to your plantings.

The Blues Little Bluestem Grass

The Grass 'Blues Little Bluestem Grass', Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues', has attractive deep blue foliage. The fall color is a burgundy red. It works well in mass plantings. It does well in a variety of soil types and is drought tolerant. The attractive upright; open to spreading fine textured leaves are subject to lodging. It remains attractive in winter. The fall color varies from tan to copper, orange, and dark orange red.

Toffee Twist Sedge Grass

The Grass 'Toffee Twist Sedge', Carex flagellifera Toffee Twist, is a mounded grass plant. The Irridescent slender mahogany leaves arch upward 1 1/2 to 2 feet before spilling back to the ground. It is distinctive as an accent plant or in masses; it grows well in rock gardens and along slopes. Toffee Twist Sedges are an attractive coral color in fall/winter. This grass adds structure and grace to mass plantings in the garden and is excellent in containers and window boxes. Prefers full sun to light shade. Water when soil is dry to the touch. Prefers moist soil.

Variegated Miscanthus Grass

The Grass 'Variegated Miscanthus Grass', Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light', is also know as 'Morning Light' Maiden Grass is a very popular miscanthus. It boasts white-edged variegated, narrow leaves. It is quite attractive; the green blades have added highlights of creamy-white margins and mid-veins creating a shimmering silvery appearance. It displays delicate reddish-bronze plumes in late summer. Place in full sun for best foliage coloration. Accepts dry conditions.

Variegated Ribbon Grass

The Grass 'Variegated Ribbon Grass', Phalaris arundinacea 'Strawberries and Cream', has an upright and arching habit. It is prized for its white-striped foliage blushed with pink. In June it bears panicles of soft white flowers that reach 18" to 36". This aggressive grower loves moist, fertile soil, and makes an appealing accent plant, pond border, or massed planting. The narrow variegated leaves have a tall brown seed head atop green stems. Great for Jumbo potted plants.

Soft Rush Grass

The Grass 'Soft Rush Grass', Juncus effusus Quarter Creek, Upright Divergent. Known for its narrow, soft round stems and vertical growth, Soft Rush has medium green foliage that turns yellowish brown after the first frost. Flowers are noticeable and are borne at the stem tips in early summer and an effective foliage plant in any water setting or container. Grows best in moist, peaty soils in light shade. Soft rush provides food and nesting to birds and other wildlife.