ORNAMENTAL GRASSES FOR THE GARDEN

Ornamaental Grass such as miscanthus have been used by the landscaping industry for many years. Will more grasses now becoming available for use in the home garden the choice of height, color and texture can satisfy almost any garden designer. Some very popular grasses include Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' or Japanese Temple Grass, a lovely clump forming species with soft foliage that looks great in a woodland setting or in a pot or container.

Many ornamental grasses are actually strap leafed plants. Mondo Grass in its many forms is very useful for border planting, for growing between pavers, or mass planting in a semi shaded area


Ornamental grasses are used in the garden and landscaping for a variety of purposes.

  • To act as borders
  • To provide texture
  • To add color to the border
  • As 'fillers' in difficult positions
  • To act as broad ground covers.
    Selection of appropriate ornamental grasses needs to be based on climate, soil, height requirements and color. Some are true grasses others are really tufted perrenials.

Grasses used widely as ornamental grasses include:

 

  • Acorus
  • Arundo
  • Briza
  • Calamagrostis
  • Carex
  • Cyperus
  • Deschampsia
  • Eragrostis
  • Festuca
  • Hakonechloa
  • Imperta
  • Juncus
  • Liriope
  • Lomandr a
  • Miscanthus
  • Nassella
  • Ophiopogon
  • Panicum
  • Paspalum
  • Pennisetum
  • Schizachyrium
  • Stipa
  • Themeda
  • Typha