| NASSELLA TRICHOTOMA | GREEN |
B |
| 40 (45) x 45 | Evergreen |
| Not dissimilar to Stipa Tenuissima with fine bright green leaves however the foliage is slightly stiffer even when it starts to arch as the clump matures. The flower panicles are very open but are on weak stems which tend to bend giving a dense hazy effect around the plant. |
| ORYZOPSIS MILACEA | GREEN |
C |
| 30 (100) x 60 | Evergreen |
| A recent addition to the grass collection and rapidly becoming a favourite. An early summer flowering mediterranean grass which is drought tolerant and happy to grow in cooler climates. A strong grower but clump forming and one producing beautiful arching seed heads. The light, airy panicles are still looking good well into winter. Very tactile. |
| PANICUM BULBOSUM | GREEN | C |
| 50 (100) x 35 |
| Like Arrhenatherum this grass has a bulbous base to the stem. The upright foliage is bright green and the erect seed heads turn red when ripening. |
| PANICUM CLANDESTINIUM | GREEN | C |
| 80 x 45 |
| Broad leaved grass similar in appearance to the dwarf bamboo. Unusual purple tints to foliage in autumn. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM 'DALLAS BLUE' | BLUE | D |
| 90(180) x 90 |
| Perhaps the tallest panicam in flower and a must for the blue grey border. Flowers tinged pink. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM ‘HAENSE HERMS’ | GREEN |
C |
| 60 (120) x 30 |
| The Switch Grass boasts large but sparse panicles of tiny flowers giving a beautiful hazy effect in late summer. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM ‘HEAVY METAL’ | GREY/GREEN |
C |
| 80 (150) x 90 |
| Excellent variety from America with very stiff metallic blue (gun metal) leaves. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM ‘PRAIRIE SKY' | BLUE |
D |
| 90 (120) x 90 |
| Excellent bluey grey foliage, much brighter than 'Heavy Metal'. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM ‘ROTSTRAHLBUSCH’ | GREEN | C |
| 100 (120) x 90 |
| Leaves turn from green to yellow and red as autumn progresses. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM ‘RUBRUM’ | REDDISH | C |
| 90 (120) x 90 |
| The Switch Grass has large but sparse panicles of tiny chestnut flowers in this variety. Reddish-brown leaf tones into autumn. A real eye-catcher. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM ‘SHENANDOAH' | GREEN | D |
| 90 (110) x 60 |
| Leaves of this variety turning a rich red wine colour in the Autumn. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM ‘STRICTUM’ | GREEN |
C |
| 60 (120) x 90 |
| Similar airy flower heads. This is an erect form whose leaves turn bright yellow in autumn and winter. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM ‘SQUAW’ | GREEN |
C |
| 60 (120) x 90 |
| Quite dark seedheads and excellent autumn colour. |
| PANICUM VIRGATUM ‘WARRIOR’ | GREEN |
C |
| 80 (150) x 90 |
| Taller than ‘Squaw’ and equally good colouring. |
| PASPALUM QUADRIFARIUM | BLUE |
D |
| 60 (150) x 90 | Evergreen |
| Clump forming grass with strong bluey/grey leaves dwarfed by flower stems in mid to late summer. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPECUROIDES | GREEN |
C |
| 60 (90) x 60 |
| The fountain grass forms rather a stiff clump but the flowers make it an attractive addition to the border. They appear in late summer and look very similar to hairy caterpillars. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPECUROIDES VIRIDESCENS | GREEN |
C |
| 60 (100) x 75 |
| Bright green leaves and attractive bottle-brush seed heads in late summer. May need a little protection in winter. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPECUROIDES ‘CASSIAN’ | GREEN |
C |
| 50 (80) x 60 |
| Good flowers with rich autumn colouring are held clear of the dense mound of foliage. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPECUROIDES ‘LITTLE BUNNY’ | GREEN |
C |
| 10 (25) x 25 |
| A real dwarf amongst the fountain grass family with stiff flower stems standing only 25 cm high. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPCUROIDES 'MOULDRY' | GREEN |
C |
| 30 (75) x 60 |
| One of the rarer black-seeded fountain grasses but sadly the British summers are often too cool and too short to enable it to flower. When it does, the rich brown flowers mature to black. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPECUROIDES ‘HERBSTAUBER’ | GREEN |
C |
| 30 (70) x 40 |
| Autumn Magic is an apt name for this free flowering variety. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPECUROIDES ‘NATIONAL ARBORETUM’ | GREEN | C |
| 35 (60) x 40 |
| Another black-seeded variety and very striking too, if you can encourage it to flower in this country a long warm summer is required.. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPECUROIDES ‘WESERBERGLAND’ | GREEN |
C |
| Similar to ‘Woodside’ in size but with greeny-white flower heads. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPECUROIDES ‘WOODSIDE’ | GREEN |
C |
| 60 (80) x 60 |
| Dense clumps of narrow arching leaves. Purple foxtails with orange stamens in late summer. Good soil. |
| PENNISETUM ALOPECUROIDES ‘HAMELN’ | GREEN |
C |
| 50 (60) x 60 |
| Another in the fountain grass family with flowers resembling hairy caterpillars. More upright in habit than Villosum. |
| PENNISETUM INCOMPTUM | GREEN |
C |
| 45 (120) x 100 |
| Meadow fountain grass has rather a spreading habit but this should not be a reason for excluding this most attractive variety. The flowers are chalky white, pencil thin and stand erect over the arching foliage. |
| PENNISETUM MACROURUM | GREEN |
C |
| 120 (210) x 90 |
| From the mountains of Southern Africa. A dense clump producing tall stems with 20 cm long pencil thin pokers! |
| PENNISETUM 'ORIENTALE' | GREEN | C |
| 25 (50) x 30 |
| An excellent flowering variety with the usual bottle brush flowers which are good for cutting. |
| PENNISETUM ORIENTALE 'KARLEY ROSE' | GREEN |
D |
| 45 (90) x 30 |
| PENNISETUM ORIENTALE 'TALL TAILS' | GREEN | C |
| 40(140)x30 | ||
| Gracefullly arching flower stems with creamy white inflorescences. |
| PENNISETUM SETACEUM 'RUBRUM' | PURPLE |
D |
| 20 (45) x 15 |
| This variety of pennisetum has to be treated as a tender annual in cooler climates, but it is really worth the trouble. Rich burgundy blades topped with similarly coloured flowers. Beautiful as specimen container plant or in amongst the blues and greys. |
| PENNISETUM VILLOSUM | GREEN |
C |
| 45 (60) x 60 |
| Delightful, fluffy, feathery flower heads in late summer and autumn. Good soil, but not too wet in winter. |
| PHAENOSPERMA GLOBOSA | GREEN |
E |
| 100 (130) x 45 | Evergreen |
| Arching, broad leaves of dark green with large, open seed heads. Clump forming, but requiring space to do justice to the overall shape of the plant. |
| PHALARIS ARUNDINACEA ‘FEESEY’S FORM’ | VARIEG |
C |
| 75 (120) x 60 |
| White is the predominant colour with narrow green margins. A less vigorously spreading form of Garden’s Garters. Good with dark greens. |
| PHALARIS ARUNDINACEA ‘LUTEOPICTA’ | VARIEG |
B |
| 75 (120) x 90 |
| Very showy early on – creamy with green stripes. Cut back around July for second flush. |
| PHALARIS ARUNDINACEA ‘TRICOLOR’ | VARIEG |
B |
| 75 (120) x90 |
| Yet another selection, this time with a good purplish flush to the margins, especially on young growth. |
| PHLEUM PRATENSE | GREEN |
B |
| 90 (120) x 60 |
| Native Timothy Grass with narrow cylindrical flower spikes which may be cut and dried for indoors. |
| PLEIOBLASTUS AURICOMUS | VARIEG |
G |
| 90 x 120 | Evergreen |
| Magnificent bright bamboo, leaves predominantly yellow with variable stripes. Best colouring in sun and good soil. May be cut back in spring for best new growth |
| PLEIOBLASTUS HUMILIS PUMILUS | GREEN |
G |
| 90 x 90 | Evergreen |
| Spreading green leaved bamboo. Good ground cover for difficult areas such as dry shade, once established. |
| PLEIOBLASTUS PYGMAEUS | GREEN |
G |
| 30 x 60 | Evergreen |
| Amongst the dwarfest of the bamboos, but can spread! Excellent ground cover in the right place. |
| PLEIOBLASTUS VARIEGATUS | VARIEG | G |
| 90 x 120 | Evergreen |
| Striking creamy-white variegation. Only a moderate spreader, forming dense clumps. Good soil, sun or shade. |
| POA CHAIXII | GREEN |
B |
| 40 (90) x 40 |
| Useful robust plant with broad, shiny evergreen leaves of rich green. Purplish panicles. Good in shade. |
| POA COLENSOI | BLUE |
B |
| 20 x 22 | Evergreen |
| Narrow, inrolled leaves of good blue, looking good all year. Delicate open flower heads. |
| POA LABILLARDIERI | BLUE/GREY |
B |
| 90 (120) x 90 | Evergreen |
| The slender leaves form a very upright clump and the seed heads appearing in late summer have a hint of purple. |
| POA X JEMTLANDICA | GREEN |
B |
| 10 x 25 | Evergreen |
| A most unusual grass when in flower, for the small bluey green clump sends off long flower stems which are weighed down by dense clusters of tiny plantlets |
| RESTIO TETRAPHYLLUS | BLUE | D |
| 75 x 75 | Evergreen |
| Hardy plant from Tasmania. Foliage similar in appearance to asparagus, ideal for flower arranging. |
| SASA PALMATUM | GREEN | B |
| 240x 300 | Evergreen |
| Loose spreading bamboo with leathery leaves. Best planted in semi-shade in open ground rather than a border. |
| SASA VEITCHII | GREEN |
H |
| 80 x 150 | Evergreen |
| A low growing and rapidly spreading bamboo with broad rich green leaves. Most effective in late summer, early autumn when the edges of the leaves dry out, losing their colour and thus giving a variegated appearance. |
| SCHIZACHYRIUM SCOPARIUM | GREY/GREEN |
C |
| 60 (100) x 45 |
| The ‘Little Bluestem’ of the N. American prairies. Forms an erect clump, the leaves starting grey-green, turning through a bluer colour to purple and then becoming warm pale foxy-red in the autumn. The inflorescences are unusual thin fluffy wisps. For a sunny well-drained border. |
| SCHOENUS PAUCIFLORUS | MAROON |
C |
| 40 x 30 | Evergreen |
| Unusual sedge with erect narrow leaves distinctive maroon, orange-flecked in winter, green only at base. |
| SESLERIA CAERULEA | BLUE |
B |
| 15 (25) x 40 | Evergreen |
| The Blue Moor Grass is interesting in having blades of green on one side and blue on top, and unique purple flowers in spring. Having a flattish habit it makes a good carpeter and edger. |
| SESLERIA HEUFLERIANA | GREEN |
B |
| 35 (60) x 45 | Evergreen |
| Fresh green leaves from a dense clump are topped by narrow purplish spikes right through the summer. |
| SESLERIA NITIDA | BL/GREEN |
B |
| 30 (40) x 42 | Evergreen |
| Formerly listed as Sesleria glauca. I find this a very pleasing grass with long, smooth pale blue-green leaves, pointed at the tips. Pale greyish flower spikes in late spring. Most soils in sun or part shade. |
| SESLERIA RIGIDA | GREEN |
B |
| 20 x 30 | Evergreen |
| A spring flowering grass with very stiff greeny grey foliage forming a low compact clump. |
| SORGASTRUM NUTANS 'INDIAN STEEL' | GREY/GREEN |
D |
| 50(100) x 90 |
| Another N America prairie grass with rich golden panicles in late summer. Quite upright in habit and will need a warm spot if it is to flower. |
| SPARTINA PECTINATA ‘AUREOMARGINATA’ | VARIEG |
C |
| 120 (150) x 90 |
| Loose pampas-like clumps of narrow yellow-margined leaves. Flower heads of green with showy purple stamens. Not so happy in the driest soils, more spreading in wet. |
| SPODIOPOGON SIBIRICUS | GREEN | C |
| 90 (140) x 40 |
| Clump forming grass with bold green leaves tinged purple in autumn. Very attractive silvery seed heads in late summer. |
| SPOROBOLUS AIROIDES | GREEN | C |
| 50(100)x40 | Evergreen |
| Another variety of american dropseed with bluey-grey leaf colour. The inflorescence is more open than that of sporobolus heterolepsis and on a slightly taller stem. Will tolerate dry conditions but prefers an alkaline soil. |
| SPOROBOLUS HETEROLEPSIS | GREEN |
C |
| 50 (120) x 40 |
| An American prairie grass with a very elegant appearance. The delicate panicles are held on slender upright stems and can be as tall as 120 cms in perfect conditions. The bright green leaves form mounds which turn golden and then finally fawn in winter. |
| STIPA ARUNDINACEA ‘AUTUMN TINTS’ (ANEMANTHELE LESSONIANA) | VARIEG |
B |
| 60 (80) x90 | Evergreen |
| Arching evergreen leaves become progressively more orange-brown as summer advances, and entirely that colour through autumn and winter. Drooping heads hold clouds of tiny flowers. Avoid driest soils. |
| STIPA ARUNDINACEA ‘GOLDEN HUE’ (ANEMANTHELE LESSONIANA) | GRN/YELLOW |
B |
| 50 (80) x 90 | Evergreen |
| The foliage is a rich greeny yellow becoming more golden as the season progresses. |
| STIPA CALAMAGROSTIS | GREEN |
C |
| 60 (120) x 100 |
| ‘A plant no garden should be without’ says Roger Grounds. The leaves are blue-green on reddish stems, but the flowers are the main feature, appearing from June until autumn, large, feathery and graceful. |
| STIPA CAPILLATA | GREEN |
C |
| 50 (120) x 40 |
| An insignificant plant until it comes into flower. The leaves then give rise to 1m high stems with wide, open silvery panicles. |
| STIPA ELEGANTISSIMA | GREEN | C |
| 40(60)x40 | Evergreen |
| Another grass to add light and movement to the herbaceous border, seed heads similar to Nassella Trichatoma but but more arching habit. |
| STIPA GIGANTEA | GREEN |
D |
| 75 (200) x 90 click here to see picture | Evergreen |
| A magnificent grass, best planted in some isolation to be fully appreciated for its splendid open heads of flowers, purplish, becoming golden, each with long awns, trembling in the least breeze. |
| STIPA LESSINGIANA | GREEN | C |
| 60 (75) x 50 | Evergreen |
| Very similar to Stipa tenuissima but slightly taller. |
| STIPA SPLENDENS | GREEN |
B |
| 60 (150) x 90 |
| Large clumps of arching deep green leaves with attractive pinky-red flowers. |
| STIPA TENUISSIMA | GREEN |
B |
| 45 (60) x 60 | Evergreen |
| Erectly held narrow bright green leaves above which are held arching heads of delicate fluffy inflorescences, like billowing clouds when planted in groups and caught by the breeze. Sun. |
| TYPHA MINIMA | GREEN |
B |
| 40 x 30 |
| An upright rush with short narrow greyish green leaves. Ideal for the small pond. |
| UNCINIA RUBRA | BROWN |
B |
| 15 x 30 | Evergreen |
| Unique rich, shiny foxy red-brown, good with yellows and reds. Sun, some shelter and not-too-dry soil. May not survive in colder areas without protection. Highly recommended for its special colouring. |
UPDATED DECEMBER 2007
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