Gardening Tips

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Ornamental Grass

 

September 2004

Sun

Fountain Grass

Pennisetum

  • Mounding habit
  • 1’ - 5’ tall
  • Summer flowering
Switch Grass

Panicum

  • Upright habit
  • 2’ - 9’ tall
  • U.S. native
  • Summer flowering
Pampas Grass

Cortaderia

  • Mounding habit
  • 5’ - 10’ tall
  • Large plumes
  • Late summer flowering
Prairie Dropseed

Sporobolus

  • 1’ - 2’ tall
  • U.S. native
Maiden Grass

Miscanthus

  • Upright habit
  • 2’ - 10’ tall
  • Large variety of sizes
  • Variegated & banded forms
  • Fall flowering
Little Blue Stem

Schizachyrium

  • 1’ - 3’ tall
  • U.S. native
  • Fall flowering
Giant Reed Grass

Arundo donax

  • 18’ - 20’ tall
  • Fall flowering
Indian Grass

Sorghastrum

  • 3’ - 5’ tall
  • U.S. native
  • Summer flowering

Shade

Sedges

Carex

  • Mounding habit
  • 1’ - 2’ tall
  • Many types
  • Clumping or slow spreaders
Ribbon Grass

Phalaris

  • Okay in sun or shade
  • Under 2 feet tall
  • Aggressive spreader
  • Cool season grower
Northern Sea Oats

Chasmanthium

  • U.S. native
  • 2’ - 3’ tall
  • Summer blooming
  • Reseeds freely
Dwarf Bamboo

Many Species

  • 1’ - 5’ tall
  • Tolerant of cold
  • Aggressive spreader
ornamental grass

Attributes

Structure & texture

Variety of forms & sizes

Likes hot sites

Tolerant of drought

Resistant to deer

Summer & fall flowering

Winter interest

Procedures

Allow plenty of room

Mulch and water well

Provide plenty of sun

Use flowers in dried arrangements

Cut down in late winter

Call 479-253-7466 for more information on any of the new introductions reviewed in this article.
For the PDF version of this article, click here

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