Ornamental Grasses

1. Ornamental Grasses Dennis Patton Johnson County K-State Research and Extension

2. Why Use Grasses? • Beautiful • Carefree • Practical • Versatile

3. Beautiful • Provide year-round interest • Color, form, texture • Winter interest

4. Carefree • Most drought tolerant • Grows in poor soil • No fertilization • No pest problems

5. Practical • Easy to grow • Problem solvers • Perfect companion plant

6. Versatile • Works in just about any setting

7. Establishing Grasses

8. Site Selection • Right plant – Right place • Most are sun loving • Many are larger size

9. Planting • Plugs to Pots • Warm/cool season species • Spring time best • Fall, poor establishment • Winter kill

10. Soil Preparation • Little to none • Provide good drainage • Enriched soil, sometimes speeds up growth and need to divide • Add 2 to 4 inches of organic matter

11. Establishment Care • Water as needed • Mulch • Protect roots • Conserve water • Prevents weeds • Breakdown feeds plants

12. Summer Care of Established Plants • No care • Water if needed • Supports • Pests • grasshoppers

13. Winter Clean up • Cut back in early spring • Late March to mid April • Cut as low as possible • Burning not recommended

14. How to Cut Back • Hand Clippers • Hedge Shears • Chainsaw • Be careful grass blades are sharp

15. Cutting Back • Tie up blades • String • Tape • Belt

16. Dividing Ornamental Grasses • When to divide • Outgrows space • Open center (donut) • Decreased vigor • Early spring • Before growth

17. How to Divide • Anyway you can – • Shovel • Axe • Saw • Roots/crown is dense and hard • Division – three or more shoots • Don’t make too big!

18. Ornamental Grass Selections • 2’ to 20’ • Green, blue, variegated • Perennial or annual • K-State research

19. Grasses for the back of the border • 5’ or more • Height includes flower or plume

20. Giant Reed Grass • Arundo donax • 12’ or more • spreading ‘Variegata’

21. Northern Pampas Grass • Saccharum ravennae • 10-14’ • True pampas grass not winter hardy

22. Cabaret Silvergrass • Miscanthus sinensis ‘Cabaret’ • 5’ to 7’ • Late season plume • Creamy white center

23. Cosmopolitan Silvergrass • Miscanthus sinensis ‘Cosmopolitan’ • 5-7 feet tall • Reddish-pink flowers • Reverse of Cabaret • Green center/white edges

24. Graziella Silvergrass • Miscanthus sinensis ‘Graziella’ • 5-7’ with flowers • Silvery white plumes in Aug. • Full to part shade

25. Maiden Grass • Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ • 5 – 6’ • Narrow upright clump • Plumes late • Winter color – corn husk

26. Porcupine Grass • Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’ • 6 – 8’ • Spikey, upright • Horizontal bands

27. Variegated Silvergrass • Miscanthis sinensis • 5-6’ • May need staking

28. Dallas Blues Switchgrass • Panicum virgatum‘Dallas Blues’ • 6 – 8’ • 18” wide • Blue form • May need staking • Blue form of switch

29. Northwind Switchgrass • Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’ • 5 – 6 ‘ • Strong upright growth • Steel blue color

30. Grasses for the middle of the border

31. Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass • Calamagrostis arundinacea ‘Karl Foerster’ • 4 – 5’ • Cool season, early • Upright habit

32. Overdam Feather Reed Grass • Calamagrostis arundinacea ‘Overdam’ • 3 – 4’ • Foliage one foot or so • Plumes taller • Variegated edged in white

33. Eldorado Feather Reed Grass • Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Eldorado’ • 3-5’ tall • 5-6’ with flower • Green/gold mid-rib variegation • Variegated form of ‘Karl Foerster’

34. Avalanche Feather Reed Grass • Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Avalanche’ • 4 – 5’ • Variegated form of Karl Foerster • Bright green with white center • Flower stalks pinkish

35. Morning Light Maiden Grass • Miscanthus sinensis • 4’ tall; 6’ with flower • White variegation along margin • Nice for white garden • Fine textured • Classic grass

36. Adagio Maiden Grass • Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’ • 4 – 5’ • Compact clump, slender • Silvery foliage • Silvery white plumes

37. Autumn Flame Grass • Miscanthus sinensis ‘Purpurascens’ • 3 – 4’ • Upright to vertical habit • Green leaves in summer • Bright orange-red fall color

38. Yaku Jima Dwarf Maiden Grass • Miscanthus sinenis ‘Yaka Jima’ • 3 – 4’ • Compact version of Maiden • Graceful, vase-like form • Early bloomer

39. Little Zebra Grass • Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Zebra’ • 3 – 4’ • Green blades – gold bands • Pinkish bloom late

40. Gold Bar Miscanthus • Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gold Bar’ • 4-5’ by October • Horizontal stripes • Dense growth • Compact erect habit • Border or container • Blooms in late Oct.

41. Heavy Metal Switchgrass • Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ • 3-6’ tall • Metallic lavender blue waxy foliage

42. Shenandoah Switchgrass • Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ • 2009 Great Plains Grass of the Year • 3 – 5’ • Foliage dipped in red - Highlights • Reddish-purple fall color

43. Blue Heaven Bluestem • Schizachyrium scoparius ‘Blue Heaven’ • 3 – 4’ • Dark blue to burgundy - summer foliage • Red-purple fall color • More upright grower

44. Grasses for the Front of the Border • 3’ or less

45. Prairie Drop Seed • Sporobolus heterolepis • 2 – 3’ • Tough, native • Nice foliage and fall color

46. Japanese Forest Grass • Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ • ‘Golden Variegated’ ‘All Gold’ ‘Beni Haze’ • 12 – 18” • Nice golden foliage often accented with stripes • Does best in light shade • Even moisture

47. Dwarf Fountain Grass • Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ • 2 – 3’ • Compact habit narrow leaves • Bottle brush like seedhead

48. Karley Rose Fountain Grass • Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’ • 2 – 3’ • Rose/pink seed head - held above foliage

49. Little Bunny Fountain Grass • Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’ • 10 – 12” • Smallest Fountain Grass • Mounded form • Topped with plumes

50. The Blues Bluestem • Schizachyrium scoparius ‘The Blues’ • 18 – 24” • Drought tolerant native • Good blue foliage • Burgundy-red fall color • Showy seedheads late