This is the time of year when the ornamental grasses start to take the lead role in my garden.
This is when they make their initial impact.
And best of all, it only gets better from here on out.
Click on the grass name for more detailed info and pictures.
Miscanthus purpurascens (Flame Grass)
The killer foliage color hasn’t arrived quite yet, but they are all blooming and there are subtle hints of the change in color if you look close enough.
Sorghastrum (Indian Grass)
Beautifully upright, beautifully blue and beautifully native. Only one bloom has arrived to date.
Pennisetum ‘Foxtrot’ (Giant Fountain Grass)
This one came out of nowhere. It is almost five feet tall and loaded with blooms. I need more.
Pennisetum ‘Desert Plains’ (Fountain Grass)
Shorter than ‘Foxtrot’ and with smaller blooms but the foliage shines in the sun and that glorious time is right around the corner.
Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ (Variegated Japanese Silver Grass)
A welcome foil to all of the green.
Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ (Switch Grass)
Never fails to deliver. I’ll have better pictures soon as I weed around a bunch more of these gems.
Panicum ‘Northwind’ (Switch Grass)
The best. Still.
Panicum [cultivar unknown] (Switch Grass)
I screwed up the spreadsheet. Help.
Panicum [cultivar unknown] (Switch Grass)
Another spreadsheet mishap. Inexcusable.
Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’ (Maiden Grass)
Lighting up the Joe Pye Weed.
Pennisetum ‘Hameln’ (Dwarf Fountain Grass)
A blooming machine in dwarf form. Love.
Molinia ‘Skyracer’ (Moor Grass)
Giant stems and a giant presence. Also difficult to capture properly through a photo.
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)
A kaleidoscope of colors from late summer and all through fall.
Calamagrostis (Karl Foerster Grass)
Yes it’s everywhere. But there is a reason for that.
I too am very excited for late suumer /fall to arrive! I became obsessed with grasses after seeing the many beautiful pics you have posted in the past and I went and bought quite a few new grasses this year. Although mine are still small this year they are starting to look really good and I know they will look great in a few years time. Do you have Panicum ‘Shenandoah’? I purchased one of those this year. I was originally looking for ‘Cheyenne Sky’ but couldn’t find that one locally. Wish I had room for ‘Northwind’…that one looks awesome! Keep posting your beautiful pics!
Linda – I definitely have ‘Cheyenne Sky’ but not sure which one it is. I need to identify a few grasses and get my spreadsheet up to speed. More to come on that. Happy to hear you’re loving the grasses!
Your taller unidentified Panicum might be ‘Cloud Nine’…does that ring a bell?
You may be right Robert. Now I need to confirm for sure so the spreadsheet can be formally updated.
I tried growing a specific grass & wound up in the back of a Police Wagon :o)
Well played there cuz!
Beautiful! You garden and do a spreadsheet to go with?! Impressive.
Thanks Jane! Yeah I’m a bit OCD with the garden and in other aspects of life. Writing the book really reminded me of my strange ways, ha!