The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Category Archives: Ornamental grass

See ya ornamental grasses

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If all of the weather reports are to be believed, we are about to get pounded by Hurricane Sandy.  We are expected to get DAYS of rain and gale force winds here in New Jersey, from Sunday through Wednesday of next week.
Apparently, like 98 storms are converging at once and we are looking at a potential “Storm of the Century”. This cute little disaster even has a cute little name – “Frankenstorm”. Yee haw, how f’n fun. 
When all is said and done, I’m expecting all of my ornamental grasses to be flattened. 
And that sucks. 
Yes, the safety of my family and all those affected by this storm is top of mind, but c’mon, no grasses still standing into winter? That a national g-damn tragedy.
So in honor of the hard working, humble and utterly dynamic ornamental grasses, I give you a slide show of their performance this year. I’m tearing up as I type this and I urge you to grab a box of Kleenex before you proceed. 
The pics are in reverse chronological order from current day back to earlier in the fall and summer.         
MISCANTHUS ‘GRACILLIMUS’ 

MISCANTHUS ‘PURPURASCENS’ 

MISCANTHUS ‘MORNING LIGHT’

PANICUM ‘ROTSTRAHLBUSCH’

 

It’s OK to cry.

We’ll make it through OK.

The spring will be here soon.

John

Yes, more ornamental grass love

Posted on by Posted in Ornamental grass .
If you do not like ornamental grasses, it is OK to leave now. 
Go on … get outta here.
Are they gone? …. good riddance.
Let’s proceed, shall we?
It’s sort of like Christmas Eve out in the garden right now with the OG blooms about ready to show themselves: 
Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ 
Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ 
Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’
Want to know how I know that my lust for ornamental grasses is off the charts? I can capture three blooming grasses in one photo:
Misacanthus ‘Gracillimus’, Calamagrostis ‘Eldorado’ and Miscanthuis ‘Purpurascens’ 

This is the second year for my Miscanthus ‘Purpurascens’ and so far, color me impressed:

The seed heads on my two different Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats) have matured nicely:

Northern Sea Oats

Northern Sea Oats ‘River Mist’

You can count on an overwhelming amount of coverage on all things ornamental grasses over the next few weeks so brace yourself.

John

Carex tenuiculmis ‘Cappuccino’

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My favorite way to plant shop is to forgo any sort of planning and just buy what I like. I prefer to “act now and think later”.

Who cares if there isn’t room for these plants (there is always room)?

Who cares if they may be pushing the zone that they survive in (I’ll take extra care of them, I swear)?

Who cares if they kind of look like they’re dead at all times (Just another piece of the proverbial garden puzzle)?

So there I was slumming it at Home Depot (I kid) a few years ago trying to ignore the hundreds of impatiens and begonias, hoping I could find some semi-unique plant that I could waste my money on.

And like an oasis in the desert, I spotted a bunch of oddly colored grasses hidden in a corner amongst empty containers and dying plants.

Upon closer inspection, the grasses were kind of cool in an offbeat way and I sort of dug their color. Turns out they were Carex (sedge) ‘Cappuccino’ (awesome name):                  

Without giving it much thought or reading the plant labels, I threw five in my cart and hurried to the check-out booth before I could second guess my purchase.

When I got home, I did a little internet research and while there wasn’t a ton of info out there, I did discover:

  • Survives in zones 6 (or 7 on some sites) to zone 9
  • Prefers full sun to partial shade 
  • Gets to be about 18″ tall and 24″ wide
  • Requires moist soil (like most sedge)

At the time, I thought, OK, they may not survive the winter here in zone 6B but I gave it a shot. They held up well for a year in a protected spot with full sun but I didn’t like how they looked in mass. So I moved them to a bed along my driveway where I strategically placed them hoping to create rhythm and repetition (who do I think I am?).

They are still there to this day:

I love this “grass” (technically I don’t think it is a true grass) and its color, texture and mounding shape. And they provide that sought after “year round interest”.

  
The color is awesome first emerging in spring after being cut down nearly to the ground: 

I have some Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’ in front of them and the color scheme is pretty cool when the ajuga are in bloom:

As the spring turns to summer, the carex turn in to good looking wispy mounds of awesomeness:

When the sun hits them just right, you can see their reddish copper color emerge:

As the cold weather and frost hits in the fall/winter, they keep their form and still look phenomenal:

And that my friends is the story of how an obsessive and neurotic gardener created a lifetime of love with a little known plant who was toiling in obscurity at a big box store.

So remember, your lesson for today is to “just buy what you like” and figure it all out later.

Life’s to short to be planning all the time.

John

Ornamental grasses take the spotlight

Posted on by Posted in Ornamental grass .

It is that time of year.

The time when the ornamental grasses take a giant leap forward, shake their ample booty and become THE focus in the garden.

Well, they do in my garden at least.

Here is just a sampling of these emerging superstars:

Panicum (Switch Grass) ‘Northwind’ when the blooms first appeared:

  

And now after said blooms transformed into a pinkish hue (love the blue/green blades as well):

Next, we have Panicum (Switch Grass) ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ (yes, I have memorized that spelling):

Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ behind the same “Rots”:

Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’ not yet showing signs of bloom but still stunning in its own way:

Misanthus purpurascens (Flame Grass) with blooms just popping out in front of the giant Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’:

Every night, I stare at these Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass) ‘Karl Foerster’ blooms from my deck as they are backlit by the sun. Good times:

And finally, Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats) are at their peak, as we speak:

More grass love to come in a future post as they continue to transform with the arrival of autumn.

John

Here come the ornamental grasses

Posted on by Posted in Ornamental grass .
Ornamental grasses are typically thought of as plants with late summer/fall/winter interest. 
But I’m here today to sing their praises as a great spring/early summer performer as well. 
I feel like most of my ornamental grasses took a huge leap forward this past week and I couldn’t be happier. While they aren’t anywhere near their peak, they still lend an airy awesomeness to the garden. 
Some examples:
Panicum starting to already show it’s hints of red color on the leaves:  

Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’ emerging over some of the smaller perennials:

Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ doing the same:

Calamagrostis ‘El Dorado’ already showing early blooms:

Pennisetum a nice color contrast next to Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’:

Looking at a blooming Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’ through a Panicum:

Chasmanthium latifolium (northern sea oats) rounding into form:

Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ in it’s nice upright stance:

And this is only the beginning. The next few months will be an ornamental grass-palooza and I’m sure you’ll be sick of all my hyperbole by then.

Enjoy the long weekend!

John

Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’

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Hello, my name is John (audience responds: “Hi John”) and I’m addicted to growing ornamental grasses.

It all started a few years ago when I moved into my current home and quickly realized three things:

  1. My clay soil drains very slowly
  2. My property has very little shade   
  3. Deer will always be on the prowl

I tried to fight my conditions at first but it didn’t take long to accept that it was a battle I could not win. I would have to accept what I had if I wanted to remain a sane gardener.

One “type” of plant overwhelmingly fit my growing conditions … the ornamental grass. It was a match made in heaven and I have never looked back.        

And here’s the thing, I will continue to feed my addiction for the foreseeable future. Bank on it. There are so many options out there and a lifetime to try them all out.  
Anyways, for today’s OG lesson, I will discuss Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’ (oriental fountain grass):

Some good bits of info to share with your friends:

  • Size – roughly 3′ x 3′
  • Survives in zones 5-9
  • Like most OG’s, prefers full sun but will do OK in partial shade
  • KR is a warm season grass so it will begin to grow as the temps warm up in mid to late spring
  • Starts to bloom in July which is earlier than most warm season grasses
  • Blooms are a pink/mauve color that eventually turn to a tan color as the season progresses
  • Foliage holds up reasonably well in rough weather and rebounds quickly after a rain and/or snow
  • While I’ve never grown the species, KR has a much deeper green foliage and longer lasting and pinker flowers       

And some pics for your viewing pleasure:

In a combo with Sedum ‘Matrona’:

Blooms slowly fading from pink to tan:

In my mixed border fitting in well as a “sort of” focal point:

Still holding up well in mid-Fall (with Panicum):

Your lesson for today is now done. We’ll talk more OG’s soon.

John

Time to cut back the ornamental grasses

Posted on by Posted in How-to, Ornamental grass .
I don’t give a flying fig what Punxsutawney Phil said, Spring officially began this past Saturday, February 25th. 
According to MY calendar, Spring commences when I cut down the first ornamental grass. This normally occurs around the second to third week of March, but to celebrate this mild Winter (and to take advantage of a window of free time between dance class and a basketball game) I headed outdoors, battery powered hedge clippers in hand and went to town on the OG’s. 
First up, Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’:        

This is my largest ornamental grass so the “cut-back” was the most difficult. But with my pure brute strength, I laughed at the challenge.

I do worry about the big hole that is left as a result, but hope the emerging daffodil bulbs will help hide the carnage for the time being:  

Next, we move on to the Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’. These grasses collapsed in an ugly pile in late October, after an out of nowhere snow storm, and never recovered:

I couldn’t wait to slice and dice these puppies so the ugliness of fall/winter could be forgotten:

Since ‘Karl Foerster’ is a “cool season” grass, I knew it would show signs of new growth already … and it didn’t disappoint:

I also chopped back another Calamagrostis (‘El Dorado’) and was greeted with new growth again:

I even cut back a few small newly purchased clumps of Calamagrostis ‘Avalance’ (a variegated form I’m super psyched to watch mature) and yes my friends, more new, green growth:

Like Leatherface from “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” I slaughtered this Sorghastrum ‘Sioux Blue’ without missing a beat:

And boom, whacked back Carex ‘Kaga Nishiki’ and was greeted with this delicious foliage:

Northern Sea Oats was cut back in mid Fall in hopes of managing the reseeding, so no need to touch them:

Finally, I was able to contain myself and allowed this Carex ‘Cappuccino’ to remain as is because she still looks damn good:

That’s all for now.

There are still quite a few Miscanthus and Panicum in need of a haircut and I can’t wait to chop away soon.

John

Plants that die well

Posted on by Posted in Ornamental grass, Winter interest .
When you dig gardening (pun intended) and you live in a colder climate (zone 6 here), you need plants that “die well”. It is a long stretch from November to March and the search for winter interest is always top of mind. 
To me, winter interest is all about subtlety and as is the case when gardening during any season, looking natural is the key. And I’m the first to admit that I have a long ways to go in mastering this practice. But that is the beauty with gardening – we will learn until the day we die. 
For today, I thought I would share some of my “good dying plants” and “not so good dying plants” with you. Shall we?:
One of the “winter interest” staples is the classic coneflower (Echinacea). Here it is in it’s decaying glory:              

Not bad eh? I should also add I love NOT cutting down the coneflower blooms in order to feed the birds (as seen in the photo of the finch above) and I enjoy the reseeding in all of my garden beds. Coneflowers for years to come.

We also have the mother of all winter interest, the ornamental grass:

Miscanthus (Maiden Grass)
Panicum (Switch Grass)
Carex (Sedge)

Chasmanthium Latifolium (Northern Sea Oats)

Also love spent Hydrangea blooms:

The color left behind by Penstemon ‘Husker’s Red’:

The native Mountain Mint:

And even the ubiquitous Sedum:

And finally my friends, love me some spent Astilbe blooms:

Nothing that necessarily jumps out and grabs you, but they all add a nice cold weather/wintry vibe. Memories of what was and what soon will be. Sweet.

But I can’t leave it all positive. Not everything looks good dead. Some ugly examples:

Lobelia

Peony
Siberian iris
Hibiscus
Let me know some of your favorite winter interest plants. Lord knows I still need some guidance.
John

Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ – Through the seasons

Ornamental grasses – you had me at “Hello”

Posted on by Posted in Ornamental grass .

When you have:

  1. Poor clay soil
  2. That stays wet for too long
  3. And your yard is infested (I mean pleasantly occupied) with deer
  4. And there isn’t a shaded spot to be found

    You quickly learn to seek out the few plants that will survive such conditions.

    When I first laid eyes on an ornamental grass years ago, it was like I missed the true beauty sitting by herself in the back of the room.

    I had been distracted all along by the “popular” plants that looked all sexy and were throwing themselves at me. Sure they’re great the day you take them home, but man they look harsh the next morning and you just hope they’ll come up out of the soil and jump into the compost heap, never to be heard from again.

    Real brief bit of history – Ornamental grasses were popular during the Victorian era back in the 1800’s as they were appreciated for their naturalistic look and for being a bit tropical. They then fell out of favor until the 1970’s and 1980’s. One of the premier landscape architect’s of the time, German Wolfgang Oehme, from Germany, displayed his love of ornamental grasses all over Washington DC and the movement was on. Other influential grass lovers of the time include James Van Sweden and Kurt Bluemel.

    Quick side note – a must read is Ornamental Grasses: Wolfgang Oehme and the New American Garden         

    Why I have so much OG love:    

    • They are trouble free, other than a haircut in early spring before new growth emerges

    • They have no issues with insects and disease
    • They are TRULY deer resistant
    • They catch light so well which only enhances their beauty
     Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’
     

    Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ blooms

    • They provide movement in the garden when wind swept; a way underrated design element
    • They manage to hold a level of interest even in the winter

     

    • They can be massed for screening purposes or as a backdrop to other shrubs and perennials.
    Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ as a backdrop, just planted this spring

    • They can act as an accent or as a focal point. My preference is to use them in mixed borders for contrasting purposes.
       

    • They look fantastic in containers as the “thriller” element
    • There are cool season and warm season varieties of OG’s which give you OG love at all times of season.

      Cool season grasses emerge sooner in the Spring and bloom earlier (July) as well. This is Calamagrostis ‘El Dorado’ in April

      Warm season grasses are slower to emerge in the Spring but also bloom in early Fall when most other plants are on their way out. This is Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ as of this week. 
      • A few different varieties I’ve got planted:

      Miscanthus ‘Super Stripe’

      Carex ‘Cappucinno’
      Pennisetum ‘ Karley Rose’

      Chasmanthium Latifolium (Northern Sea Oats)

      Panicum ‘Rotstrahlbusch

      A young Miscanthus ‘Variegatus”
      • While dividing an OG may require a hacksaw, once done they quickly establish themselves. I divided one Panicum into the three divisions below in the spring:

      Thank you for indulging my OG obsession. It is always at a high this time of year. I look forward to adding even more in the spring 2011.

      Have a great weekend!
      ONG