Ornamental Garden
Decorative grasses are very much underrated in the ornamental garden, yet they provide such a diversity of shape size and colour. Almost all fit in well with a cottage garden atmosphere even if they are not strictly of the correct historical period. The only grasses that I have doubts about using in situations that we are envisaging are the bamboos and pampas grass, despite the fact that one or two of the former were popularly grown, for the production of canes.
The annual grasses are amongst the most useful in the cottage garden, not only for decoration, but for cutting and drying for floral art work. Some are hardy and can be sown in the open ground from early spring onwards although in northern areas early summer is probably a more satisfactory time. Except for decorative maize, which is best raised in individual pots like sweet corn, all the other popular annual kinds can be sown where they are to flower, crowded seedlings being thinned during the summer as necessary.
I love the delicate little quaking grass, Briza maxima, with its tiny yellowish lantern-like seeds, and the decorative barley, Hordeum jubatum. The foxtail millet, Setaria italica, is another striking annual grass beloved of the flower arranger. It is a loose tufted plant, up to 90 cm (3 ft) high with heavy, bristly, green flower spikes and handsome, bluish-green foliage. Polypogon monospeliensis has one of the trickiest Latin names, but is one of the easiest annual grasses to grow. Popularly called the annual beard grass, it produces lovely silky inflorescences amongst fresh green foliage.
The hare’s tail grass Lagurus ovatus, also has silky flower heads, but they are much broader and produced on stout stems about 90 cm (3 ft) high. A good drying grass, in its dwarf cultivar ‘Nana’ it is an excellent front of border subject. Maize is a bit of a novelty, but does associate well with other cottage garden plants, especially if you choose the less brash squaw corn, Zea mays, and its varieties. All have decorative foliage and cobs in which the kernels are multicoloured.
Most perennial grasses are cottage garden favourites, but need careful watching if they are not to become invasive. Especially the common variegated gardener’s garters, Pha-laris arundinacea ‘Picta’. It has a look-alike in Glyceria aquatica ‘Variegata’, which unlike phalaris is a water dweller. One of the easiest marginal subjects for the garden pool, it has boldly striped green and cream foliage which is deep rose-pink in early spring. Elymus glaucus provides another unique foliage colour. Sold by nurseries under this name, it is truly the lyme grass, E. arenarius. Nevertheless, the fact that it is a native does not mean that it is not garden worthy. Flourishing in hot, dry, hostile soil conditions it delights with its creeping sea of steely blue foliage. Its flowers are not very exciting and best removed when first seen in order to maintain a tidy appearance. Festuca glauca also has blue foliage, but in tight, impenetrable clumps. One of the easiest perennial grasses to raise from seed it is often used by gardeners as an annual.
The stipas are tall handsome characters that are also readily raised from seed. They are grasses for every garden, especially the graceful and free-flowering Stipa calama-grostis and the striking foliage species S. pennata. Both provide interest and beauty in the garden as well as being invaluable cut-foliage subjects.
However, of all the grasses my favourite must be the so-called hardy sugar cane, Miscanthus sacchariflorus. Of bamboo-like stature and appearance this is one of the most versatile grasses of all. It will grow in dryish garden soil, beside a pool or can be planted as a hedge or windbreak. There is a golden form called ‘Aureus’ and a striped leafed cultivar with green and white banded leaves known as ‘Variegatus’.
