‘Morning Light’ Maiden Grass Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ It may be trimmed back with a blade on a weed-trimmer in late February if necessary. Unlike Pampas Grass, this smaller variety remains evergreen most winters. Propagated vegetatively from a female plant, the all-female flowers form creamy-white spikes in August through frost. Smaller than “regular” Pampas Grass, Dwarf Pampas Grass will grow to 4’-6’ tall and wide. An excellent addition to a summer garden!ĭwarf Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila’ Plant on a south-facing exposure for increased winter protection. Usually a Zone 9 plant, it will probably be killed at 15 degrees F. The flowers are airy rose-pink panicles that emerge as early as May in mild climates and bloom until late summer. Africa, this warm season grass has blue-green foliage and grows to 1’-1 ½’ tall. Ruby Crystal Grass (aka Savannah Grass) Rhychelytrum repens or R. Cut back in late February to remove dormant foliage and dried seed heads. This grass requires good drainage, and has been known to self-seed readily. The golden seed heads rise above the bright green foliage, and look striking in mass plantings. Growing only 1’-2’ tall, this summer blooming grass will grow in full to part sun. Mexican Feather Grass Stipa tenuissima, Nasella tennuis It is often evergreen in our climate, but looks best if cut back in late February to regrow new foliage each year. The name bamboo comes from the segmented stems, and textural resemblance to bamboo- but it is NOT invasive! It’s bright green color and wispy texture adds contrast to the landscape. When planted in mass the wispy leaves flow like waves in the wind. This fine textured grass grows to 6’ tall and 4’- 5’ wide. A narrow upright form, growing to 4-5’ tall and only 2’ wide, it is ideal for narrow spaces. Just when you thought you’d heard it all! This hybrid progeny of Pink Muhly and Big Muhly combines the best of both parents! It retains the strong vertical form and blue-green leaves of Big Muhly with dramatic arching plumes of soft pink blooms in the fall from its Pink Muhly parent. Pink Flamingo Muhly Muhlenbergia x ‘Pink Flamingo’ Plant with Texas Mountain Laurels and Texas Sage for a “native” look in the landscape. It does well in full sun, and is quite drought-tolerant once established. A clumping blue-green grass, it will also give a nice color contrast in the landscape. Summer blooming Big Muhly grows 3-4’ x 3-4’, and throws up white vertical plumes on a 6’ stalk. Plant with other fall-bloomers such as Mexican Bush Sage and Copper Canyon Daisy for a “new” look to your garden in the fall.īig Muhly (aka Lindheimer’s Muhly) Muhlenbergia lindheimeri (You will still want to cut it back in late February if it does) The wispy seed heads provide a colorful contrast at a time that other plants are finishing up their bloom cycle. When this Muhly grass throws up its purplish-pink plumes in the fall, everyone comments on how striking it is! This sun to semi-shade tolerant grass will grow to 3’ x 3’, and in a mild winter may even remain evergreen. Gulf Coast Muhly (aka Pink Muhly) Muhlenbergia capillaris Wait until late February to cut them back, and you will be able to enjoy them all winter! Be aware of the structural aspect of the grasses in the winter as well, as even when they are dormant, they add interest to the garden. We have a wonderful selection of native ornamental grasses available to us, and not only do they fill a design void, but they are often quite heat and drought tolerant as well. While everyone loves the plants that give us color, we also need to “break up” the landscape to avoid monotony, and give texture to our plantings. A balanced landscape requires many elements, and ornamental grasses are a great choice to fill the need for a structural variation in foliage.
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