---------------------------------
Access over 1 million songs - Yahoo! Music Unlimited Try it today.
But saddly, these plants are some of the most difficult to control
and remove if they get established. Several of the "ornamental"
grasses are considered invasive weeds in many areas.=20
Where I live (SoCal) there are native grasses which look just as
nice, some better. And they belong here, and do not require the care
or removal if they just start growing. Introduced grasses are a
major problem in many enviroments.=20
Miscanthis is really bad in that some varieties make seed without
pollination. Very invasive!=20
SO, plaease think about what goes on outside your garden when you
plant things in it.=20
tahnks bahB.=20=20=20=20
--- In gardenmessenger@yahoogroups.com, stevie pittsley
> =20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
> Purple fountain grass (background) and dwarf fountain grass
add texture, color, and graceful movement to the landscape.
> Ornamental Grasses Add Graceful Texture Landscaping is an
art. Our canvas is the property, our paints the many plants that we
spread across the scene. Beautiful landscapes include a variety of
colors. They also feature various textures -- broad foliage
contrasts with fine-textured foliage to add interest to the picture
we are creating.
> =20
> Ornamental grasses provide fine, linear textures to the scene.
Additionally they add a graceful movement in the breeze. Many offer
attractive seed heads, and many provide unique winter interest. They
are becoming quite popular in our landscapes. If you haven't
utilized these versatile plants much in your landscape, now is a
great time to add a few.
> =20
> Some favorites for landscapes include: pennisetums, muhlys, and
several types of miscanthus.
> =20
> Pennisetums
> Pennisetums are often referred to as fountain grasses. Some
excellent choices include the low-growing dwarf fountain grass
(Pennisetum alopecuroides). White bloom heads adorn the 2- to 3-foot
mounds of foliage like fuzzy foxtails. The variety 'Moudry' has
black-tipped bloom heads. The dwarf variety 'Little Bunny' stays
under a foot in height.
> =20
> The taller purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum')
really stands out as the 4-foot-tall upright, purple plants are
topped with lighter purplish bloom heads that arch over gracefully
pointing in the direction of the wind. For an annual treat, include
ornamental millet. The new All America selection 'Purple Majesty'
sports broad, strappy, dark purple foliage and bloom heads that
point straight upward.
> =20
> Muhlys
> There are many nice species of muhlys, and two unique choices
for the lower south are Gulf muhly and bamboo muhly. Gulf Muhly
(Muhlenbergia capillaris) forms rather inconspicuous 1-foot-tall
plants that take center stage in late summer through fall with 3-
foot-tall wispy bloom heads that appear dark purplish from the sunny
side and really light up with a bright pinkish ruby color when
backlight.
> =20
> Bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa) stands tall with large fine-
textured bloom heads that reach to 6 feet or more in height, turning
the entire plant into a soft, wispy, light green, arching mound. In
winter the stalks turn straw colored, and when frost settles on the
heads, they light up in the early morning sun.
> =20
> Miscanthus
> Miscanthus sinensis is perhaps the favorite of all ornamental
grasses. Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus') forms 5-
foot-tall mounds of long, narrow foliage. In late summer to fall,
copper-colored bloom heads appear above the foliage to provide
beauty and graceful movement with the slightest breeze. If left in
winter, the foliage and seed heads are especially interesting on a
frosty morning.
> =20
> Many other forms of miscanthus offer quite a variety of
ornamental interest. Zebra grass (M. sinensis 'Zebrinus') and
porcupine grass (M. sinensis 'Strictus') have broad yellowish bands
across the long, narrow foliage. Silver grass (M.
sinensis 'Variegatus') is very bright, with stripes of white and
green running lengthwise down the arching blades. For tighter
spaces, M. sinensis 'Little Kitten' forms a mound of foliage a
little over a foot high with seed heads rising above the foliage. M.
sinensis 'Adagio' is a little larger, forming a 2- to 3-foot mound
of foliage.
> =20
> Other great grasses include inland sea oats (Chasmanthium
latifolium) and Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima). Inland sea
oats is one of the most shade-tolerant ornamental grasses. Its seed
heads look like oats, bending the stalks over in a beautiful arching
form. These stalks make nice additions to dried arrangements.
Mexican feather grass forms tight clumps of wiry foliage that arches
out in all directions to form an 18-inch mound. The bloom heads
appear among the foliage, adding a wispy, feathery appearance. It's
great as a specimen plant in a container or for lining a bed border.
> =20
> These are just a few of the many wonderful ornamental grasses
that can add perennial beauty to the landscape. Consider adding some
to your yard. Remember that most like full- to half-day sun. Trim
the clumps down to about 6 to 12 inches high (depending on the
species) in late winter prior to the onset of new growth. When
possible, locate them where you'll see the sun coming through the
foliage and bloom heads for added pizzazz. !!!!
I would like to add my confirmation of what BahB wrote about=20
ornamental grasses. They are lovely, but in some places are very=20
invasive. I agree you should check out native grasses to see if there=20
are any you can use. Also, do your research on any non-native=20
ornamentals you may want to use and see what is said about seeding=20
out. It's so much easier to not introduce a species than to eradicate=20
it.
Cindy Meredith
The Herb Cottage
http://theherbcottage.com
Lavaca County, TX
between Schulenburg and Hallettsville
Garden Zone 8b
Heat Zone 9, 120-150 days above 86=B0 F.
Here in Australia our native grasses are being used more and more in
gardens and public spaces as well as along freeways. They are really
beautiful. As they are native the risk of them becomeing pests is
lessened. One of the best reasons to plant them is the saving of
water,this has become a huge gardening problem here in Australia. We
are in one of the worst droughts since white settlement.
Liz (Vict. Aust.) --- In
gardenmessenger@yahoogroups.com, "Do I Even Know?"
wrote:
This is very true. In fact here in Nevada some are illegal to plant such as
green fountain grass, which spreads many seeds.
Patti
www.luvmygarden.com
Sunset zone - 2
Heat Zone - 9
USDA zone - 8b
