Ornamental Grasses
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How to Grow Bambusa –Bamboo
Bambusa–commonly called bamboo–is a group of giant grasses with hard, woody stems that vary greatly in size and markings. Bambusa is cultivated for its often dense linear-lance-shaped leaves on slender branches; branches are borne on upright culms (hollow stems) that can grow from 10 to 50 feet (3-15m) tall. Bambusa grows and expands in a […] More
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How to Grow Ribbon Grass – Phalaris
Phalaris, commonly called ribbon grass–is a tough, bamboo-like ornamental grass with broadly linear and flat pale to mid-green leaves. It is commonly planted as a groundcover or at the side of a pond or stream. Phalaris spreads via rhizomes and can be invasive; there are cultivars that are less invasive than the species. Phalaris forms […] More
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How to Grow Quaking Grass – Briza
Briza–commonly called quaking grass or rattlesnake grass–is a delicate, graceful ornamental grass with linear leaves and loose racemes or panicles of flower spikelets that hang from very fine stalks and as a result quake and flutter in the slightest breeze. The spikelets resemble rattlesnake rattles. Use quaking grasses in mixed plantings, or grow them in rows in […] More
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How to Grow Moor Grass – Molinia
Molinia, commonly called purple moor grass, is a slow-growing perennial grass that is grown for its whispy see-through quality and its yellowish to purplish flowers that rise above leafy clumps in narrow spikelike clusters. Molinia is often used as a cut flower. Molinia has fine-textured, erect, narrow, light green leaves in neat dense clumps to 2 […] More
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How to Grow Feather Grass – Stipa
Stipa – commonly called Feather grass, Needle grass, or Spear grass–is a perennial grass grown for its bright green, narrow, flat leaves and open, airy inflorescences. Stipa imparts feathery lightness and motion in the garden. Stipa’s flowering stems divide and redivide into almost hairlike fineness. They are green at first and then become golden. Use Stipa […] More
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How to Grow Mondograss – Ophiopogon
Ophiopogon – commonly called lilyturf or Mondo grass–is a perennial grown for its dense tufts of grass-like leaves. The leaves can vary from dark green to variegated linear green and white stripes to nearly black. Ophiopogon also bears semi-spherical to bell-shaped pinkish-white lilac, or white flowers on leafless stems in summer. Ophiopogon can be used as a ground […] More
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How to Grow New Zealand Flax – Phormium
Phormium – commonly called New Zealand flax –is a dramatic plant composed of sword-like, stiffly vertical leaves in a fan pattern. Cultivars often range in colors from yellow-green to dark green with white or yellow stripes. Phormium bears tall erect panicles of 1 to 2-inch (5cm) tubular blossoms in dull red or yellow. Flowers appear in late […] More
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How to Grow Fountain Grass – Pennisetum
Pennisetum – commonly called Fountain grass–is a perennial clump-forming grass with arching stems tipped with feathery spike-like flower plumes in summer. Pennisetum is one of the most graceful ornamental grasses. Pennisetum has linear light to mid-green leaves. Leaves turn yellow in autumn and brown in winter. Pennisetum can be grown in perennial or shrub borders, as bank […] More
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How to Grow Switch Grass – Panicum
Panicum – commonly called Switch grass–is a tall prairie grass that forms upright clumps of narrow, deep green or gray leaves topped by slender flower clusters. Some clumps can grow 4 to 7 feet (1.2-2.1m) tall. Clumps open into loose, airy clouds of pink blossoms in late summer; in autumn flowers fade to white, then brown. Panicum […] More
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How to Grow Frost Grass – Spodiopogon
Spodiopogon – commonly called Frost grass or Graybeard grass–is an ornamental grass that somewhat resembles bamboo. It is architectural in form with right-angled leaves emerging from clumps and spirelike airy flower spikes. Spodiopogon takes on a purplish to frosty white tint in late autumn and winter–thus the common name frost grass. The flowers and foliage of Spodiopogon […] More
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How to Grow Eulalia Grass – Miscanthus
Miscanthus – commonly called Eulalia grass, silver grass, or maiden grass–is a large clump-forming grass that bears attractive flower clusters that open as tassels and gradually expand into large plumes atop tall stalks in late summer and fall. Flower plumes are silvery to pinkish or bronze and last well into winter. Miscanthus foliage can be narrow, solid-colored, striped […] More
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How to Grow Japanese Blood Grass – Imperata
Imperata–commonly called Japanese blood grass–is a clumping grass with erect stems 12 to 24 inches (30-61cm) tall; the top half of each stem is rich blood red. Imperata forms loose clumps of flat, linear mid-green leaves in spring. The leaves quickly turn deep-red from the tips almost to the bases. Imperata is striking in mixed […] More
Stephen Albert
