From The Contra Costa Times
August 2005
Blades of glory
By TIMES CORRESPONDENT M.M. Acosta
LAWNS ARE Mother Nature's very own shag rug. But grasses in the garden have many more uses than hiding bees for the unwary barefoot frolicker. (Note to readers: No matter what your spouse says, there is no medical basis for the theory that you should "walk off a bee sting.") Home gardeners are learning what commercial landscapers have known for some time: Grasses offer a graceful, low-maintenance way to add interest to your garden.
"Ornamental grass" is a fairly loose term that covers any number of plants with tall stems, many of which form blooms and seed heads in plumes or pendants. They are valuable not only because they offer a range of color, texture and shape, but also motion and sound. Some California natives, such as Berkeley Sedge (Carex tumulicola), are terrifically tough, dry garden plants. Other grasses, like the dramatic Black Mondo (O. planiscapus), thrive happily in bog gardens.
The most used in terms of commercial landscapes is probably Silver Grass (Miscanthus), according to Coey Morris of Magic Gardens in Berkeley. "It gets 6 feet tall, it doesn't spread and you can cut it down every year," he says. "En masse, it's a clean-looking, drought-resistant shrub." There are taller and shorter varieties of this plant in a range of colors, but all have narrow, ribbonlike leaves that rustle and move elegantly in the slightest breeze.
In our natural-drought climate, grasses are especially valuable because there are types that require very little water. Morris suggests Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca), a slate-colored rigid grass, for the dry garden. "It only gets about a foot tall," he says. "You never really have to divide it. It has a beautiful texture, especially with rocks and other drought-resistant plants."
A hedge of massed grasses can serve as a dramatic statement by itself or as a backdrop for more ornamental plants and flowers. "Texture and simplicity are what enhance certain colors," Morris says. Orange Sedge (Carex testacea), with great, orangey autumn color, has a wonderful round shape and is useful as both a garden and a container plant. Morris suggests planting Orange Sedge in a cobalt blue pot for striking color.
Another highly popular ornamental grass is Fountain Grass (Pennisetum), which has an incredible display of fuzzy foxtail-type flowers on slender stems. Fountain Grass can be invasive, but one of the very best varieties, Rubrum, is a rich, deep burgundy that doesn't readily reseed. While this plant may not last out the winter, depending upon your microclimate, Morris says, "You just can't beat the color."
One of the most graceful of grasses is Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima), a delicate froth of needle-thin leaves that wave in the slightest breeze. This plant begins inauspiciously as a simple green grass and evolves into a silvery beauty as the weather warms. This variety will reseed if it is watered regularly, but you can easily pick out the seedlings if you don't want them.
Gardeners should be careful not to plant invasive varieties, and responsible nurseries are no longer carrying plants that spread rapaciously. If you like the feathered spires of Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana), you can consider buying some of the new dwarf varieties with sterile seeds. The California Invasive Plant Council suggests planting Cape Thatching Reed (Chondropetalum tectorum) instead. Cape Thatching Reed offers a bonus of attractive flowers that look swank in an arrangement.
Morris' favorite? Dierama or Fairy Wand. "It has big, lovely 5- or 6-foot flower stems with pink bells on them," he says of the striking plant.
My favorite? I'm edging toward Fiber Optic Grass (Isolepis cernua) because, heck, the name is just so great.
Tips on ornamental grasses
Good for a gloomy dank spot: The white-edged leaves of Variegated Molina or Moor Grass brighten up shady, damp spaces.
More is better: When your grass has grown into a dense clump, simply dig up and divide with a spade or the edge of a shovel.
Terrific for dried or fresh flower arrangements: Reed Grass (Calamgrostis) has feather plumes that go from purplish green to gold to cream. Use them fresh, or let them dry out for winter arrangements.
For the dry climate: Ask at your nursery for native plants, which are best suited for poor, dry soil and a low-maintenance garden. You can also contact the East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society for general information and to find out about plant sales at www.ebcnps.org or 510-464-4977.
Check before you buy: The California Invasive Plant Council offers a free brochure called "Don't Plant a Pest!" You can order this brochure by calling 510-843-3902 or download it from the Web site, www.caleppc.org.
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