Gratifying grasses

In all my container and garden designs I consider foliage first. Flowers can be fickle, and when the foliage looks great and entertaining to the eye, then flowers are a bonus. Whether it’s bold leaves, glittering spillage or fine textured foliage, each plays an important part in the complete design. Grasses and grass-like plants offer graceful stature or cascading sweeps, bringing an exciting element to garden design.

Perennial favorites
Cyperus albostriatus ‘Variegatus’ is a dwarf, variegated semi-aquatic plant that matures to about 18 inches and requires shade.
Perennial grasses have been generally grown in nursery operations from divisions. This has kept the cost of production up because of recovery times and labor costs. In the last couple of years, breeders have developed several varieties of perennial grasses that are as easy to grow from seed as many of their annual counterparts.
The benefit of growing seed varieties is primarily that the production cost is lower, so the selling price is lower too, giving you no excuse not to try them and putting more of them in your product mix.

I have had good success with eragrostis, nassella, fescue and the newer carex varieties. When grown from seed, these grasses and sedges generally grow faster than their vegetatively propagated relatives, they tend to have a fuller habit, and produce soft fine immature foliage that is pleasing to touch.

Eragrostis
Eragrostis is a tender perennial in the north, but hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6b or 7 in the southern states. E. elliottii ‘Wind Dancer’ is a great cascading grass planted alone in containers.

Eragrostis elliottii ‘Wind Dancer’ is a more formal looking grass that can be easily grown from seed or divisions, and gets 2-3 feet wide and rarely more than 2 feet tall.
Nassella
Nassella tenuissima (Mexican feather grass), also known as stipa, is a perennial grass that is used when a soft texture is needed, especially in drier growing conditions. It is a perfect choice for rock gardens, succulent combinations and xeric designs. Mexican feather grass is a semi-upright plant that grows about 1 foot tall and just as wide. It boasts lovely sandy-gold foliage that is so light and delicate that it reacts to the slightest breeze.

Festuca
When dealing with shade to partial shade conditions, fescues are excellent partners for containers with their soft, fine foliage that drapes, mounds and softens the edges of other plant groupings.

Festuca glauca (sheep’s fescue) is easily grown from seed, with its selected relatives more likely grown from divisions. All plants in this group are similarly beautiful, touchable grasses. They can be planted at the base and edge of containers.

Carex
Carex hachijoensis ‘Evergold’ is one of the most popular sedges with its predominantly evergreen striped leaves of green and gold or creamy white. This sedge is great for brightening up dark areas.
The carex family is a group of sedges that can be very showy even with their small stature. They prefer more moisture than other grasses, especially when planted in sunny locations. Most of these are semi-evergreen and although most are small with foliage under 1 foot long, they cascade gracefully out of pots, providing much-needed spillage. Often when planted in the ground, the members of this family will simply mound, creating a nice, full border or large clump. They are wonderful for softening areas in a rock garden or mingling with other perennial plants, providing texture. When put into containers their foliage continues to grow cascading to 24 inches or longer.

I frequently use Carex hachijoensis ‘Evergold’ to cascade out of mixed containers of lysmachia, ligularia, hosta and heuchera. Many times I combine it with slower-growing conifers and evergreens like Buxus sempervivens ‘Variegata’ (variegated boxwood).

The colorful mounds of C. testacea (orange hair sedge, prairie fire) prefer moist sunny conditions. C. testacea can be grown from divisions or seed and is hardy to Zone 6b. This sedge is one of the larger members of this family. It certainly looks great in a sunny perennial garden, but I love to mix it in containers with brightly colored annuals and tropical plants where it is perfect for separating large, bold and colorful foliage.

There are several new carex varieties due primarily to the work of breeders and major seed producers that recently found a way to propagate large volumes of true-to-name varieties that previously were propagated from divisions.

The vegetatively propagated C. albula ‘Frosty Curls’ has a seed produced counterpart named ‘Amazon Mist.’ C. comans ‘Bronze Form’ has a seed relative known as C. flagellifera ‘Bronzita.’ Production of these newer introductions ranges from12-16 weeks, but their holding capacity in the final growing container extends far beyond that, making this group an excellent choice for retail production. The seed varieties consistently have soft immature foliage, more uniform growth and finish quicker than the plants produced from divisions.

Liriope muscari ‘Peedee Ingot’ livens up containers or borders in the garden. The plants, which have bold golden foliage, produce complementary purple flowers in summer.
Other considerations
Other grasses and grass-like plants to consider for dramatic linear lines or soft textural components are the family of Juncus, Papyrus, Equisetums and Liriope. All have wonderful attributes that can be used for countless creative combinations.

There are many forms of papyrus or true cyperus. Some are short, others tall and several in-between. These plants tolerate soggy, bog conditions, but grow equally well in containers with a variety of plants. They can grow in a pot without a drain-hole or they can be at home with annual and perennial mixes. Most can tolerate full sun, but grow in shady locations, too. This is truly an untapped source for form and drama in the garden.

Rita Randolph is owner, Randolph’s Greenhouses, (731) 422-2768; www.randolphsgreenhouses.com.