High on Grass Part 1

Small and medium sized Grasses

In this second part of the series of ornamental grasses[a] I will be talking about some of my favorite small to medium sized ornamental grasses I love to use in the field.

Small Grasses

Small in size but definitely big on impact is one of my favorites Festuca ovina var. glauca ( Zone 4-8) or blue fescue. This little guy may make it to about 10 inches high, but I doubt it! Its wonderful grey-blue color in its tight tufted form will provide a nice contrast to other plantings in your yard. Fantastic planted in small groups amongst a rock garden or at the front border of a planting bed, or use along pathways and in drought-tolerant and or Mediterranean-themed gardens. This grass is a native of temperate regions of Europe, but should not be invasive if planted in your yard.

Another grass that has some impressive coloration would be the Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrical ‘Red Baron’ Zone 5-9). This little guy stands around 16 inches high and has impressive coloration with bright red tips that may extend on some blades all the way to the ground creating wonderful contrast within the grass itself. Very effective planted en masse (although be aware it can get invasive if it is quite happy!) or in small clusters to create a dramatic focal point in your garden.

Blood Grass & Blue Fescue creating fun contrast and texture in this yard

A wonderful North American native that is well worth having in your garden would be the Mexican Feather Grass (Stipa tenuissima) (Zone 7-11). This grass is a must to plant in large groups as its impossibly hair-like filament grass blades reach about 2 feet above ground with its wispy, feathery seeds capturing every puff of breeze to creating the impression of ripples moving through a still pond. Gorgeous! Despite its delicate looking nature, this is actually a tough customer and can withstand drought wonderfully (being a native of Mexico, New Mexico, and Arizona). This is another grass that can be a little too happy in some yards and can easily get invasive if allowed to. Not always a bad thing though, as it is a fantastic solution for erosion control on sunny dry slopes!

Small, clean, and fun with its playful, relatively large, feathery seed heads dancing above its clean 10-inch long grass blades Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’ (Zone 6-9) is too cute to pass up for your yard. Effective if planted by itself, but even better with a few in a group. Or plant this Aussie native in containers as it has year round beauty being an evergreen within its climate zone.

Mid Size Grasses

Now we are getting into some true foundation type grasses that can make a dramatic statement. My all time favorite ornamental grass would have to be Stipa arundinacea or New Zealand Wind Grass (Zone 8-15). This grass has perfectly formed upright, bright chanteuse green, grass clumps that reaches about 18” high above ground. By midsummer the feathery, bronzy tinted, feather seed panicles float majestically above the grass to create a surreal effect…especially when a breeze is moving though a stand of these New Zealand natives. These seed heads are great to be added to fall cut flower arrangements for a festive, fun look. This grass gets about 3’ high with seed panicles in full bloom.

Another favorite of mine, but was sometimes a tough sell to my clients, is the Carex flagellifera or Bronze Sedge (Zone 7-9). I suspect my clients’ main issue with this plant is that its natural color is an earthy brown…but don’t knock it until you try it! Its wonderful wire-like grass blades sets such an impressive foundation that all your other plant choices will stand out and look just that much more dramatic when they are all tied together. We love it for its drought tolerance and year round appeal being an evergreen (or ever-brown in this case). It can reseed itself but I haven’t seen it ever get to an invasive status.

Check out this transformation mainly using grasses and sedges for low maintenance and year round color and texture for this circular driveway

I will next be talking about some wonderful large grasses that are some favorites of mine. But before we leave the topic of the smaller ornamental grasses…I would love to hear from you about your favorite smaller grasses and how you use them in your landscape?

High on Grass Part 1

Gazing out over the tapestry of a Yosemite meadow a couple years back, I had an epiphany which gave me even more confidence as a landscape designer. It occurred to me that one of the biggest foundations of flora in nature is the amazing array of grasses! From the delicate tufts of grass, adding texture to that high mountain meadow to the grassy native sedges holding our coastal sand dunes in place, almost every major biome (anywhere in the world!) prominently features grasses in their many forms.

As a designer I was always attempting to tie into nature and it was my genuine attempts to replicate nature that created the best designs.  Yet in the industry, where the client’s priorities come first, my designs were mostly determined by the opinions of the clients and what appealed most to them, not necessarily what looked most natural.

Once in a while, I would meet with some resistance from clients when including grasses in a landscape design. Often, they assume grasses will just look dead in the winter, or not provide the same visual impact of a blooming plant. The truth is, most people would be amazed by the variety of color, texture, size, shapes, and all season interest available in the grass community. Some varieties produce long lasting, blooms that are almost surreal with their uniqueness and unbelievable beauty. Actually, if grasses are missing from your garden or landscape, you are missing a basic component that makes up the best of nature’s planting plans. Nothing really softens and transitions between plant groups like the movement and flow of grass, especially if planted in groups that create soft drifts of earthy colors and flicker with movement in every breeze.

In my next posting I will begin going over some favorite grasses used in landscaping and gardens. How about you and your space? Have you been a long time fan of ornamental grasses? Have you always wanted some in your garden, but are not sure how they would look or work?

New variety alert!  Check out ‘Blonde Ambition’ a fantastic new cultivar of the native prairie grass Bouteloua gracillis .

San Francisco Flower and Garden Show 2011

I had the pleasure last Friday of attending the San Francisco Flower and Garden show to check out what was hot and new in the industry! It is always a wonderful show to attend, and reveals to us designer types and homeowners alike what the trends and new ideas that are going on out there! And it became very evident early on that the trends this year centered around two main concepts. Vertical (and small) space gardening and the use of succulents for all types of purposes, including spectacular vertical gardening concepts! I really enjoyed the offerings of many water feature concepts by the landscapers as well… a lot of these were  traditional, but quite varied, innovative, most of them quite spectacular! A lot of the displays featured succulents and living walls and vertical planting concepts that were quite impressive.  So although the two story $100,000 displays of the  San Francisco flower and garden shows may be a thing of the past, the participating landscapers more than rose to the occasion to showcase their talents and unique and innovative ideas in action.  Have a look at my favorite displays below!

Lots of water themed concepts like this nature inspired waterfall. The unique twist on this design is the aquarium seat wall containing the lower pond...check it out below.

Pondless recycling fountain would be a great focal point for a yard and low maintenance to boot!

Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' or Coral Bark Japanese Maple letting us know why its a showoff year round...leaves or not!

This one made me smile!

Space saving ideas for growing your herbs, and what a way to dress up a fenceline!

Looks like a scene from the movie '2001 Space Odyssey'. Very fun display!

Vertical succulent wall. Would love to fit this into my yard somehow!

Recycled themed Southwest garden.

Love the garden within a garden concept! I could hang out in this outdoor space, no problem... I still can't believe they left this wine for me!

Love the wild and diverse planting plan with the very formal and unique sculptures and hardscapes.

This would make a great seating wall / water feature concept.

Ok...got my glass of wine. My turn buddy!

All living shed with walls of succulents and a green roof! My favorite display!

Love the dual use of the wall!

Bonsai display!

When in the vendor building I couldn’t help but notice that the vast majority of nurseries were definitely emphasizing succulents like I have never seen before! Over the last couple of years you could see this trend forming. Especially working here in San Francisco where the maritime climate really lends itself to the living wall concept, where these sometimes delicate plants are safe from torching hot summer days and frosty winter mornings that can wreak havoc in nearby locations like wine country in Sonoma and Napa.

Lots of nurseries and everyone had succulents!

Very cool with the succulent wreaths...tender plants, so hang this on the inside at Christmas time.

ooooo...what's over here?!? wow...no way! succulents!

Succulents on the wall, in the rock garden, and hanging versions as well...I wonder if any will grow on my bathroom ceiling, so my long (and not so green) and hot showers could give them an ample misting every morning and most nights!

A rainbow of stout tomato cages!

Yay Annies! I knew there had to be something besides succulents this year!

I could get lost in this forest any day!

hmmm.... Think I'll take a dozen.......NOT!

For more highlights from the San Francisco Flower and Garden show check out this little two minute video brought to you from awesome garden blogger Theresa Loe!  http://bit.ly/f6RwvH