THE HAIR OF 



CMother Earth 



by FRED DABNEY 



Maiden Grass {Miscanthus) 

 Photograph by Fred Dabney 



In today's fast-paced existence, change is the 

 operative word. This is as true in landscaping as in 

 computers Today's consumers want new and different 

 ideas: low maintenance landscapes, seasonal color, new 

 and unusual plant varieties, etc. Ornamental grasses fill 

 all these demands 



Grasses have been called "the hair of Mother Earth." 

 Grass exists on every continent. There is not a growing 

 condition where a variety of grass does not appear: from 

 mountain peaks to salt water marshes; from tropical 

 jungles to arid deserts. With New England somewhere in 

 the middle, there are plenty of hardy ornamental variet- 

 ies suitable even for the most northern landscapes here 



Not only do grasses survive and flourish in varied en- 

 vironments, but they do so in a wide variety of forms 

 and habits. They range from tall growers ten feet high to 

 prostrate forms; from clump growers to vigorous stolonif- 

 erous varieties; there's green, blue, and variegated 

 foliage. In other words, there's something for every 

 landscape. 



For windy, dry areas (including the seashore). Blue 

 Lymegrass {Elymus arenarius) and American Beachgrass 

 {Ammopkila breviligulata) are suitable. Elymus is hardy to 

 zone 2 and Ammophila to zone 4. Both are rhizomatous 

 growers, not suitable for a garden, but ideal for erosion 

 control where water is a problem. Ammophila is not par- 

 ticularly ornamental, but Elymus has bright blue foliage 

 particularly attractive in summer. Elymus is also adapt- 

 able to wet areas. Elymus grows two to three feet tall 

 and Ammophila, one to two. Both prefer full sun. 



While discussing vigorous growers, Ribbongrass 

 (Phalaris arundinaceae 'variegata') and Mannagrass IClyceha 

 maxima 'variegata') deserve some attention. Both are 

 hardy to zone 4: both are distinctively variegated; both 

 are adaptable to wet conditions; and both are invasive 

 Ribbongrass (or Gardener's Garters) has a bright green- 

 and-white vertical variegation. It grows to three feet and 

 can adapt to a wide variety of conditions from the sea- 

 shore to moist areas with partial shade. Mannagrass has 

 a cream/almost yellow-and-green vertical variegation. 

 This is truly a water plant and can grow on water, but 

 will adapt to drier locations as well, growing one to two 

 feet While not rock garden plants, these varieties pro- 

 vide color in areas where it is difficult to do so. 



Moving into clump growers, there are the relatively 

 low-growing blue fescues {Fesluca glauca) and Blue Oat 



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Grass {Helictotrkhon sempervirens). Blue Fescue is a tight 

 clump grower reaching only twelve to fifteen inches in 

 height and is hardy to zone 4. There are numerous culti- 

 vars of much brighter blue foliage than the species. 

 'Elijah's Blue' and 'Silver Lining' are two excellent ex- 

 amples. These plants prefer full sun and well-drained 

 sandy soil, growing lanky and frequently dying out in the 

 center in partial shade and heavy clay soils. Blue Oat 

 Grass tolerates partial shade and reaches two feet, arch- 

 ing as it grows taller. It is adaptable to a wide range of 

 soil conditions and is attractive either in a rock garden 

 as a specimen or in massed plantings It is also hardy to 

 zone 4 



Another attractive small-to-medium-sized clump 

 grower is Moorgrass {Molinia caeruieas) 'Aurea-variegata' is 

 a low (to 18") clump grower with yellow-and-green verti- 

 cally striped foliage. Its attractive purple plumes open in 

 late Iune/|uly and last into the summer. This prefers full 

 sun, but can tolerate partial shade and is useful either 

 in a rock garden or massed. Taller growers such as 

 'Windspiel' and 'Skyracer' have green foliage with tall in- 

 florescences reaching six to seven feet in vase-shaped 

 habits booming in the summer. These are hardy to zone 

 5. 



Although hardy primarily in the southern and coastal 

 areas of New England, Pennisetum (or Fountain Grass) is 

 worth trying. These are clump growers ranging in height 

 from four feet for aloepecuroides to six inches for 'Little 

 Bunny' They bloom in mid summer with masses of pink- 

 to-buff-colored plumes. The annual varieties of Rubrum' 

 and Burgundy Giant' have purple foliage and maroon 

 plumes and although only annual, are colorful and at- 

 tractive additions to the summer landscape. 



A native to North America, Panicum virgatum (or Switch 

 Grass) is a popular companion plant for many summer- 

 blooming perennials. Airy, delicate panicles open in 

 mid-to-late summer and, like many grasses, are effective 

 in dried arrangements. Often used as a background 

 plant. Switch Grass is adaptable to many soil conditions 

 and does well in wet or dry soils. The variety 'Rostrahl- 

 busch' has maroon-tipped foliage and a red fall color. 

 These prefer full sun and are considered hardy to zone 

 5. 



Possibly the most popular of the ornamental grasses 

 are the Miscanthus varieties (sometimes called Maiden 

 Grass, Eulalia Grass, Silver Grass, etc.). The common 



The Plantsman 



