Six fabulous decorative grasses for the garden...plus one that isn't a grass!

This week on the Horti-Culturalists we take a look at some of the wonderful decorative grasses Stephen has used in his garden, plus look at two he saw on a recent trip to New Zealand that sparked some grass lust! Important to remember grass species can become weedy if your environment is very similar to the native environment of the grass so Stephen chooses grasses that all need more moisture than is naturally available in his area, or that are not that hardy; this prevents seedlings ever getting a foot hold. Also sterile hybrids are obviously great in this regard too. But ultimately seek advice in your area - there will be grasses that can work for you that won't become weedy!
The plants we cover in this video are:
Miscanthus x giganteus
Anemanthele lessoniana (Stipa arundinacea)
Cortaderia toetoe - the New Zealand pampas grass
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' - black mondo grass - which isn't a grass!
Setaria palmifolia - palmgrass
Chionochloa flavicans
And if you want to see our Miscanthus giganteus 'Duluxii' video you can here: • Miscanthus giganteus '...

[@SuerteDelMolinoFarm]

Greetings from the LooseNatural farm in Andalusia Spain where we currently live through a drought and we have several "grasses" that actually survive well. Thank you for sharing

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@jo-annpotter9389]

Before I retired I was Product Consultant at government liquor stores. We sold a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand called Toi Toi. The picture on the label showed the flowing seed heads. Thanks for the memory!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thank for watching!

[@wendywhitham5357]

Love your attitude to grasses. Added to all that you said, it also puzzles me that people who plant their gardens out with them wonder why bees are in trouble!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@sonayozden4814]

Miscanthus giganteus satın aldım. Sizin yaptığınız gibi dalları boyayacağım. Snow tussock almaya karar verdim. Çok güzel. Çok teşekkürler.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

İzlediğiniz için teşekkürler!

[@asupremum1246]

I only have two types of grass in my South Florida USA subtropical garden. One is giant peppermint stick grass ( has white variegation). The other is Black napier grass. I would love a red one but might go with a grassy leafed cordyline as I haven't found any other grass that i love.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching! They both sound brilliant though.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Palm grass (Setaria palmifolia) seems to be growing happily outside in the southern UK and is overwintering ok

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Interesting! Thanks for watching!

[@dewdan11dnd46]

💞🎄✨Thanks for sharing. I’m enjoying the forms and varieties of the grasses and non grasses. I particularly like the Snowy tussock/Chionochloa Flavicans, hopefully I’ve not butchered the spelling! 💚

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@bethellingworth7814]

Love your programmes. Please leave the names on for longer, as I can’t write them down that quickly.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Hi there - all the names of every plant we feature in each video are in the text underneath each video. Scroll down and you'll see the list.

[@bethellingworth7814]

@@thehorti-culturalists thank you

[@SleepyKittens]

My 3-4 favs in my garden is the Japan blood grass Red Baron, Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition,' and blue fescue 'Boulder Blue,' Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' ['Aureola' is better but it was a sale]. I didn't know it was so hard to get another plant of variegated giant reed (Arundo donax variegata) or else I would have taken a bit to overwinter. Maybe I will finally be lucky this spring.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@MDA-rs4uf]

As if you need another grass but I want to send you Muhlenbergia Dumosa. I had a hard time finding it but when I finally did, I got enough to share. I didn't ask but you may already have it. It is native to Texas and Mexico I think .

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Don't send as they are ready to lock up anyone caught importing grasses into Australia! Regards Stephen

[@MDA-rs4uf]

I knew it wasn't realistic but I think you would like it. if you have not seen it before you must try to see it. There is one at the Atlanta botanical garden which i gave them more. I also gave one to the Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. This is the first winter trying it so I hope it will survive our winter.

[@markstevenson9080]

I always enjoy your programs! What was the name of the billowy plant to the right of the Karl Forrester grass? Thank you!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

The plant in question is Bronze Fennel. Regards Stephen.

[@markstevenson9080]

@@thehorti-culturalists thank you!

[@besottedorchids3605]

Do you ever cut the painted stems? I'm wondering how long they last. And what color to paint my future ones 🤪

[@thehorti-culturalists]

They usually let for at least a year and I give them all a little tug to see if they are solid before I paint any old stems again. Regards Stephen.

[@SleepyKittens]

Speaking of overuse - Karl Forrester has been overused everywhere in my central US, and I think you didn't do it justice since the main reason for the popularity is the uprightness with the seedhead that look like wheat. I do know that it is only 4/5 hardy despite claiming to be usda zone 4, as I have lost a set, possibly from cold, wetness, and/or grubs . I do note that the row in front of my work has a bit of spottiness, and I wonder if that is due to sidewalk salt.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Karl Foerster I agree is overused in the US however it is rarely seen in landscapes here and you are right about the winter effect but Matthew is too impatient to wait! Regards Stephen

[@julieburness8719]

I love your Duluxii a quick question would you cut back a Lomandra or just tidy up as suggested with evergreen grasses?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I would treat Lomandra in the same way only cutting out the dead foliage. It takes longer but is worth the effort. Finesse is all! Regards Stephen

[@laurelscott4466]

Stephen, I grow miscanthus for mulch and finally it’s tall enough to harvest after 3 years. What is the best time to cut it and not set it back? Thank you

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thank you - we'll add your question to our Monday #shorts!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Here you are! kzbin.infoOpnnV0bjL-8

[@edanaestenes9656]

No zone hardiness info. I am in zone 6a.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Hi there - we don't have hardiness zones in Australia.