Annual Plant Sale

The Friends Plant Sale

GRASSES: DON'T PASS US BY

When you walk past the Grasses section outside the tent at this year’s plant sale, stop and take a closer look. Perennial ornamental grasses offer the chance to add strong vertical accents, structure and another textural dimension to help make your garden more interesting. They bring movement and birds.

Unlike shrubs, most varieties grow to their designated height in one year. So they offer greater horizontal control. The grasses we ordered max out at four feet or less.
Many bring broad seasonal interest to your yard with interesting fall color displays and plumage, as well as a strong presence in the winter. They are pretty much maintenance free and just need a trimming in March. Grasses also work well in containers. A planter often needs nothing more to make a strong statement. Don’t forget that they are deer resistant!

Avoid planting them in areas that are over fertilized, over irrigated, or with too much compost or they will get floppy. Generally they like well drained soils in a sunny location that gets about 4-5 hours of direct sun a day. However, we have ordered several varieties that will tolerate shade for the “mature” garden, including: Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) ‘Karl Foerster’ & ‘Overdam’; Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) ‘Elijah Blue’and Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra) ‘All Gold’ & ‘Aureola’

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ was 2001 Perennial of the Year. Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ has a blue gray blade and is great in mixed borders with purple or blue flowers. Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ and ‘All Gold’ add motion and brightness under the stillness and shade of a small tree. I like the unusual red coloration of Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’ for borders, rock gardens, or containers as a colorful accent.  

Annual grasses (in our zone) that will be available at the sale include New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) varieties ‘Bronze Baby’, ‘Platts Back’ and ‘Yellow Wave’.

-- Karin & Marla
Plant Sale Chairs