SWAY, BOB, AND QUIVER - PART 1

As the growing season comes to a close (and I re-commit to doing this every week), and the gaudy hues and pigments of summer slowly drain from the landscape, texture, form and movement take their rightful places as the predominant focal elements of the garden. It's also around this time of year when the true value of ornamental grasses becomes all too apparent. Unfortunately, like many novice gardeners, it's taken me quite a while to look past all the pretty flowers, and begin to truly appreciate grasses for all they have to offer. However, after recently being asked by a co-worker what grass I might recommend for a partly shaded dry-ish situation I realized just how limited my own knowledge was when it came to this diverse and rather underutilized group of plants. So, just in case your like me and sometimes get a little short-sited in the garden here is a brief summary of grasses that will bring movement and grace to the landscape, beyond the sad, sad clumps of blue fescue you might see peaking through an orange sea of mulch at your local big box store.

Because I am chronically over ambitious I'm making this a two part blog. This week:

GRASSES FOR DRY, WELL DRAINED SOIL IN FULL SUN
Generally any type of grass that does well in these types of situations thrive on neglect. The more you pamper them the worse they do. Give them an overly moist, fertile soil and what should bob and weave just slumps and topples.


Achnatherum calamagrostis, Silver Spike Grass (non-native)
Never seen this plant in person, and probably not that great for places with hot summers, but might be good for coastal areas with poor soil.


Andropogon gerardii, Big Bluestem (native)
Little Bluestem (see below) on steroids. Same cultural requriments, but taller and more robust.


Bouteloua gracilis, Blue Grama Grass (native-ish; middle and western states)
Again, I've never seen this plant in person, but with the recent release of a new cultivar 'Blonde Ambition' it definitely caught my attention. It looks like it could be a good choice for a dry, sunny spot and apparently has good winter interest (holds up to the snow).


Eragrostis spectabilis, Purple Lovegrass (native)
I fell in love with this grass long before my interest in plants became a full blown obsession. Come August the waste places along highways and roads in the Northeast are dusted with a hazy purple mist. Does best where other things won't grow (poor, sandy soil).


Helictotrichon sempervirens, Blue Oat Grass (non-native)
A taller, longer lived (and in my opinion all around better plant) than Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina var. glauca syn. F. glauca)


Leymus arenarius syn. Elymus glaucus, Blue Lyme Grass (non-native)
While this grass does well in dry sunny spots I have seen it growing in partial shade at the base of a medium sized tree. In other words very adaptable, possibly overly so. Spreads vigorously by rhizomes. If you can't contain it, you probably shouldn't use it.


Muhlenbergia capillaris, Hairy-awn Muhly (native)
Pictures of this plant instantly give one a serious case of plant envy. Unfortunately, (while its native range supposedly includes south-eastern Massachusetts) I have yet to spot a thriving specimen of this plant in the Boston area.


Muhlenbergia reverchonii, Seep Muhly or Ruby Muhly (native-ish)
Very similar to the above plant, but apparently, despite having a more southwesterly range, more cold hardy. Again, as with the previous plant I have yet to see a specimen in the Boston area.


Panicum virgatum, Switchgrass (native)
It seems like every new season brings a a handful of new cultivars of this adaptable native grass. Best in lean soils. Rich soils make it flop.


Saccharum ravennae, Ravenna Grass, Plume Grass, Hardy Pampas Grass (non-native)
Big grass (to 12') for tough spots. Have zero familiarity with it, but sounds like it can be pretty invasive in areas with mild winters.


Schizachryrium scoparium, Little Bluestem (native)
This grass holds up great through the winter, and it seedheads literally glow when back-lit. While I really, really like this grass, it needs lots of sun and a lean, quickly draining soil to be at its best. My soils are just too damn clayey.


Sorghastrum nutans, Indiangrass or Yellow Indiangrass (native)
Love everything about this plant. Think of a classier, sexier version of Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster.' Like my other favorite (Little Bluestem) it is at its best with lots of sun, and a poor, and well-drained soil.


Sporobolus heterolepis, Prarie Dropseed (native)
Light, airy, beautiful foliage, and a clumper. Perfect garden plant.



Sporobolus wrightii, Giant Sacaton (native-ish)
Never seen this grass in the Boston area (or at all really), but can be described as a much larger version of the previous plant. The selection common in the trade ('Wind Breaker') was literally bred to be a wind barrier. Drought tolerant. Native to western regions.


Stipa tenuissima syn. Nassella tenuissima, Silky Thread Grass or Mexican Feather Grass (native-ish)
This is another one of those grasses that spawns immediate plant envy, and in all honesty that's the only reason why I'm including it. It's barely hardy here in Boston, and my gut is even if you were able to get it to overwinter it would never really do that well. At least now when you see a picture of it and start drooling you'll know what it is.

Next Week:

DRY-MODERATE MOISTURE, AVERAGE SOILS, FULL-PART SUN
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Calamagrostis brachytricha
Deschampsia cespitosa
Deschampsia flexuosa
Molinia caerulea
Pennisetum orientale
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Miscanthus sinensis
Sesleria autumnalis
Sesleria caerulea

MODERATE-WET, AVERAGE-HEAVE SOILS, PART-FULL SHADE
Andropogon glomeratus
Carex stricta
Diarrhena americana
Hakonechloa macra
Elymus canadensis
Spodiopogon sibiricus
Stipa capillata
Tripsacum dactyloides