Ornamental grasses contrast flowers and maximize the appeal of borders.
However, they were considered “fashionable”. As a result, many of us missed them.
Until now, they have not been part of the traditional herbaceous border.
But now we are increasingly recognizing that ornamental grasses add light, texture and movement to borders.
They have transcended the boundaries of “fashion” and have now become an eternal staple of borders. And it’s very easy to clean.
We visited Paul Seaborn of Pelham Plants, who is passionate about grass, to learn how to select and use grass.
Pelham Plants is located in Sussex and has NGS open days in its adjacent gardens. Paul also sells plants through the Plant Fair Roadshow.
Here are seven great ornamental grasses and how to get the most out of them in your garden.
best ornamental grasses for your garden
Golden Oat Grass/Stypa Gigantea – A stunning statement grass that requires minimal care Feather Reed Grass/Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ – A grass garden designers like for structure Chinese Miscanthus/Stypa Gigantea – Single As a statement or create a grass ‘hedge’ Transparent Moorgrass/Molinia ‘Transparent’ – Adds ‘barely’ movement and magic to borders Fountain Grass/Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’ – Beautiful bottle brush There is an abundance of thick penisetum grass with flowers. Pheasant tail grass/Annemantail lessonniana – an autumn favorite perfect for resilient dry gardens or partial shade Japanese woodland grass/Hakonechloa macra – Adds light and structure to the shade Add. It goes well with the pot.
Golden oatgrass/Stipa gigantea
Cold resistance: -23 °C/-10 °C
Paul grows golden oat grass (Stipa gigantea) ‘Gold Fontaine’ in his cottage garden. “Just because it’s tall grass doesn’t mean it has to be deep within the border,” he says.
Place it in front or in a corner. Its tall, feather-like stems are almost transparent. He especially likes to place it in areas that are backlit by the sunrise or sunset.
Although it looks weak, its thin stems are said to be very strong and resilient. The seed heads are emptied soon after flowering but remain on the plant, allowing you to get the most out of your ornamental grass all winter long. Some stems may fall over, but otherwise cut them to the ground in the spring.
Paul uses a hedge trimmer, so the job only takes a few minutes. This is the only care your golden oatgrass needs all year round!
Golden oatgrass (Stipa gigantea) ‘Golde Fontaene’ in Paul Seaborn’s garden. It’s almost transparent, so you can see other plants and houses through it.
Feather reed grass/Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’
Cold resistance: -40°C/-40°F. Height 1.5m – 1.8m
Calamagrostis ‘Karl Förster’ is a favorite of garden designers around the world. It is very straight and upright, producing columns of golden yellow grass from summer to winter.
I’ve seen it used as a “hedge”, where it gives the impression of a line of soldiers on parade.
Paul once planted a column of evergreen shrubs in one of his borders. However, he felt they dominated the boundaries, so he removed them and instead used Karamagrostis’s “Karl Förster” as a punctuation mark.
This is also a tall grass, but its narrower width makes it suitable for the middle or back of the border.
Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis) ‘Karl Foerster’ has a very upright, sculptural character with straight golden stems. Suitable for “punctuation”. The photo above shows a garden designed by Michael McCoy. Read his tips on naturalistic planting design. How to design correctly.
Japanese pampas grass/Pampas grass ‘Yakushima Dwarf’
Cold Tolerance: There are many varieties of pampas grass, each with different cold tolerance. “Yakushima Dwarf”, resistant to -28 degrees/-20 degrees
Miscanthus and pampas grass come in a variety of sizes and varieties. Height varies from 60cm/2ft to 1.8m/6ft.
Paul’s “Yakushima Dwarf” is about waist high and is used as a hedge.
Ornamental grasses are good hedges because they filter wind, but they also don’t take too much water or nutrients from the soil.
The only drawback is that pampas grass does not bloom all year round. It must be cut down to the ground once a year in the spring. However, they grow quickly and provide movement and structure from late summer into winter.
Miscanthus also makes excellent punctuation marks, depending on the height, in the corners, in the middle, in the front or back of the border.
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Miscanthus sinensis shines in the pole border, adding light and movement. It also acts as a “hedge” to filter wind and protect perennials on the other side of the border.
Transparent Moorish Glass/Molinia “Transparent”
Cold resistance: -28 °C/-20 °C. Height 1.5m~2.5m
It is a very transparent grass. Although it is very high and airy, it is recommended to place the pole in front of the border or in the corner, as there is nothing blocking it.
Add texture and movement to your garden as all the flowers show through.
This grass looks good from summer until the first frost. The stem then falls over. “And you clean it all up,” says Paul.
The following spring, Molinia “Transparent” will grow again. Therefore, it is virtually maintenance-free, other than removing dead stems once a year.
Molinia ‘Transparent’ adds movement and texture to a corner of Paul’s garden. You can see the whole color through. Another easy-care ornamental grass, all of which are relatively low-maintenance.
Fountain grass/Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’
Cold Tolerance: There are many varieties of Pennisetum, which vary in cold tolerance. “Black Beauty” drops to -28/-20 degrees. Height 80cm~1.5m
There are many varieties of Pennisetum, but ‘Black Beauty’ is one of Paul’s favorites. “It’s a clump of grass, so it needs to be on the front edge or dominate that position. Plant softer plants around it.”
This requires “adequate light and deep enough soil.” It can be a pretty thirsty plant. ” Many ornamental grasses are suitable for “dry gardens” or gravel gardens, but this one is different.
Cut down to the ground once a year in the spring.
Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’ is a fairly thick grass with characteristic blackish feathers. Perfect for the front of a border or as a statement plant.
Pheasant tail grass/Anemanthelelessiana
Can withstand -6℃/21F. Height 90cm/3ft
Another garden designer favorite. Unlike many grasses, it does well in partial shade, but also prefers full sun. The autumn colors are lovely.
This is considered a partially evergreen tree, so don’t cut it down to the ground. Comb dead leaves with gloved hands.
It gracefully arches toward the ground, making it a good choice for the front of a raised border.
Pheasant tail grass (Anemanthelelessiana) in my own border adds light to a group of purple asters.
Yabushiba/Hakonekloa Makura
It can withstand -28 degrees/-20 degrees. Height: 30cm to 50cm
This short grass is popular for light shade, but don’t crowd the border too closely when it’s first planted. It is quite drought tolerant, but requires watering during the first year.
Paul grows it under dogwoods and beside hedges, alongside hardy geraniums, so it’s a useful ground cover plant.
Like most grasses, it also does well in pots and containers. (Tall plants are vulnerable to wind when grown in pots.)
Two types of Japanese forest grass (Hakonekloa macra) at Pelham Plant Nursery, both in pots.
See more of Paul’s garden in video
Paul and his partners created the garden during the development of Pelham Plant Nursery, so most of the plants in the garden can be purchased from the nursery. Growing plants in the garden also gives Paul good insight into what plants need and how to get the most out of it. You can see the garden in this video.
See plants suitable for spring planting, selected by Paul and other independent nursery producers, at Plant Fair Roadshow. Here we have selected plants suitable for planting in autumn.
Paul’s tips for creating a microclimate in your garden are especially helpful.
Should ornamental grasses be cut back every year?
First, find out whether your ornamental grass is evergreen or deciduous.
Ornamental deciduous plants usually change color in the fall, and then produce dry, sculptural seed heads and stems throughout the winter. These grasses must be cut to the ground every spring.
Check the care instructions for your variety. If you mow soft grass too early, you may risk frost on your plants. But other than that it’s easy!
If an ornamental grass is evergreen, its leaves remain green or primarily green all year round. Parts of the leaves discolor and die, creating a stipple effect.
Most evergreen grasses should not be cut all the way to the ground. Rake dead leaves or “comb” the grass with gloved hands.
This can be done in the spring or any time you think there is too much dead matter on the grass.
Pin to remember the best ornamental grasses
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