by  BRIAN MINTER
September 1, 2001

Just a few years ago, ornamental grasses were a bit of a novelty on the West Coast. A few plants could be spotted here and there, usually in professionally designed landscapes or in gardens of someone with a real passion for them. It’s still a slow process of encouraging folks to try them. The more these ornamental grasses show up in high profile locations, however, the more people will begin to realize their potential to lift our gardens to the next level of performance and beauty.

I’ll never forget flying into the Boston-Washington International Airport one October day and being treated to a landscape full of grasses. As a matter of fact, grasses were the only plants being used, and the effect was stunning. Their autumn colours were beautiful, and the airport breezes had them swaying in all directions like a ballet of rich fall tones.

The appreciation of ornamental grasses is not something you cultivate overnight. It takes a while to understand the nature of each variety of grass and to see what it looks like during every season of the year. Yes, they have their down times, but this little hiccup is easily overshadowed by their many fine qualities. Most grasses, once established in a site they enjoy, are virtually carefree: a little watering in summer, some protection in winter and an annual pruning. They all have fresh new growth in late spring, attractive flowers in autumn and an interesting look even in winter. Late summer breezes cause their leaves and stems to sway, aliing not only life and movement to your garden but also the sound of rustling foliage – it’s like listening to nature’s great music! Many grasses, such as miscanthus which really plumes up in autumn, literally shine when backlit by the warm golden sunlight so unique to fall. For many winters now, I’ve enjoyed evergreen grasses, such as carex, gently caressing the edges of hanging baskets and containers. Grasses have so much to offer; they’re plants for all seasons. We just have to learn how to use them properly.

Last summer, a group of visitors, all representatives of a number of North American botanical gardens, came to visit Minter Gardens. While conducting the tour, I noticed one gentleman stop, pull out his tripod, set up his camera and start shooting pictures of something I’d walked by a dozen times without really paying attention. In among our variegated Phalaris arundinacea ‘Feesey Form’, our garden staff had interplanted some beautiful Allium ‘Christophii’. The effect of these huge spiny lavender blooms with the white, green and pink tones of the grass was just amazing. I felt like a dope for not noting this combination earlier. Because alliums bloom so long, this wonderful partnership lasted a good while and changed ever so slightly as each of them matured.

Last spring I spotted a wonderful idea in an English magazine – the magic combination of black Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon ‘Nigrescens’, (zone 6) with snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis, planted all through it. I don’t have a black and white personality, but let me tell you, no other colour could show off these tiny white blossoms like this mass of small black leaves! O. ‘Nigrescens’ is an easy-to-grow ground cover grass that is hard to find, but invaluable in small areas where the right ground cover can make all the difference. Its white flowers in July also look smashing.

My three favourite grass families are the miscanthus, pennisetums and carex. Miscanthus are medium to tall showpieces that make great focal points in mid-sized or large gardens. Their fall flowers not only ali a spark to autumn gardens, but they also continue through the winter until heavy snows or winds take their toll. Tall varieties, like Miscanthus ‘Giganteus’, or as sometimes called ‘Robustus’ (zone 6), grow eight to ten feet tall with long green leaves touched with a bit of silver. They make a great screen by mid-June, and their bronze flower tufts are truly magnificent. The most sought after miscanthus, however, is ‘Porcupine Grass’ (M. strictus – zone 5). This six to seven foot tall grass has gold bands along its leaves and a tall upright habit, making it especially elegant. Although it’s a little more tender, the white and green variegated Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’ (zone 6) is perhaps the most stunning. It only blooms in zone seven or warmer climates, but in dark green perennial borders or in lawn areas with a great many trees around, it is the spark that can ignite a garden.

Each fall and winter, I’ve been using more and more carex along with evergreen perennials to create some pretty amazing effects. My all time favourite is Carex buchananii (zone 6) with its stiff bright bronze stems. I also love the soft silver-green, hair-like stems of Carex comans ‘Frosty Curls’ (zone 6). It is magnificent flowing over baskets and containers, as is Carex morrowii ‘Variegata’. With a little protection, they will tolerate most winters in a container. In the ground, they are like beacons of light all winter long, especially on those really dark dreary days.

Folks, if you’re new to grasses, proceed slowly. Try a few this fall and see how they can heighten the effect of your fall and winter garden. I like to plant them fairly close together for an instant effect and to choke out weeds. The basic rule, however, is to plant them as far apart as their height. The grasses I have mentioned are not invasive, and they will all ali a whole new dimension to your garden.