Types of ornamental grasses

A diverse family of ornamental grasses allows you to make multi-level and multi-color compositions. They are not whimsical, grow quickly, are not capricious when combined with other types of plants. Their seasonal transformations from a grassy carpet to original inflorescences and then to snowy waves delight the eye throughout the year.

The picturesque compositions in the photo, consisting entirely of ornamental grasses, make us re-evaluate this type of plant for creative experiments.

Rockery is a derivative of a rocky plain, a memory of mountain meadows. Stones in the creation and design of rockeries play a very important role, as large boulders, pointed heaps, and crushed stone dumping of medium and small fractions.
Plants for rockeries should be chosen dwarf, undersized, slow growing, creeping and weaving. An indispensable attribute of any rockery are dwarf conifers, junipers.

Watch the video: Decorative cereals in the garden and in the country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIczVrHSwQ8

Here, their role is not limited to filling empty spaces and framing spectacular flowers, they come to the fore, striking with original natural energy and a riot of colors.

The names of many ornamental grasses refer to their appearance.

barley maned

Maned barley forms dense picturesque bushes and is used mainly for decorating borders. This is a perennial crop, but it does not withstand severe frosts, and in some climatic zones it is necessary to carry out annual sowing.

haretail

The haretail is one of the few cereals intended for growing in partial shade. Its green leaves with a silvery sheen and fluffy inflorescences combine well with bright flowers. An interesting effect is obtained on mixed flower-cereal beds.

blue fescue

Blue fescue is a frost-resistant cereal. The original bluish color of this cereal, combined with needle-shaped leaves, creates an irresistible airy effect.

It looks good on borders, and in flower and stone compositions, but for a beautiful view it needs the sun.

Peristoschaetinka shaggy

Peristoschaetinka hairy — perennial with white, pink or purple panicles and ribbon leaves. This is another heat-loving plant, which is grown as an annual plant in the middle lane. Can be used in alpine slides and rocky gardens.

Feather fluffy cloud

The fluffy cloud feather grass is an unpretentious steppe plant, which, when growing, turns into original silky bushes; during flowering, the tips of the bush become pink or golden.

Another extraordinarily beautiful variety of cultivated feather grass — «the most beautiful», has the thinnest stems covered with a transparent fluff.

Mace Bearer

Dense, as if bristling bushes of the gray-haired mace are ideal for decorating borders 20-30 cm high. This light-loving and rapidly growing ground cover plant takes root well in sandy soils of the middle lane.

Ophiopogon Nigrescens

Ophiopogon Nigrescens, a favorite of exotic lovers, grass with black leaves, pink flowers and blue-black berries can be a spectacular addition to exotic lawns, rockeries and alpine slides.

No less picturesque is the variety of ofiopogon called Japanese with bright blue berries. This plant does not need winter shelter, is not afraid of temperature changes and wind, but requires maintaining air humidity and regular watering.

Fox’s tail

Fox tail (or short-haired reed grass) is a bright decorative cereal, with stems curved down, needs regular watering. Fashion to grow in the sun and in partial shade. It can reach a height of more than a meter, needs watering and is used in the design of multi-level flower beds.

wild oats

Wild oats, or broad-leaved Hasmanthium, with sufficient sun and moisture, also grow to a height of up to a meter. The main difference of the botanical species is the flat inflorescences of the correct form hung on a thin stem.

Lightning blue

Lightning blue is another tall grass with bluish leaves and blue-violet panicles. It also needs moisture, is planted with flowers with a similar growth regime, or decorates the edges of artificial reservoirs.

The Miscanthus family deserves special attention. These gigantic-sized, erect-stemmed cereals come in many varieties that differ in color and shape. This light-loving and moisture-loving plant from 80 cm to 3 m in height needs protection from frost.

Used in mixborders, for decorating ponds, luxurious bushes of Chinese and sugar-flowered miscanthus can become an exquisite decoration of green lawns.

Selection features

In order to choose the right ornamental grass for the garden, you need to focus not only on the regime characteristics — the need for moisture, light and soil composition, but also the periods of their active growth. Ornamental grasses, changing their color, appear in at least three guises during the year.

It is also important to take into account the growth rate of grasses. In some cases, advance preparation of seedlings in containers will be necessary, in others, measures will need to be taken against excessive growth. Depending on the decorative effects, they can be used as the main background of flower arrangements, or as a substitute for flowers.

Lawn grass is rightfully considered the most popular landscape decor, but regular maintenance is needed to maintain its conditional characteristics. The labor intensity of maintenance has led to the creation of artificial ornamental grass, which is used for lawns and playgrounds.

In some cases, lawn grass can be replaced with ground cover or climbing ornamental grasses, which will protect the soil from winds and drying out, and become a natural filler for empty spaces, in transitions between flower beds and other zonal elements on the site.

When sowing ornamental cereal crops, it should be taken into account that the distance between plants should be equal to the average height of this variety. With more frequent planting, thinning will be necessary. Fast-growing varieties can be limited with a building grid.

Ornamental grasses do not need fertilizer, enriching the soil with nutrients can lead to their overgrowth.

Perennial ornamental grass will greatly facilitate the passage of the plot in the country. In late autumn, grasses can be cut, waiting for young growth in the same place next spring. Another option is spring pruning of dried inflorescences and leaves.

Some types of non-hardy ornamental grasses can overwinter in pots and containers. It is also possible to prepare seedlings from early spring, especially in cases where a few bushes are intended for decoration of alpine slides or flower beds.

Grass for the garden can become not only a decoration, but also a green first-aid kit. Many ornamental species have medicinal properties. Another useful use can be the cultivation of herbs, which will fill the garden with aroma and come in handy in culinary experiments.

Dried cereals are used in ekibans, appliqués and other crafts for interior decoration.

Photo of decorative grass