this means that watering should be almost withdrawn, so that the compost dries out slightly until the weather warms up again.
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Each stem produces a fine head of beautiful fluffy filaments, which form a spherical shape 30cm (1ft) across.
Woodrush
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This grass is much more effective if planted in groups, rather than as single specimens.
A low-growing grass, native to northern Europe, that is perfect for small gardens. Individual plants will spread out to only around 6ocm (2ft) and will take at least three years to do so. If a larger space can be provided, these plants look wonderful in large groups and used as groundcover. They are also very effective in groups underneath and around trees, where they appreciate the dappled shade provided by the tree canopy. If planted close together, they form thick-enough masses to suppress all but the most ruthless of weeds.
Each leaf, which is about 45cm (18in) long and 1cm (½in) wide, is bright, shiny green with a narrow band of white along both edges. An occasional wispy filament appears along the length. Foliage is produced in substantial amounts to form dense mounds around 30cm (1ft) high. Flowers appear in summer, but as they’re insignificant brown offerings, they can be chopped off.
Although Luzula sylvatica ‘Marginata’ is evergreen, clumps can start to look a bit scruffy after a few years and benefit from being chopped down to ground level with a pair of shears. This will encourage new shoots to regenerate from the base.
This is a very easy plant to cultivate, as it will grow practically anywhere and can tolerate a wide range of conditions. However, if subjected to too much stress caused by infrequent watering or by baking in too much sun, it is more likely to suffer from rust disease. Well-fed plants that are regularly watered and grown in fertile soil are much more capable of shrugging off this unsightly discoloration. Instead of spending time spraying affected foliage, cut it all back to the base and let it start again. Improved care should prevent the disease from returning the next season.
Light woodland shade will provide the richest-coloured foliage. Any soil will do, but a well-drained loamy one would be best. For optimum results, keep the soil fairly moist, but avoid making the ground too boggy. An annual dose of well-rotted manure in spring gives excellent results. Propagation is easy to do by dividing up existing clumps with a sharp knife.
Apart from rust disease, little else seems to cause this grass any problems.
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Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ is grand enough to be planted as a single specimen in a focal position in the garden.
A delicate-looking oriental grass made up of lots of narrow leaves that arch over gracefully to form a dense clump. The overall height is around 90–120cm (3–4ft). The leaf edges are slightly serrated, making them rough to the touch and sharp enough to cut the skin if you pull them through your hands. They are sage-green in colour with a barely noticeable white stripe running along the centre. These grasses bulk up fairly quickly – a five-year-old plant could fill a circle 90cm (3ft) in diameter.
At the end of a hot summer, pretty tufts of reddish grassy flowers appear, reaching up to just above the foliage. These last many weeks. Soon after flowering, the foliage starts to change colour, taking on various red or bronzy hues until it turns yellow and brown. At this stage, it is best cut down to ground level for winter. New growth starts early the following season, and the fresh green shoots soon reach their full height. There is only a short period of time, just a few weeks, when this grass is doing nothing of interest.
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ is a very easy plant to cultivate and will grow just about anywhere. It can cope with clay, peat or chalk. For the very best results, however, grow it in fertile, loamy soil that stays moist at all times, without ever becoming boggy. It prefers a sunny position. Watering is more important for the first couple of seasons after planting. Mature plants that have become established can usually fend for themselves.
This grass can cope with windy positions quite well, but avoid really exposed sites, where strong winds can leave it looking decidedly battered. It doesn’t mind salty air, so is a good choice for seaside gardens. This is a versatile plant that looks good in all sorts of gardens: it can add structure to herbaceous borders, looks marvellous when planted with other grasses, and is large enough to be planted as a specimen plant in a focal part of the garden.
An annual feed can be given in spring, if desired. Use a light helping of blood, fish and bone sprinkled around its base. There is little other maintenance to worry about, and pests and diseases are not usually a problem.
Propagation is by division, which can be done in spring when the new shoots are just bursting into growth.
Black Crass
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This unusual-coloured grass is small and slow-growing, making it suitable for a pot.
The Latin name of this grass took me years to be able to pronounce fluently – it really makes you wonder who’s responsible sometimes ….
Despite its daft name, this splendid plant would please even the most design-conscious gardener. The leaves really are jet-black. They form tufts of coal-coloured clumps that spread slowly to cover areas of no more than around 90cm (3ft), with a maximum height of only 15cm (6in). Groups of this lovely grass look particularly effective in beds mulched with light-coloured grit or stones, to show off their deep colour fully. They also look best planted in large numbers – just dotting one or two around a garden would make them look a bit lost. In a local municipal planting scheme that I saw recently, a circular bed 2.5m (8ft) in diameter had been dug out of a lawn. In the centre was a small tree, and the rest of the space had been completely filled with nothing but this grass. The effect was wonderful.
Apart from the unusual-coloured foliage, this evergreen has attractive sprigs of lilac flowers in late summer, followed by small, shiny berries that last for months.
These Japanese plants perform best on light, well-drained soil. If the soil tends to be heavy, stir in some extra grit or silver sand to improve drainage. Full sun is preferred, but their colour holds well in light shade. Once established, they are remarkably drought-tolerant. Their size makes them a good choice for growing in a terracotta pot, but they are much slower to spread when grown this way than when they are planted directly into the ground.
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