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Special Uses for Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental Grasses are not just for the perennial garden. They offer themselves to nearly every form of planting and landscaping. They are most effective in the landscape when used to complement other perennials. By mixing them instead of segregating them, ornamental grasses are at their best. Here are a few of the more special uses for ornamental grasses.

Container Gardening
Ornamental grasses, quick growers and low maintenance plants, are very well suited for the container garden. Pennisetum s. ‘Rubrum’ (purple fountain ornamental grass) is an annual in the landscape, but is often used in cold areas as a summer container plant. Try it mixed with other flowering plants, for a great color container.

Rock Gardens
Ornamental Grasses with their softness and movement, provide a unique complement to the static, hard edged rock garden. Try dwarf varieties, such as Pennisetum a. ‘Little Bunny’.

Water Gardens
Many ornamental grasses love having their toes constantly wet. Some even enjoy being partially submerged. There are some wonderful ornamental grasses that can be used dry pondside as well. Try Acorus (Japanese sweetflag) as a marginal aquatic and Miscanthus s. ‘Morning Light’ alongside the water for playful sunlight effects.

Meadow Gardens
Landscapes that offer vast amounts of land can be used to create an ornamental grass prairie or meadow. Birds and other wildlife will be attracted to such an environment. Massed planting of many different varieties create an appealing prairie garden. Useful ornamental grasses for a meadow garden are Panicum (switch grass) and Sorghastrum (Indian grass) varieties.

Cutting Garden
Ornamental grasses provide some of the showiest flowers for dried floral arrangements. A good cutting garden can provide showy flowers all summer long.

Chef’s Garden
Some ornamental grasses are used as flavorings by culinaries around the world. Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) is used extensively in Asian cooking.