Ornamental grasses are among my favorite country garden plants, and in the fall they take their undisputed star turn in the garden. We grow many different grasses, all clump-forming and reasonably well behaved. Essentially, the only care our grasses get is an annual cut-down in early spring. What other plants are as good-looking and so low-maintanance?
Maiden grass (Miscanthus) inflorescenses
Masses ornamental grasses are dynamic as they move and rustle in the wind. And their ‘flowers’ add to interest throughout the fall.
Molina 'Skyracer'
In our four-square garden, four Molinia ‘Skyracer’ grasses are planted in the corners to embrace the lovely sundial base that my husband carved from three blocks of Indiana limestone. (Yes, he really made it: it took more than two years and three stone masonry workshops. It’s a replica of a sundial design from 1670.)
Molinia 'Skyracer' later - in full fall color
Panicum 'North Wind'
Molinia 'Skyracer' (back), fountain grass (front), Calamagrostis brachytricha (left)
In some parts of the garden, I have massed grasses of different heights, and in other areas I’ve used them as accent plants with perennials.
'Hameln' fountain grass as edger, with Rudbeckia seedheads and feather reed grass
Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln')
Ornamental grasses also play nicely with shrubs, as in the picture below, where ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass is the background plant to a dwarf crabapple and a ground-hugging evergreen shrub.
Siberian cypress (Microbiota decussata) with Malus sargentii 'Tina' and ''Karl Foerster' feather reed grass
With all these wonderful grasses for the fall garden, there’s lots of color and drama to look forward to. I wonder if my affinity for autumn has to do with the fact that my birthday falls in the middle of October? Or is it that the coming of this season means the most oppressive time of the year – with heat, humidity, bugs and weeds that we gardeners contend with – is just about over?
For more information: ornamental grasses basics, plus growing and care tips.
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Beautiful! It’s so tranquil to look at grasses. Love your photos.
Inspirational – beautiful photos.
Wow, those grasses in the four square garden look amazing. And your husbands dedication to carving that sundial, first he is dedicated, and second he is very talented. Toronto Botanical Gardens is offering a course in stone carving. Of course it is only a 7″ x 5″ x 5″ block of limestone, but it is a place to start!
I share your love for these beautiful grasses Yvonne. I’m working on my collection. I just picked up a sad looking small Pampas Grass for under $5.00 and hope to see it come to life somewhere in my yard. Enjoy your beautiful fallscape!
Cheers!
The molinia ‘Skyracer’ in the four square garden are so beautiful, I’ll have to “make a note of that” and ad that one to my garden.
Lene
Yvonne .. do you really know how lucky you are ?
Living in such a beautiful place with such amazing planning and plants .. I know it has been a lot of back breaking work and concentration to try and get things “right” hopefully the first time .. but then again gardening has one constant factor .. and it is “change” .. from a tiny garden to one of your size and beyond .. it constantly changes.
I am an ornamental grass fan from the get go .. so seeing your beautiful pictures here has been such a treat ! Thank you : )
The new site is very impressive and I am sure it will work much better for you : )
Joy
Thanks all for your comments. And to Joy: Yes, I do know how lucky I am. I have a place to play with plants where I could realize a garden design vision, and now I have the pleasure of photographing it. There have been trials and tribulations – as you know, drought has been the big one for many years, though not in this 2nd season in a row of too much rain. With the size of our place, I get overwhelmed with the workload at times, but I’ve had great help this season, so it has actually felt quite manageable. Thanks again!
Oh Yvonne, I’m speechless. Many of my own favorite grasses, in an absolutely stunning setting worthy of them. In a word: wow!
Hi Nan: Thanks so much for visiting. Coming from you, that’s high praise. I loved your grasses book.
Grasses are looking better than ever this year. I’ve come a long way in looking at grass as desirable in my garden.
I have been researching grasses for my own garden here in the UK and arrived here via GGW -
What an inspirational post with fantastic shots of the grasses – thank you so much
K
Welcome, Karen, and thank you for your comment. I’m glad you found the information helpful and the pictures inspiring. Good luck with your garden planning.
Hello ~ I’m just wondering, What part of what state do you live in? We’re in centeral Wisconsin and growing seasons are as different as each of our own gardens. I think it’s important to know where I’m reading about and if I can incorperate the information.
Hi Lizzy: We are in southern Ontario, which is Zone 5 USDA. Hope that helps. Cheers, Y