Plant Catalogue: Ornamental Grasses
| ORYZOPSIS milliacea. From evergreen tufts erupt filament-like flower stems arranged umbrella spoke fashion from the base in descending size, tier upon tier creating an elegant, airy effect. Almost unmatched for beauty in winter. 45cm. | £4.50 |
| PANICUM. The ‘Switch Grasses’ of North America are a valuable addition to our flower borders. Strictly clump forming and trouble free, they erupt in September/October into a shower of tiny reddish-purple, bead like flowers. At the same time, the foliage assumes crimson-purple hues, contributing greatly to the general effect. | From £4.80 |
| P. amarum ‘Dewey Blue’. Differs from the following selections in being paler in both leaf and flower colour and with a more arching habit. We love it. 120cm. | |
| P. v. ‘Cloud Nine’. The strictly erect grey-green leafy stems erupt in October into a spectacular billowy cloud of flowering panicles. It makes a superb punctuation. 2m. | |
| P. v. ‘Dallas Blues’. Excellent broad blue green leaves, making it a foliage plant of due merit. The flowers are nothing to boast about. 2m+. | |
| P. v. ‘North Wind’. We so enjoy this plant with its strong vertical habit, forming a green column in the border. Good bronze and copper tints in autumn too. Flowers? Hmm ask another question. 120cm. | |
| *P. v. ‘Red Cloud’. Impressive sized panicles of ruby red flowers. A handsome newcomer. 120cm. | |
| P. v. Rubrum. An old variety, but one which performs very well with us, flowering profusely and with superb autumn leaf colour. 1m. | |
| *P. v. ‘Shenandoah’. Particularly dark red flowers in this form and characteristic red staining to the foliage also. 1m. | |
| P. v. strictum. Bolt upright with a particularly airy flowering inflorescence. We love it! 120cm. | |
| P. v.‘Warrior’. Produces a great misty head of ruby flower spikelets that remain attractive in winter long after their colour has been sapped. 120cm. | |
| *PENNISETUM alopecuroides ‘Black Beauty’. A selected clone of the following with spectacular dark, busby-like flowers in autumn. Admired by all. 90cm. This and the following forms of P. alopecuroides enjoy moist, not dry soil. | From £4.80 |
| P. a. ex ‘Black Beauty’. Seedlings of the above which come pretty true to form. | £4.60 |
| P. a.‘Herbstzauber’. Looking like an obese Pincushion, and softer toned than the above, the brown bottlebrush flowers of this fine German selection always draw positive comments. 50cm. | From £4.80 |
| P. macrourum. Unequivocally one of the most exciting grasses we grow. The flowers, not unlike cream-white Pipe Cleaners, are held aloft on stiff 180cm stems. Need we say more! | £4.80 |
| *P. orientale. Difficult to propagate we hope to have plants of this lovely species for sale by early summer. Remains a fine plant and holds its own against the following newer introductions. | £4.75 |
| *P. o ‘Fairy Tails’. American selection where it has received much praise and given its superb performance in the garden here, much praise from us too. 75cm. | £4.95 |
| *P. o. ‘Karley Rose’. A much vaunted new introduction bearing dusky pink feathery flower plumes for several months. A good doer, managing well on Marchantʼs clay. 75cm. | £4.95 |
| P. thunbergii ‘Red Buttons’. A newish fountain grass with conspicuous, big bug sized copper-red flowers through summer. Has proved hardy here. 90cm. | £4.95 |
| *P. villosum. Spectacular, huge creamy-white tactile‘Caterpillar’ flowers, irresistible to kids (and adults too!) Hardy here but gets its annual haircut in spring only. 50cm. | £4.60 |
Images at the top of the page are ©Gardens Illustrated / Sharon Pearson