Add a wow factor to your container gardens with grasses
Grasses and grass like foliage can add dramatic impact to your container gardens whether used for thrillers, fillers or spillers. You can add a single plant or create a stunning combination of all grasses by selecting different heights, growth forms, colors and textures. Grasses are a low maintenance plant that can add easy elegance to your containers.
But there are a few things you need to know when selecting grass foliage for your containers.
There are both annual and perennial grasses to select from. In the North and Midwest certain perennial grasses will not survive when left in a container over winter and should be treated as an annual. A perennial in a container needs to be 2 zones hardier than your zone to survive winter in a container.
Some perennial grasses spread aggressively and can be better controlled in a container. Be aware however, that the most aggressive spreaders can bust right through your container if not removed and divided to control size.
Most grasses require very little water, so keep that in mind when combining with other plants in the container. Try to select drought tolerant plants.
Many grasses also prefer a little different mix of soil than we typically use for a container full of annuals. Be sure to check the soil preference of your selection. You may need a mix of compost and perlite or even gravel added to your potting mix. I would not, however, suggest making dramatic alterations to your standard potting mix unless you are using specific grasses combined with plants of the same specific needs. The grasses will be much more adaptable to soil content than your annuals.
There are countless grasses to select from, both annual and perennial. If you plan to use perennial grass as an annual, you need not worry about zone hardiness. As noted, if you hope for a perennial grass to survive winter you need a full 2 zones hardier than usual. Or, you could overwinter tropical grasses inside if you have a warm sunny spot. Following are just a few of the more common grasses to give you ideas to think about. Not all will be easily available in your area but certainly will give you some thoughts on the ornamental values you hope to achieve with grasses.
THRILLERS:
Blue Lyme Grass
I love the cool tones blue grasses can add to any arrangement of plants. The stiffly arching steely blue foliage is dramatic with purple or maroon plants and will reach 2 or 3 feet tall and produces flower spikes in summer. This perennial does spread quite aggressively and quickly, so a very large container will be necessary to leave room for other plants. Or just let it make a statement on its’ own.
Blue Oat Grass
Fine spiky cool blue gray grass creates a calming cool display. The Blue Oat Grass is a large loose arrangement of stiff spikes, great for a large container or as a thriller since it produces tall flower fronds. Beautiful fluttering in the breezes.
Purple Fountain Grass
So many assets! It is tall, richly colored dusty purple leaves that arch high enough to expose your fillers, and tall arching flower plumes that sway in the breeze. Loves the sun and is tolerant of dry conditions. Striking with deep pinks and white contrasts.
FILLERS:
Blue Fescue
has a similar appearance to Blue Oat Grass, but with a smaller, more compact mound appropriate for a filler. The thin, icy blue blades hold their cool color all season. The foliage is only about 8-12” tall and produces lovely astilbe like ivory plumes.
Carex ciderosticha ‘Snow Cap’
This bold variegated broad leafed grass is densely compact, thrusting its’ bright leaves a bit wildly random. Aside from lending such dramatic contrast to a container of plants, it plays well with some shade and moist soil. Try this12-18” as a filler or even a thriller instead of hosta like plants for a lot more color and texture.
Japanese Blood Grass
It is difficult to decide if this should be a thriller, a filler or just stand on its own. Dramatic 12-24”vertical blades certainly are attention getting, beginning bright green and the blades maturing to blood red. This one does spread fast and aggressively, so consider just filling a contemporary pot with this to appreciate the vertical color show.
SPILLERS:
Black Mondo Grass
Stunning, fine textured inky black blades are a perfect contrast for any plants. Try it with pastels, chartreuse, salmon pink or creamy whites. Six inch thin blades will arch over the edge of your container.
Hakone Japanese Forest Grass
This has long been a favorite of mine. It is so bright and graceful anywhere you use it. Reminiscent of bamboo, the 12-18” fronds flow elegantly over the side of your container. It is a fairly slow grower and will not spread, so you might like to add it to your garden beds when the container is spent. It prefers part sun to part shade and moderately moist conditions.
Endless combinations of grassy and foliage plants can be put together for an easy care container planting. No deadheading, reduced watering and minimal fertilizing with no blooms to feed. Consider some of the many Coral bells available for pinks, purples, chocolate and chartreuse accents. Why not hosta? iris? caladium? purple oxalis? Any of these would combine beautifully with the true grasses.