ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
GRAMINACEE

 

simplistic elegance of line and movement in the garden.......

PER MANDARCI UNA LETTERA ELETTRONICA CLICCARE QUI

 
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
 
Acnatherum brachytricum ( Also known under: Calamagrostis brachytricum and Stipa brachytricum) (Fromefield) H 60 X W 60 (2' x 2'), Fl. 1.2 (4') Korean Feather Reed Grass. Early to burst into growth in spring, with a slight bronze infusion to the green, this grass forms at first a fountain of a loose clump, later more of weeping form (Grounds - U.K.). In heat and intense sun it is said to remain more upright. Should have dry-ish soil in full sun. In late summer, showy feathery panicle are produced which last long. A specimen grass. EURO - 4.00
 
Acorus gram. Hakuro Nishiki -
 
Acorus gram. Masamune -
 
Acorus gram. Ogon -
 
Alopercurus pratensis 'Aureovariegata' (Fromefield) H 40 X W 30 (16" x 12") Golden Foxtail Grass. A showy deep yellow striped, brightest in spring. Light shade recommended for our climate, moist and rich soil is said to bring about wider and taller leaves, poorer and drier soils dwarf growth albeit with a running rather than clumping habit. Can be trimmed to keep low. This lovely golden grass stays in good shape here in Italy if well watered throughout the summer. It developes, however, tiny rust spots if not trimmed. I have not had the best success with this one in the heat of our Italian summers. A good one for the mountains. EURO - 5.00
 
Andropogon gerardii (1 - Apple Court) 1,2m, (4'), tight clump, strongly upright, silvery-blue stemmed, tips tinged purple, turning purplish in late summer, rich brown in winter. Specimen. The flowers last long and are like turned-up umbrella spokes at the tips of tall stems. The silvery blue-ishness of the summer colour is a more subtle blue than some of the other blue-cast grasses. EURO - 7.00
 
Andropogon scoparius (LITTLE BLUESTEM) (2 - Meier, Tann-Rüti) An upright-growing greyish blue-green grass with hints of purple and violet in the bases of the leaves. Absolutely beautiful! Planted with the delicate-looking, lax-growing Muhlenbergia japonica 'Variegata' which blooms with the same shade of purplish that is in the leaves of Andropogon scoparius. EURO - 7.00
 
Arrhenatherum eliatus bulbosum 'Variegatum (1 - Zeppelin) A summer-dormant brightly-striped grass that clumps tightly in our sandy soil. Growing to about 24 inches, it turns brown and dies back when our summer heat sets in. As soon as the rain and cooler temperatures set in in October, this grass starts to grow again and is a fresh, white/green striped clump.
 
Arundo donax (collected from the wild) This grass is widespread in our Italian countryside, growing on the driest slopes in full sun. It can be difficult to eradicate if not checked occasionally. Not invasive, just massive. Reaching 4-5 metres, blooming up to 6 metres. Spectacular.
 
Arundo donax 'Variegata' (1 - Hampton Court) The most spectacular of grasses, seemingly a bamboo. Quoted too many times as being dependent on humid growing conditions, this Arundo, like the grey-green leaf form, likes perfect drainage in a sunny spot. It is much hardier if in these conditions.
 
Arundo formosana (1 - Speichert) Petite form of Arundo. A bamboo-like grass that tolerates a wide range of extremes. Excellent in garden tub or patio container. 3-5' tall; Zone 6-10; Sun. Needs high humidity and some warmth right after transplanting. Hardy for us to at least -14C. Late to emerge from the soil, it stays green late into the autumn. The new canes branch early in the summer, creating a rather full and dense clump to about 2.5 metres (with regular irrigation). EURO - 20.00
 
 
Bouteloua gracilius (Fromefield)H 25 cm X W 30, Fl 50cm Mosquito Grass or Signal-Arm Grass. Forming dense clumps of narrow leaves, a native of the shortgrass prairie, hence full sun and good drainage recommended. The flowers are the particularly interesting detail of this grass in that they are held "like mosquito larvae at right angles to the water surface". Flowers throughout the summer. Drought resistant once established. A very nice, very slender recurved grass of medium greyish green. EURO - 6.00
 
Bouteloua curtipendula (Fromefield) H 45 cm X W 30, Fl 75cm Mosquito Grass or Side-Oats Grama. Altogether larger and coarser, and therefore showier (Grounds). Full sun and excellent drainage necessary for cultivation. Drought resistant once established EURO - 5.00
 
Brizia media 'Limousi' (Apple Court) H40 X W30, Fl.60cm, Perennial, Quaking Grass. A taller, form with bluer leaves, larger heart-shaped spikelets, E -L Summer Flowering, Full sun. Partial shade tolerated in Italy. EURO - 5.00
 
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (Knöpnadel) H 100 X W 45, Fl. 1.5 (5') Stiffly erect flowers stalks with tightly arranged flowers along the upper 1/3 of stalks. An important vertical element in small designs. Deep green foliage. Easy on most soils, drought tolerant once established. Flowers usually second year after transplanting for us. Grows well in partial shade in Italy.
 
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam' (Apple Court) H70 X W 35, Fl. 120 Superb, erect, slender variegated grass with white striped green leaves, touched pink on new growth. Can be cut back after flowering to induce pink-flushed new growth. An indispensable variegated grass. Full sun in good soil. In Italy also growing well in dry shade in rich soil. Infertile seed. Easy to propagate. One of my favourite grasses. EURO - 7.00
 
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Strictus' (Apple Court) H 1,60cm in flower, very verticle in form, lasting through the winter as an erect column. A very drought-resistant tight columnar form that looks superb with relaxed grasses like Stipa tenuissima and Eragrostis curvula! EURO - 7.00
 
 
Calamagrostis brachytricum ( Also known under: Acnatherum brachytricum and Stipa brachytricum) (Fromefield) H 60 X W 60 (2' x 2'), Fl. 1.2 (4') Korean Feather Reed Grass. Early to burst into growth in spring, with a slight bronze infusion to the green, this grass forms at first a fountain of a loose clump, later more of weeping form (Grounds - U.K.). In heat and intense sun it is said to remain more upright. Should have dry-ish soil in full sun. In late summer, showy feathery panicle are produced which last long. A specimen grass. EURO - 4.00
 
Carex bergrenii -
Carex buchanii (Zeppelin) H50 X 35, A superb, upright soft brown bronze Carex. A superb one fore-planted with Festuca 'Fromefield Blue'! EURO - 7.00
 
 
Carex buchanii 'Viridis' - olive green form of the above
 
Carex caryophylea 'The Beatles' a little "mop head" of leaves.
 
Carex comans 'Adonis' (Kustermann) a rare find and still under contract for propagation, this seedling of Bronze Form has infusions of bright pink and mauve-rose throughout the bass of the new leaves, creating a superb colour composition! No sales, as it is under plant rights procedures.
Carex comans 'Bronze Form' (Fromefield) H.45 - 50cm X W70cm. Bronze-brown foliage. Important association with blue-cast or other purple/brown foliage types otherwise appears dried out. Full sun with good soil and good drainage. This particular selection from David West is a rich, smooth chocolate colour and grows well for us with weekly deep irrigation. EURO - 6.00
 
Carex comans 'Frosted Curls' (Millefolglie) H 30cm X 20. I finally have the real 'Frosted Curls'! I'v had many forms from England that were some other type, but this one is the typical light-tan beige frosted comans type that it should be. Beautiful with white-flowering plants and silver-foliaged perennials. NFS
 
Carex comans 'Kupferflamme' (Zeppelin) The fresh growth of this selection is slightly richer bronze with hints of reddish bronze, hence its name.
 
Carex comans 'Little Red' (Apple Court) Similar to comans 'Bronze Form' in all aspects, just smaller. Full sun with good soil and good drainage. Dead after 3 years. Kept too dry. The comans selections want moist soils, even though they have been published as drought-tolerant. EURO - 7.00
 
Carex dolichostachya 'Kaga Nishiki' ('Golden Fountain') EURO - 9.00
 
Carex elata 'Bowles Golden' Moisture-loving plant, beautiful at water's edge, glowing yellow-green. EURO - 8.00
 
 
Carex conica 'Variegata' (Mostra Paderna) a beautiful dense, small mound of white-edged evergreen leaves which loves moisture.
 
Carex elata 'Bowle's Golden' Moisture-loving brilliant yellow-green vertically-growing sedge. Even brighter is 'Sue Ward', which I had but forgot to water well.... ugh. This lime-green is stunning at water's edge. EURO - 9.00
 
Carex flacca 'Bias' (Apple Court) H 30cm (12') X invasive! Carnation Grass. A bluish, mop-headed, slender-leafed carex that is vigorously invasive, best grown contained. 'BIAS' has one side of the leaf variegated in white. A groundcover sedge. Variegation not obvious. Not terribly special.
 
Carex flagellifera - A rich red-brown sedge from New Zealand that arches and trails along the ground. Said to take drought, but my experiences here in Italy are that the brown sedges need moisture. Full sun. Still rare. EURO - 8.00
 
Carex glauca (Apple Court) H 23cm X W 20 cm. The bluest of the sedges, tuft-forming, semi to full shade, blueish flowers on blue stems. Moist soil. Not very blue compared to the new panicums or festucas, but its upright growth and size are distinctive amoungst the blue grasses. Its typical Carex leaves are also more dramatic up against the thinner grasses. The blue bloom on the leaves is more apparent in the fall. Very nice next to water's edge. EURO - 8.00
 
Carex 'Milk Chocolate' -
Carex montana (Zeppelin) A soft, short puff of bright green. This little miniature carex has proven itself resilient to mistreatment and neglect, but does not want to be overgrown and overshadowed by other plants or grasses. EURO - 8.00
 
Carex morowii 'Fischer's Form' EURO - 8.00
 
Carex morrowii 'Variegata' (Apple Court) H 60cm (2') X W 30cm, Fl. 45cm. Rich soil, full sun or shade, dense tufs, erect and out-growing growth like a pin cushion, damp or dry. Cleanly striped white variegation EURO - 9.00
 
Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' (Apple Court) H 60cm (2') X W 30cm, spread indefinite but slowly. A wonderful addition to the morrowi selections, this one is practically identical to 'Variegata' but spreads rather than clumps, but at a very manageable pace. The variegation on Ice Dance is more pronounced. Great in shade or full sun (with waterings). EURO - 7.00
 
Carex muskingumensis (Apple Court) H 60cm (2') X W 50cm - spreading. (Zeppelin: full sun) (Grounds: shade) Slowly clump-forming, erect, "bamboo-like" sedge with leaves arranged in 3 ranks, more densely arranged at the top of the stems. Very un-grasslike. Very beautiful. A personal favourite, along with its two variegated forms: OEHME and SILBERSTREIF. EURO - 6.00
 
Carex muskingumensis 'Oehme' (Apple Court) H 60cm (2') X W 50cm - Yellow edged muskingmunensis which also slowly forms a clump with erect, "bamboo-like" sedge with leaves arranged in 3 ranks, more densely arranged at the top of the stems. Exquisite structure high lighted by the golden edging. Superb! Takes a lot of sun well for us with frequent watering. A wonderful small golden-yellow striped grass. EURO - 10.00
 
Carex muskingumensis 'Silberstreif' - (Karl Foerster's private garden) The white centrally variegated form of the above. A stunning addition, too new to offer! Gorgeous!
 
Carex nigra 'Variegata' - EURO - 8.00
 
Carex ornithopoda 'Variegata' (Tann-Rüti)
 
Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' (Fromefield) H 25 cm X W 30, Fl 30cm A low, mounding sedge. In good soil in sun or light shade, Evergreen. A nicely showy, variegated grass-like sedge with a brightly contrasting creamy central stripe. EURO - 7.00
 
Carex oshimensis 'Variegata' (Apple Court) H 25 cm X W 30, Fl 30cm A low, mounding sedge. In good soil in sun or light shade, Evergreen. Very showy, variegated grass-like sedge with a brightly contrasting white central stripe.
 
Carex pendula (private garden from Geneva, Switzerland)H 60 cm (2') X W 120 (4'), Fl 120 cm (4') Drooping Sedge. Flower head terminals hang from long, arching stems. Informal habit of growth that needs space. Shiny green foliage grows somewhat flat and outwards, spreading but not invasive. Needs space around it. Best in partial shade in Italy, but also grows here in full sun in deep, rich soil. EURO - 6.00
 
Carex pendula 'Moonraker' (Apple Court) H 65 -70 (2.5-3') X 120 W, A Drooping Sedge' which is supposed to have white tips as it emerges in the spring and then turn slowly green as the summer approaches. The pieces I received early this past spring (1999) were solid green. This spring should tell more. The habit is the same as the species, vigorously spreading but not officially invasive. EURO - 10.00
 
Carex pendula ssp. uganda (or 'Uganda') (Apple Court) H 65 -70 X indefinte. A very vigorously invasive carex that, even though it grows well, I wish I had never had planted it in the border! A much taller flowering form of pendula, perhaps a different species altogether. Not for the lazy gardener. EURO - 10.00
 
Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler') (Apple Court) A rather deliacte Carex of uncertain hardiness - I've lost it on occassion due to transplanting shock - but one of the most exotic in appearance. Only a few to sell - in pots. EURO - 12.00
 
Carex pilulifera 'Tinney's Princess' (Apple Court) ACID SOIL, H10 cm (4in) X W15 cm (6in) Sun or part shade, moisture-retentive soil. Tiny, brightly-variegated whorl of leaves. Superb miniature sedge, but a bit delicate for a vigorously-growing border. Died after being overshadowed by a neighbouring plant.
 
Carex plantaginea (Karl Foerster Gartenzentrum) A very nice, very un-grasslike sedge with wide, medium ligh-green, evergreen leaves that stay very low. Semishade in Italy. It needs moisture to do well.
 
Carex siderosticha 'Variegata' (Karl Foerster Gartenzentrum) Another wider-leaf carex but deciduous. Ivory-green stripes add to this carex's ornamental value. Low-growing and moisture-loving, a good ground cover under taller shrubs. EURO - 8.00
 
Carex siderosticha 'Shima-Nishhiki' (Island Brocade) A beautiful, carpet of wide leaves brightly striped yellow. A very new introduction from Japan! EURO - 12.00
 
Carex 'Silver Sceptre' - unknown species origin. Similar to C. morowii 'Ice Dance' and C. morrowii 'Variegata' but more upright and slightly twisting in leaf. Also, the variegation is a bit bolder. EURO - 10.00
 
Carex solandri - a tight yellow-green clump. Well-drained soil. EURO - 8.00
 
Carex spissa (Apple Court) H __________ X W 60cm (2'), Fl. 70cm (28in). Bluish foliage, cut down right after flowering to produce the bluest foliage.
 
Carex testacea (Apple Court) H 25 cm X W 30, Fl 30 - 45cm (-18") Arching, clump-forming sedge from New Zealand, evergreen leaves pale olive, tips bronzed orange-ish. Full sun in good soil. Takes hot, dry positions.
 
Carex trifida 'Chatham Blue' (Fromefield) H 45cm X 45 A tightly arching deep green (not blue at all!) evergreen carex that is a marvelous contrast plant to the more divergent, upright and/or fountaining forms. Easy to grow, but likes weekly irrigation. EURO - 8.00
 
Chasmanthuium uniola latifolium ( Zeppelin)
 
Chionochloa conspicua rubra -
 
Cordateria selloana 'Pink Feather' H 2 m x 4m, 3m in flower. One of the best pink-flowering Pampas grasses. EURO - 9.00
 
Cortaderia selloana 'Pumila' (2- Apple Court) H1m X 2m, Fl 1.8m (6'), Dwarf Pampas Grass. Tight flowers in a silvery beige, "cigar-like", thin, arching foliage. Very floriferous. (dead after the severe winter of 1999, replanted 2000, surviving now well going into the winter of 2001 - 2002) Perhaps one of the commonest pampas grasses here in Italy.
 
Cortaderia selloana 'Sunningdale Silver' (Fromefield) H 2m X 4m, Fl 2.7 (9'), Pampas Grass. The best of the white-plumed Pampas grasses. (dead after the severe winter of 1999, replanted in 2000, looking good going into the winter of 2001 - 2002)
 
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