Add drama and movement to your garden with these bold ornamental grasses, says Graham Rice
These tall, elegant grasses reach their
peak at this time of year, with silky plumes swaying above a fountain of arching, rustling foliage that matures to various shades of soft yellow, beige and copper.
There are many miscanthus to choose from, but just a quick warning about one of them – don’t be tempted to plant elephant grass in your garden. Although impressive, this hybrid is also known as Miscanthus x giganteus – and it is indeed gigantic. It will reach 3.5m tall in no time, will spread steadily but with determination, and is almost impossible to remove. It’s farmed as a biomass crop due to its rapid growth. But in gardens? No! And don’t be fooled by one of its trade names, eco grass.
So, having banished elephant grass, we should turn instead to its beautiful and well-behaved relative, Miscanthus sinensis or silver grass. This species has all the benefits of elephant grass and none of the problems. It’s true that some varieties are tall, but they don’t spread. The variegated forms, and those specially selected for their impressive flowering capacity, are among the finest of all hardy perennials. There are 19 varieties with an RHS Award of Garden Merit. Try one.
■ Position Best in full sun – flowering may be reduced in partial shade and in cool summers.
■ Planting Happy in most soils that are neither parched nor waterlogged. Smaller varieties are
