Before I retired I was Product Consultant at government liquor stores. We sold a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand called Toi Toi. The picture on the label showed the flowing seed heads. Thanks for the memory!
Greetings from the LooseNatural farm in Andalusia Spain where we currently live through a drought and we have several "grasses" that actually survive well. Thank you for sharing
Love your attitude to grasses. Added to all that you said, it also puzzles me that people who plant their gardens out with them wonder why bees are in trouble!
I only have two types of grass in my South Florida USA subtropical garden. One is giant peppermint stick grass ( has white variegation). The other is Black napier grass. I would love a red one but might go with a grassy leafed cordyline as I haven't found any other grass that i love.
As if you need another grass but I want to send you Muhlenbergia Dumosa. I had a hard time finding it but when I finally did, I got enough to share. I didn't ask but you may already have it. It is native to Texas and Mexico I think .
I knew it wasn't realistic but I think you would like it. if you have not seen it before you must try to see it. There is one at the Atlanta botanical garden which i gave them more. I also gave one to the Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. This is the first winter trying it so I hope it will survive our winter.
💞🎄✨Thanks for sharing. I’m enjoying the forms and varieties of the grasses and non grasses. I particularly like the Snowy tussock/Chionochloa Flavicans, hopefully I’ve not butchered the spelling! 💚
My 3-4 favs in my garden is the Japan blood grass Red Baron, Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition,' and blue fescue 'Boulder Blue,' Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' ['Aureola' is better but it was a sale]. I didn't know it was so hard to get another plant of variegated giant reed (Arundo donax variegata) or else I would have taken a bit to overwinter. Maybe I will finally be lucky this spring.
Speaking of overuse - Karl Forrester has been overused everywhere in my central US, and I think you didn't do it justice since the main reason for the popularity is the uprightness with the seedhead that look like wheat. I do know that it is only 4/5 hardy despite claiming to be usda zone 4, as I have lost a set, possibly from cold, wetness, and/or grubs . I do note that the row in front of my work has a bit of spottiness, and I wonder if that is due to sidewalk salt.
Karl Foerster I agree is overused in the US however it is rarely seen in landscapes here and you are right about the winter effect but Matthew is too impatient to wait! Regards Stephen
Stephen, I grow miscanthus for mulch and finally it’s tall enough to harvest after 3 years. What is the best time to cut it and not set it back? Thank you
