Ornamental grasses
While
ornamental grasses and bamboos have had a place in gardens
for many years, they are now more popular and widely available
than ever. Each year sees not only new cultivars, but also
new ways of using them in the garden.
Prairie grasses
The term 'prairie grasses' is quite new to horticulture, and reflects the growing interest in the use of ornamental grasses in naturalistic plantings, where they offer an attractive and low maintenance alternative to traditional landscaping.
In contrast to the traditional usages of ornamental grasses - most often as 'dot' plants - prairie grass plantings form part of a naturalistic landscape. Their late flowering, often striking autumn colour and interesting winter architecture offers an attractive and low maintenance alternative to traditional landscaping.
Recent work at Wisley on prairie grasses
Weed control strategies in Prairie grass establishment
RHS trials
Ornamental grasses have featured in several RHS Trials. Recently, numerous new cultivars of Miscanthus have been introduced. This attractive genus, native to north-east Asia, is to be evaluated in the current Trial.
List of Award ornamental grasses
Further reading
This is just one topic covered by the Society's monthly journal for members, The Garden, and recent articles of interest are listed below.
Gardiner, J. 1991, September. File on Wisley: ornamental grasses. The Garden (RHS) 116(9): 464-467.
Grounds, R. 1999, October. Blowing in the wind. The Garden (RHS) 124(10): 747-751.
RHS Wisley Staff. 2000, February. Problem Profiles: cleaning up perennial grasses. The Garden (RHS) 125(2): 134-135.
Scott, T. 1996, May. Art Nouveau - new ideas for grass. The Garden (RHS) 121(5): 250-253. Grasses in containers.
Smith, Anne. 1996, June. Annual grasses, cut and dried. The Garden (RHS) 121(6): 366-369. Report on a trial of annual grasses.