Phalaris arundinacea var. picta 'Arctic Sun' (v)

RHS Plant Profile

gardener's garters 'Arctic Sun'

Synonyms

Phalaris 'Arctic Sun'

Grass Like

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Compact, perennial grass forming clumps of upright stems, about 75cm tall, bearing narrow, linear, leaves to 35cm long, bright green and strongly striped with creamy-yellow, and in summer produces narrow panicles to 17cm long of pale green flower spikelets

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Phalaris can be annual or rhizomatous perennials grasses with relatively broadly linear leaves and small green flower spikelets in open panicles
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any soil in full sun or partial shade. Although a compact grower and less likely to move around than other cultivars, it has the potential to become a nuisance and may need to be controlled

Propagation

Propagate by division from mid-spring to midsummer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Ground cover

Pruning

Cut back dead foliage in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free