For some reason gardeners often overlook ornamental grasses. Grass
is for mowing, people say… and when visiting a nursery you normally
want to buy a tree, vegetables, a perennial, or something that will
yield flowers. Not just a clump of grass.
But as you drive around Travis and Hays counties, keep your eyes
open and observe how creative landscape designers – and home
gardeners – are using grasses as soft boundaries, or planting them
in big groups, and using them as a screen.
The good news is that these grasses are versatile, easy to grow, and
provide beautiful fall and winter color for the garden. They are also
remarkably adaptable to different sun conditions and once estab-
lished they can survive a drought. Gardeners really don’t have to do
much to make them flourish.
Outside of a few spring flowering grasses, most produce their showy
seed heads in the fall and add foliage color throughout the winter.
Our only garden chores are to water infrequently during extended
drought and to cut back the winter foliage when new growth begins
to show in the spring. Here are some of my favorite choices for
central Texas landscapes:
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The Mulenbergias
This native genus has many grasses that are showy, easy to grow,
and easy to find in local nurseries:
Coastal muhley grass (Mulenbergia capillaries), also known as
“Gulf” muhley, grows to a height and width of 3 feet. Its gray-green
foliage produces pink, mist-like, seed heads in the fall, that are
striking, especially when backlit by the sun.
Big muhley (Mulenbergia lendheimeri) produces feathery tan colored
seed heads in the fall on top of foliage that is bluish green. Big muhley
grows to a height and width of four feet. It grows throughout the Hill
Country and is extremely hardy. Deer, cows, horses, goats, and sheep
won’t eat it.
Bamboo muhley (Mulenbergia dumosa) is the largest of the muhley
grasses, growing over four feet with bamboo-like feathery foliage
which turns the color of straw in the winter months. It should be cut
back in the spring when new growth appears. Unlike spreading bam-
boo, it isn’t invasive. It stands alone as a beautiful specimen.
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The Maidengrasses
In the genus Miscanthus, there are 15 varieties of hardy ornamental
grasses that can be used for accent, borders, and screens. All have
pretty seed heads in the fall and winter, and should be cut back in the
spring. A few varieties to look for are standard and dwarf maidengrass,
adagio, cabaret, morning light, and porcupine or zebra grass.
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The Fountain Grasses
In the genus Pennisetum, these also show many forms and colors.
They range in size from the dwarf fountain grass that grows under
two feet to the standard fountain grasses that get to five feet or taller.
One of the most outstanding of the fountain grasses is rubrum or
purple fountain grass. It can grow to five feet and has reddish-purple
foliage with purple seed heads. Rubrum needs to be cut back after t
he first freeze and mulched well.
Its winter hardiness is not as good as the other grasses. In contrast
to purple fountain grass is a variety called ‘moudry’ which has black
seed heads and grows under two feet.
The ornamental grasses can give color throughout the year, are easy
to grow, adaptable to varying light conditions, deer resistant, and
very drought tolerant. They are a great choice for our water stressed
conditions. Happy Gardening everyone!
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