Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
and Grasses
Bamboos
and Grasses
Jon Ardle
Discover more at
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Contents
Designing with
grasses & bamboos
Getting started
30
Planting recipes
58
100
Plant guide
120
Suppliers
Index
Acknowledgments
154
156
160
Designing
with grasses
& bamboos
Whatever the setting, be it a gravel
garden, Asian-style design, or patio
display, bamboos, grasses, and
grasslike plants can make it special.
In this chapter, discover the beauty
of these versatile plants, and how
to create a range of exciting designs
by combining them with flowers,
shrubs, and trees.
All-grass plantings
Planting a border with just grasses
canprovide year-round interest and be
surprisingly colorful, with a sense of
movement that shrubs or perennials
simply cannot match.
Pictures clockwise from below
Color contrast The combination of the relatively wide,
bronze-red leaves of hook sedge (Uncinia uncinata rubra)
and the threadlike, narrow green leaves of clump-forming
Festuca glauca illustrates the contrast of hues that can be
achieved using grasses. Both these plants prefer acidic soil
and are evergreen, requiring only an annual tidy in spring.
Mixing sizes and textures Some of the best large
plants for the centerpiece of an all-grass planting are the
many cultivars of pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana).
Some can reach 10 ft (3 m) tall, with clumps of gray-green
foliage and huge plumes of ostrich feather flowers in
late summer (the dwarf cultivar Pumila is better for
smallgardens). In the foreground are smaller Stipa
calamagrostis, which flower for a long period, and one
ofthe best blue-leaved grasses, Panicum virgatum.
Compact and modern Snow, or tussock, grasses
(Chionochloa) are elegant, mounded plants with arching,
plumelike flowers, like mini pampas grasses. This broadleaved type, C. flavescens, is the hardiest tussock.
Winter structure Even deciduous grasses can contribute
much to the winter garden. The bleached straw bones
and flowerheads of Miscanthus can survive very harsh
winters and look particularly attractive rimed with frost.
All-grass plantings
10
11
12
Prairie planting
Inspired by the natural plant communities
of the North American prairies and the
Russian steppes, prairie planting is a
popular, low-maintenance, and droughttolerant style of gardening.
Pictures clockwise from right
Small scale Prairie plantings can be scaled down to
suitsmaller plots by using short grasses and perennials.
Among the smaller grasses planted in this garden are
Molinia, Deschampsia, and Calamagrostis x acutiflora, with
Siberian irises (Iris sibirica), Knautia macedonica, daylilies
(Hemerocallis), and Salvia pratensis among the perennials.
Late-season appeal One of the major attractions
ofprairie plantings is their long season of interest; in fall,
Stipa gigantea flowers are still going strong, as are the
blue spires of Perovskia atriplicifolia. The spherical
seedheads of globe thistles (Echinops) and sea hollies
(Echium) help give the planting structure through winter.
Classic combination One of the most characteristic
North American prairie plants is black-eyed Susan
(Rudbeckia). With the hazy bronze flowers of Stipa
tenuissima, a beautiful, long-lasting combination is created.
Prairie planting
13
14
Meadow planting
Meadows are basically mixtures of
grasses and wild flowers. Originally
theresult of traditional farming
practices,meadows can be shrunk
tofita domestic garden.
Pictures clockwise from right
Perennial meadows Seed mixtures of perennial grasses
and flowers are available to suit many soil types and
situations. For relatively moist, semi-shaded positions,
daisies, buttercups, and snakes-head fritillaries can be
added to grassland as small plug plants or bulbs.
Annual mixes Probably the easiest type of meadow to
establish is one based on a preformulated mix of annual
grasses and wild flowers. Sown onto cleared ground, these
give a beautiful flowering meadow of annual poppies
(Papaver) and cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) within
weeks, but will need resowing every spring. Using native
species makes meadows particularly valuable to wildlife.
Grass flowers The flowerheads of many grasses, such as
fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides, far right) and
wild barley (Hordeum jubatum, below) are beautiful in
their own right, particularly if grown in full sun when they
take on tinges of pink. It is important to match the vigor
of the grasses to those of the wild flowers: meadows
actually succeed best in poor, dry soils, where it is easier
for the flowers to compete with the grasses.
Meadow planting
15
16
Gravel gardens
The graceful forms of grasses and
bamboos look great when planted in
gravel, where they usually grow well,
Gravel gardens
17
18
19
20
Asian gardens
Chinese and Japanese gardens are oases
of green in which rocks and gravel,
water, and plants are combined to
create idealized pictures of nature. The
effect relies on the juxtaposition of
foliage shapes and textures, making
bamboos and grasses perfect choices.
Pictures clockwise from below
Bamboo grove If space is not limited, bamboos such
asYushania maculata can be planted alone and allowed
toform groves, through which paths can be cut.
Contemplative scene The main impact of this
Japanese-inspired garden comes from foliage color and
shape, including the fine leaves of grasses and sedges,
which are used primarily around the pond.
Asian screen Traditional wooden Japanese-style screens
provide the perfect backdrop to clumps of Phyllostachys.
In Japan, the screens would be faced with opaque heavy
rice paper; in colder and wetter climates, clouded acrylic is
more appropriate.
Authentic composition A shady corner in this Japanese
tea garden suits arrow bamboo (Fargesia), which displays
its elegant, arching habit well, echoing the pendulous
Wisteria flowers and leaves to the left in the foreground.
Asian gardens
21
22
23
24
Container designs
Most grasses and grasslike plants thrive
in containers and raised beds, bringing
color and movement to patios and
decking. Many bamboos also look good
in pots, and confining vigorous species
in this way limits their spread.
Pictures clockwise from right
Harmonious patio Hard landscaping like paving and
steps can look rather stark in a garden without the
softening effect of plants. In this sophisticated scheme,
gaps have been left in the lower course of paving to
house grasses and sedges. The limited amount of soil
towhich these plants have access makes the gaps
behavelike pots sunk into the ground, which helps tie
thecontainers on the step into the arrangement. The
repeated use of gold-leaved sedge in a pot and against
the lower step helps integrate the scheme, as do the
blue-gray pavers and gray stones surrounding the blueleaved Festuca glauca grasses. Like the grasses and
sedges, the clipped boxwood is evergreen, providing yearround interest, while the pot of flowering violas
introduces a seasonal summery note.
Uniform plantings Repetition of the same plant in
thesame container introduces formality into a design,
particularly when both plants and containers are large.
Here, three contemporary cubes house specimen black
bamboos (Phyllostachys nigra), whose stems turn jet
blackwith age. They act as a hedge or screen, marking
the edge of the decking and giving some privacy from
theoverlooking windows. Bamboos in pots must not be
allowed to dry out, so it is a good idea to install an
automated irrigation system to keep them constantly moist.
Stainless steel beds A series of modern stainless steel
raised beds in the corner of a decked area gives the
opportunity for mixing and matching foliage colors and
shapes. A bamboo in the background is underplanted
with a purple-leaved New Zealand flax (Phormium) and
tufty Festuca glauca. The blue-leaved hosta in the lower
bed echoes the color of the grass but has a contrasting
leaf shape, while the slightly larger yellow hosta behind
matches the yellow-variegated sedge in front and also
provides an interesting mix of foliage forms.
Container designs
25
26
Ground-cover plantings
Many grasses, grasslike plants, and afew at regular intervals and they will soon
of the smaller bamboos make excellent
knit together into an ornamental, weedground-cover plants. Space several plants suppressing block.
Ground-cover plantings
27
28
29
Getting
started
To understand how to grow and
care for your plants, its useful to
know how they live in their natural
habitats. In this chapter, find out
more about bamboos, grasses, and
other plants, so that you can provide
them with the conditions they enjoy.
Also learn how to evaluate your site
and soil, and follow the tips on
choosing a planting style to suit your
garden. Finally, get your plants off
to a good start with some simple
planting and sowing techniques.
32
Getting started
What is a grass?
Grasses form one of the largest and
most widely distributed families of
flowering plants. All true grasses are
members of the Poaceae, but not every
plant with strap-shaped leaves is a grass.
What is a grass?
33
Miscanthus sinensis
Silberfeder, one of the largest
of a group of late-flowering
ornamental grasses, can reach
5 ft (1.5 m) in height.
34
Getting started
What is a bamboo?
Bamboos are simply grasses with the
ability to make wood, allowing them
to grow much larger than their
herbaceous, nonwoody family relatives.
Most species are tropical or subtropical.
What is a bamboo?
35
Chusquea
Fargesia
Himalayacalamus
P hyllostachys (in
behavior)
Semiarundinaria (in
behavior)
Thamnocalamus
Bashania
x Hibanobambusa
Indocalamus
P leioblastus
Pseudosasa
Sasa
Sasaella
Y ushania (in behavior)
36
Getting started
37
38
Getting started
39
40
Getting started
41
42
Getting started
Garden requirements Open, sunny sites with freedraining, relatively infertile soils suit prairies and meadows.
Suitable plants:
Suitable plants:
Prairieslarge grasses
C alamagrostis x
acutiflora cultivars
Cortaderia selloana
Miscanthus sinensis
S tipa gigantea
Meadowssmaller grasses
Agrostis species
Briza maxima, B. minor
Deschampsia cespitosa
Festuca species
Molinia caerulea
Drier shade:
m
any bamboos,
especially Fargesia,
Indocalamus, and
Pleioblastus species
L uzula (woodrushes)
43
Cortaderia selloana
Luzula sylvatica
P halaris arundinacea
Pleioblastus viridistriatus
Stipa gigantea
T hamnocalamus species
Phyllostachys species
m
ost sedges, especially
Carex and Uncinia
Calamagrostis x
acutiflora cultivars
Pumila
E lymus magellanica
Fargesia species
Festuca glauca
P leioblastus species
var. picta
44
Getting started
45
Remove the plant from its pot and gently tease out the
roots around the edges of the root ball. This encourages
them to grow out into the surrounding soil.
Place the plant centrally into the hole, and fill in with the
excavated soil around the edges, firming gently with your
fingers. Some gardeners like to mix compost into the
excavated soil, but this is not absolutely necessary.
46
Getting started
Dividing grasses
Large grasses can often be divided at
planting-out time, yielding extra plants
for free. Wait until late summer to divide
Miscanthus species and cultivars, though;
they react badly to being divided earlier.
Dividing grasses
47
Remove the plant from the pot and look at the natural
lines of growth to see where the plant (here Leymus
arenarius) is best sliced. Larger specimens may yield as
many as three or four divisions.
Once the crown has been cut through, gently pry apart
the rest of the root ball with your handsthis actually
causes less damage to the fibrous grass root system than
cutting it.
48
Getting started
49
Take the bamboo out of its pot. Loosen the root ball
(amix of roots and thicker rhizomes) to encourage the
roots to grow into the soil. Cut off any rhizomes that
aretoo long to fit easily into the pot.
Place the plant in the center and put potting mix around the
edges, firming gently with the fingers. Make sure the root
ball is covered with 1 in (23 cm) of soil, because
bamboos tend to heave upward in pots over time.
50
Getting started
51
Mix the excavated soil and the soil at the base of the hole
with a few generous handfuls of garden compost, potting
mix, or composted bark.
Keeping the plant upright with one hand, add more of the
compost and soil mix, working it into every cranny. It is
important not to leave any air holes, but take care not to
damage the plant. Fill to ground level, firm, and water in.
52
Getting started
53
Fill a seed or module tray with a low-nutrient seedstarting mix to within in (0.5 cm) of the lip, and tap the
tray gently to settle the soil. Top off if necessary.
Water the tray well with a fine spray, and keep the soil
moist. Depending on the grass species, germination may
take a day or up to three weeks. Pot on or plant out when
the seedlings are about 16 in (15 cm) high.
54
Getting started
Sowing a meadow
With a good-quality seed mix and nottoo-rich, well-prepared soil, both annual
and perennial meadows are remarkably
easy to establish. Very low-maintenance,
they can be created on any scale.
Sowing a meadow
55
Once the area is sown, press it down gently with the back
of a rake to ensure that the seed is in contact with the
soil. Becareful not to bury the new seed, because light is
important for the germination of most meadow species.
56
Getting started
Place the plant centrally in the basket and fill around the
root ball with more soil or potting mix, firming gently and
making sure that the plant is upright. The plant shown
here is a horsetail,Equisetum hyemale var. affinis.
57
Planting
recipes
The beautiful planting combinations
in this chapter are easy to achieve,
and the cultivation tips show you
how. You can also easily adapt the
recipes to suit your own garden or
planting style. The symbols below
are used in the recipes to indicate
the conditions the plants prefer.
Key to plant symbols
Soil preference
f
Well-drained soil
Moist soil
Wet soil
Full sun
Full shade
Hardiness ratings
Q Fully hardy plants
P Plants that survive outside in mild
regions or sheltered sites
* Plants that need protection from frost
over winter
Tender plants that do not tolerate any
degree of frost
60
Planting recipes
All-grass border
Borders composed entirely of grasses
arevery low-maintenance and suited to
both contemporary and more traditional
gardens. They rely for their effect on a
combination of contrasts: height, plant
habit (upright or arching), leaf size and
color, and flower shape and color.
Chosen well, grass borders can be very
colorful, with a long season of interest,
and their movement brings an extra
dimension to the garden. Here, the
upright forms of Stipa calamagrostis and
Miscanthus sinensis Zebrinus create the
backbone, with the arching flowerheads
of M. sinensis Morning Light in
between. Clumps of smaller grasses
make up the foreground.
Stipa calamagrostis
qdeaB
qdea
Pennisetum alopecuroides
qdea
qdea
Elymus magellanicus
qeaB
p/qdea
Border basics
Size 10 x 5 ft (3 x 1.5 m)
Suits Most gardens, particularly
contemporary
Soil Free-draining
Site Full sun to limited shade
Shopping list
2 x Stipa calamagrostis
1 x Miscanthus sinensis Zebrinus
1 x Miscanthus sinensis Morning
Light
2 x Pennisetum alopecuroides
3 x Hakonechloa macra Aureola
1 x Elymus magellanicus
Planting and aftercare
Position the taller species toward the
back of the border, allowing at least
18in (45cm) between them since they
allform substantial clumps. Place the
smaller grasses toward the front,
grouping the three slow-growing
Hakonechloa about 8 in (20 cm) apart.
Add a gravel mulch to reduce weeds
andhelp conserve water. Water for the
first year while the planting establishes.
Although deciduous, these grasses can
be left to provide winter structure.
All-grass border
61
62
Planting recipes
Border basics
Stipa gigantea
qda
qdeab
Size 10 x 5 ft (3 x 1.5 m)
Suits Modern or cottage-garden border
Soil Most, except excessively wet or dry
Site Full sun to partial shade
Shopping list
4 x Stipa gigantea
2 x Betula utilis var. jacquemontii
8 x Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata
Ruby Port
qdeab
Foeniculum vulgare
qdab
qdab
63
64
Planting recipes
Japanese influences
A Japanese-style garden represents an
idealized form of nature, with a restful
atmosphere that changes relatively little
through the seasons. The emphasis is
onfoliage and the contrasts of different
leaf colors, sizes, and textures. Rocks
and gravel are often prominent, with
ornamentation, such as a lantern,
understated but very carefully placed.
Here, the lantern in the background,
surrounded by foliage, terminates the
view and is the lynchpin of the whole
composition without dominating it.
Other suitable plants for a Japanese-style
garden include sedges, ferns, hostas,
and evergreen azaleas.
Border basics
Size 10 x 20 ft (3 x 6 m)
Suits Asian-style gardens
Soil Moist and fertile
Site Partial shade
Pleioblastus variegatus
Shopping list
1 x Pleioblastus variegatus
1 x Phyllostachys bambusoides
qdebC
Phyllostachys bambusoides
Castillonii qdeab
Fargesia nitida
Petasites japonicus
qdeab
qefbc
Castillonii
2 x Fargesia nitida
1 x Petasites japonicus
Planting and aftercare
The tall Phyllostachys is planted close to
the path to overhang it, while two finerleaved Fargesia are beyond and to either
side of the lantern, framing it with their
hanging foliage. The two other key
plantslarge-leaved Petasites and short
Pleioblastus variegatusare staggered
on either side of the path. Together,
these principal plants lead the eye from
left, to right, left again, and right to rest
finally on the lantern.
Keep plants moist while establishing,
and groom them regularly to remove
dead leaves. The Petasites and bamboos
spread over time and need pruning to
keep them in check.
Japanese influences
65
66
Planting recipes
Bamboo grove
Where space is available to let bamboos
grow tall and spread sideways, you
cancreate an Asian-looking grove
orforest. Planting several different
bamboos together allows subtle
contrasts between leaf size, plant shape,
and stem (culm) color to come through.
The Phyllostachys violascens, the largest
species here, and Thamnocalamus are
grown primarily for their stem color,
while Fargesia robusta is a good, densely
clumping, all-around bamboo.
Border basics
Size 15 x 15 ft (5 x 5 m)but will spread
beyond this if not managed
Suits Medium-sized to large, Asian-style
or woodland gardens
Soil Free-draining to moist
Shopping list
1 x Thamnocalamus spathiflorus
3 x Pleioblastus viridistriatus
1 x Phyllostachys violascens
1 x Fargesia robusta
Thamnocalamus spathiflorus
Pleioblastus viridistriatus
qdeb
qdebC
Phyllostachys violascens
Fargesia robusta
qdeab
qdeab
Bamboo grove
67
68
Planting recipes
Border basics
Stipa gigantea
Pefab
qda
qdeab
Sedum spectabile
Calamagrostis brachytricha
qdeab
qdeab
Size 15 x 10 ft (5 x 3 m)
Suits Informal contemporary and wildlife
gardens
Soil Free-draining
Site Full sun, wherever possible
Shopping list
1 x Arundo donax var. versicolor
3 x Stipa gigantea
3 x Achillea filipendulina Gold Plate
7 x Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii
Goldsturm
2 x Sedum spectabile
5 x Calamagrostis brachytricha
Planting and aftercare
Set out the plants in their pots and try
tomake their positioning look as random
as possible, ideally forming small groups
rather than dotting individuals around.
Once established, prairie plantings are
extremely drought-tolerant. Although
most of the plants are deciduous, their
flowerheads and stems stand up well to
winter weather and look attractive rimed
with frost, while their seedheads are
appreciated by the local wildlife. Cut
plants back to ground level in early
spring, if not before, to give new growth
room to come through.
69
70
Planting recipes
Border basics
Helenium
Stipa tenuissima
qdeab
qdeab
Anemanthele lessoniana
Echinacea paradoxa
p/qdeab
qdeab
Shopping list
2 x orange-red Helenium
2 x Stipa tenuissima
1 x Anemanthele lessoniana
2 x Echinacea paradoxa or E. purpurea
1 x Achillea Taygetea
Planting and aftercare
Set out the grasses first, in their pots,
then add the perennials, trying to make
the planting appear as random and
natural as possible, and grouping the
plants quite closely together. Place
thetaller plants toward the back,
withthe shorter ones near the front.
These plants do well in dry conditions
once established, but if in a container,
they will probably need watering at least
once a week. Apart from deadheading
the perennials to prolong their flowering
display, maintenance is minimal: cut back
plants hard as they die off in fall, or leave
until spring so that you can enjoy their
skeletal structure over winter.
Achillea Taygetea
Echinacea purpurea
qdeab
qdeab
71
72
Planting recipes
Meadow planting
Mixing smaller grasses with wildflowers,
whether annual or perennial, is an
increasingly popular form of lowmaintenance gardening. Ornamental
meadows essentially mimic traditional
hay meadows, most of which have been
lost through the intensification of
farming methods. Meadow plants are
great for attracting wildlife into the
garden, and the planting style is also
extremely flexible, working on any scale,
from a large container to a whole field.
Garden basics
Size Any size
Suits Informal, contemporary, and
wildlife gardens
Soil Free-draining and not too rich
Site Full sun
qda
qda
qda
qda
Papaver rhoeas
Leucanthemum vulgare
Anthemis arvensis
Planting and aftercare
The easiest and most effective way of
establishing both annual and perennial
meadows is to sow seed onto bare,
prepared soil in spring. You can buy
commercial seed mixes from specialist
suppliers, or blend your own from
flowers and grasses that you like. Sowing
the seed directly gives the random mix
of species found in hay meadows.
Sow the seed evenly and thinly. Take
outany obvious weeds, such as dock,
nettle, and thistles, as they come
through. Keep the germinating seedlings
moist initially. After that, there is little
todo other than cutting plants down to
ground level in fall and composting the
dead material. Annual grasses must be
re-sown every spring.
qda
qda
Meadow planting
73
74
Planting recipes
Border basics
Size 12 x 10 ft (4 x 3 m)
Suits Informal and contemporary gardens
Soil Free-draining
Site Ideally, full sun
Shopping list
1 x Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl
Foerster
3 x Miscanthus sinensis
1 x Stipa gigantea
4 x Stipa tenuissima
Miscanthus sinensis
Stipa gigantea
Stipa tenuissima
qda
qdeaB
qdeaB
75
76
Planting recipes
Astilbe
qefdaB
qdeaB
Uncinia rubra
Festuca glauca
qeFBC
qdeaB
Woodsia polystichoides
Hosta Patriot
qeB
qeaB
Bed basics
Size 3 x 2 ft (90 x 45 cm)
Suits Contemporary and informal gardens,
or containers
Soil Moist but free-draining
Site Sun or shade
Shopping list
1 x pink-flowered Astilbe
1 x Phormium Bronze Baby
1 x Uncinia rubra
1 x Festuca glauca
1 x Woodsia polystichoides
3 x Hosta Patriot
Planting and aftercare
This scheme is one for small spaces, so
make sure that you position the plants
closely together. Put the central plants
infirst, then work outward, placing the
hostas and fern so that they lean slightly
out and spill over the edges of the
decking. Finish off with a mulch of bark
chips. The hostas, fern, and hook sedge
relish moist soil, while the fescue and
Phormium prefer drier conditions, so
water carefully, aiming for evenly moist,
but never wet, soil. Trim back any plant
as soon as it appears to be outgrowing
its allotted space.
77
78
Planting recipes
Striking combinations
This planting shows off perfectly the
architectural qualities of a large bamboo
clump in a setting where space is not
ata premium. The bamboo is
complemented by the understated,
low-growing plants beneath it.
Underplanting a substantial bamboo
clump helps to keep weeds down and
gives it a foil, but choose companions
carefully because the ground at the
baseis usually dry. Avoid strong foliage
or flower colors and leave the emphasis
squarely on the bamboo itself,
particularly if you prune the lowest
branches to highlight the culms (stems),
as here. Some of the culms in this
species are curiously crooked toward
their base, adding extra interest.
Border basics
Size 10 x 5 ft (3 x 1.5 m)
Suits Informal, woodland, and
contemporary gardens with space
Soil Free-draining to moist
Site Full sun to partial shade
Phyllostachys aureosulcata
Anemanthele lessoniana
qdeaB
P/qdeaB
Alternative plant idea
Shopping list
1 x Phyllostachys aureosulcata or
Pseudosasa japonica
1 x Anemanthele lessoniana
4 x Erigeron karvinskianus
Planting and aftercare
A similar arrangement could be made
with any medium to tall bamboo species,
in virtually any part of the garden where
there is room. You could allow the clump
to spread freely in an open situation at
the edge of woodland, as here, for
example, or keep it in check with regular
pruning. For immediate impact, purchase
a fairly large bamboo. Plant it first, with
the Anemanthele in front of it and the
Erigeron (a daisy from Mexico that can
be a little tender) spaced evenly around
the foreground. Prune off the lowest
branches of the bamboo, if desired.
Erigeron karvinskianus
Pseudosasa japonica
P/qdeaB
qdeaB
Striking combinations
79
80
Planting recipes
Feather-topped screen
This simple yet effective planting creates
a screen of grasses and sedges, with
late-flowering perennials in front, and
will flower from late summer right
through the fall.
Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) was
overplanted in the 1970s and remains
unfashionable, which is a shame
because, en masse, it can make a
wonderful hedge or screen.
Sunningdale Silver isavariegated
selection with relatively compact
flowerheads. Its gray-green leavesand
white flowers contrast strongly with a
substantial clump of reddahlias, which
are teamed with the flat flowerheads of
Sedum, and the sedge Carex elata
Aurea in the foreground.
Border basics
Size 10 x 6 ft (3 x 2 m)
Suits Formal and informal gardens, as a
screen or divider between sections
Soil Free-draining to moist
Site Full sun to partial shade
peaB
Shopping list
3 x Cortaderia selloana
Sunningdale Silver
qdeaB
qeFBC
Feather-topped screen
81
82
Planting recipes
Bamboo camouflage
A lovely planting that combines
bamboos, grasses, and sedges extremely
well but also serves a practical purpose,
screening a garden shed from view.
Fargesia murielae, with its elegant
arching shape, and more upright
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. aureocaulis
intermingle at the heart of the border.
Their lower branches have been pruned
to allow for the underplanting of grasses
and drought-tolerant New Zealand
sedges in a range of contrasting but
complementary colors.
Border basics
Fargesia murielae
qdeaB
Phyllostachys aureosulcata
f.aureocaulis qdeaB
Leymus arenarius
qdea
qdaB
Carex buchananii
Carex comans
P/qdeaB
P/qdeaB
Size 12 x 6 ft (4 x 2 m)
Suits Informal, contemporary, and
Asian gardens
Soil Free-draining
Site Full sun to partial shade
Shopping list:
1 x Fargesia murielae
1 x Phyllostachys aureosulcata
f.aureocaulis
1 x Pennisetum alopecuroides
Hameln
1 x Leymus arenarius
2 x Carex buchananii
3 x Carex comans
Planting and aftercare
Plant the two bamboos centrally and
quite close together so that they provide
the best possible screening effect. Place
the grasses and sedges in their pots
around the bamboos, with the taller
Carex buchananii and Leymus closest
to them and smaller plants toward the
edges of the bed. When happy with
their positions, plant each in turn,
working from the middle outward. This
planting will largely take care of itself.
Simply trim back the deciduous grasses
in spring, remove dead leaves from the
Carex, and keep the bamboos from
wandering too far.
Bamboo camouflage
83
84
Planting recipes
Border basics
Size 6 x 6 ft (2 x 2 m)
Suits Informal, contemporary, and
prairie-style gardens
Soil Free-draining
Site Full sun
Shopping list
1 x Stipa gigantea
2 x Crocosmia Lucifer
6 x Allium bulbs, such as
Stipa gigantea
Crocosmia Lucifer
qda
qdeaB
Allium
Stipa tenuissima
qdeaB
qdeaB
A. giganteum
2
x Stipa tenuissima
85
86
Planting recipes
Artistic inspirations
In this painterly composition, grasses
andsedges add movement and texture
to a herbaceous underplanting that
repeats the same few plants.
Stipa gigantea is used here so that
itsheight is emphasized, but the
transparent nature of its flowerheads
means it never dominates. Spherical
Allium flowers also add vertical notes,
while the yellow, strap-shaped leaves
ofgolden sedge (Carex elata Aurea)
contrast with the leaf textures and colors
of Astrantia, purple-leaved Persicaria,
and steely blue Perovskia.
Border basics
Stipa gigantea
qda
qdaB
Allium giganteum
qdeaB
qdeaB
qdeaB
qeFBC
Size 12 x 12 ft (4 x 4 m)
Suits Informal and contemporary gardens
Soil Moist but free-draining
Site Full sun to part shade
Shopping list
2 x Stipa gigantea
3 x Perovskia Blue Spire
2 x Persicaria microcephala Red
Dragon
8 12 x Allium giganteum
5 x Astrantia Hadspen Blood
3 x Carex elata Aurea
Planting and aftercare
This scheme relies on closely packed
plants for impact. Plant the Stipa first,
backed by the Perovskia, with the
Persicaria in front of that. Group the
same plants together, but weave the
groupings through each other to create
a naturalistic feel, with the Carex and
Astrantia toward the front.
The plants are so close together that you
will probably need to cut back the more
vigorous species, such as the Perovskia
and Persicaria. Extra water may be
required in dry periods. Deadheading
will extend the flowering period, and is
well worth the extra effort.
Artistic inspirations
87
88
Planting recipes
Creative containers
This simple but really elegant grouping
comprising a sedge and two grasses in
pots in front of a bamboo screen would
grace almost any style of garden.
The bamboo Fargesia nitida forms an
evergreen backdrop, with Bowles
golden sedge (Carex elata Aurea)
cascading out of the largest pot,
andsteely blue Elymus magellanicus and
arching clumps of variegated moor
grass(Molinia caerulea) in front. The
main impact comes from the contrast
inleaf colors.
Border basics
Size 3 x 3 ft (1 x 1 m) corner of a patio
or decking
Suits Contemporary, informal, and Asian
gardens
Soil Potting mix
Site Full sun to partial shade
Shopping list
2 x Fargesia nitida
1 x Carex elata Aurea
1 x Molinia caerulea subsp. caerulea
Fargesia nitida
qdeaB
qeFBC
Elymus magellanicus
Variegata
1 x Elymus magellanicus
Planting and aftercare
Plant the two bamboos in the ground
where they will create the backdrop for
your group of pots. Choose three pots
inthe same material but in different
sizes, the largest being about 12 in
(30cm) in diameter. Glazed Asian-style
or galvanized metal containers would
serve just as well as terra-cotta. Half-fill
each pot with a loam-based potting mix.
Plant the golden sedge in the largest
pot, Elymus in the medium pot, and
moor grass in the smallest. Arrange the
three until you are happy with the
grouping. All three plants are deciduous,
dying back in winter. The Elymus is not
reliably hardy, so it may need extra
protection in winter in colder areas.
P/qdea
Creative containers
89
90
Planting recipes
Container basics
Size Large pot at least 10 in (25 cm)
in diameter
Suits Cottage, contemporary, and
informal gardens
Soil Multipurpose potting mix
Site Full sun to partial shade
Shopping list
1 x Stipa tenuissima or Pennisetum
Stipa tenuissima
qdeaB
deaB
Alternative plant idea
villosum
Pennisetum villosum
Pdea
91
92
Planting recipes
Tropical mix
The four substantial plants in this
grouping are all fairly hardy yet look very
tropical. This flowerless composition
relies on contrasts in plant form, foliage
textures, and coloring for effect.
The stout trunk of the tree fern
(Dicksonia antarctica) complements
theupright Phormium and Miscanthus.
The fern is topped by a contrasting,
arching canopy of fronds, subtly echoed
in the spreading shape of the bamboo
(Phyllostachys nigra).
Border basics
Size 12 x 10 ft (4 x 3 m)
Suits Contemporary, subtropical, and
informal gardens
Soil Moisture-retentive
Site Partial shade
Shopping list
1 x Dicksonia antarctica
1 x Phyllostachys nigra
1 x Phormium tenax Variegatum
1 x Miscanthus sinensis Zebrinus
Dicksonia antarctica
Phyllostachys nigra
P/qeaB
qdeaB
qdeaB
qdea
Tropical mix
93
94
Planting recipes
Jungle effects
Statuesque bamboos are underplanted
here with shade-tolerant sedges and
woodrushes, giving this composition
alush, jungly feel. This planting would
look great in a subtropical-style garden
with larger-leaved plants, but would also
perform well in the corner of a city
garden shaded by buildings or large trees.
As they mature, the bamboos will knit
together, forming a screen. The sedges
and woodrushes will also grow to fill in
the gaps, giving continuous, weedsuppressing ground cover.
Border basics
Phyllostachys bambusoides
Phyllostachys nigra
qdeaB
qdeaB
Luzula nivea
qeFBC
qdeBC
Shopping list
1 x Phyllostachys bambusoides or
Fargesia murielae
1 x Phyllostachys nigra
3 x Carex oshimensis Evergold
2 x Luzula nivea
3 x Luzula sylvatica
Planting and aftercare
Plant the bamboos (Phyllostachys) first,
toward the back of the border, at least
3ft (1m) apart to give them room to
spread. Place the woodrushes (Luzula)
toeither side and group the variegated
sedges (Carex) in the center. These
plants also spread, so space them out
evenly. When you are happy with the
arrangement, go ahead and plant. Cover
with a mulch of chipped bark to keep
weeds down. Bamboos and woodrushes
are drought-tolerant once established,
but the sedge may need watering during
dry periods. Woodrushes may spread
rapidly, so keep them in check.
Luzula sylvatica
Fargesia murielae
qdeBC
qdeaB
Jungle effects
95
96
Planting recipes
Hosta sieboldiana
P/qeFab
qeaB
Carex glauca
qeFaB
qeFaB
Petasites japonicus
Houttuynia cordata
qeFaB
qeFaB
Border basics
Size 6 x 6 ft (2 x 2 m), around pond or stream
Suits Bog and water gardens, wildlife
gardens
Soil Moist to wet
Site Full sun to part shade
Shopping list
1 x Zantedeschia aethiopica
Crowborough
1 x Hosta sieboldiana
1 x Equisetum hyemale var. affine
1 x Carex glauca
1 x Petasites japonicus
3 x Houttuynia cordata
Planting and aftercare
The horsetail can be grown in the water
in aquatic planting baskets (see pp.56
57). Place the remaining plants toward
the waters edge, the Petasites front left,
one Houttuynia and the Carex front
right. Plant the other two Houttuynia,
the Zantedeschia (which could also be
grown in water like the horsetail), and
the Hosta at the back.
Pond edges can dry out and pond water
levels fall in hot weather, so keep both
topped off with water.
97
98
Planting recipes
Border basics
qeBC
qeaB
qeaB
qdeaB
qeaB
Shopping list
4 x Deschampsia flexuosa Tatra Gold
6 x Deschampsia cespitosa Goldtau
2 x Acer shirasawanum Aureum
4 x Heuchera micrantha var.
diversifolia Palace Purple
99
Caring for
your plants
This chapter is a guide to keeping
your bamboos, grasses, and grasslike
plants looking their best. Most of
the plants in this book are easy
to maintain, but at certain times of
the year, especially in spring and
fall, a little care and attention pays
dividends. You may need to keep
spreading bamboos in check, and
prune out old grass and bamboo
stems to allow space for new
growth to push through. Plants that
have outgrown their containers will
also need to be repotted.
Preventing excess seedlings Some grasses and grasslike plants, such as this Luzula nivea, disperse a lot of
viable seed, resulting in unwanted plants. To avoid this,
simply remove any fading flowers with scissors or pruners
before they start shedding seed.
107
Alternative methods
110
111
Refill the trench with the excavated soil. Any new culms
that appear can be snapped off at ground level; they will
not regrow. Thinning out the oldest, weakest culms will
encourage the bamboo to reshoot within the clump.
112
113
114
Part of the old plant can be grown in the old pot or a new,
larger one; other pieces can be planted in the garden. Add
plenty of crocks to the base of the pot for drainage, and a
few inches of loam-based potting mix.
Fill around the division with fresh potting mix and firm the
soil down gently with your fingers. Ensure that the divided
section remains upright for a neat appearance.
Top off the potting mix so that the surface of the old root
ball is covered with 1 in (23 cm) of new soil
bamboos can heave themselves up in a pot over time.
Work the soil between the culms for an even surface.
Water the plant well to settle the soil around the stems. If
the container is large, it is usually prudent to place it in its
intended position before this stage because wet soil is
considerably heavier than dry.
10
11
115
116
117
Spring
Summer
Bamboos
Early spring is a good time for planting container-grown
bamboos, before growth has started in earnest.
Thin out dead, old, and weak stems from established
clumps of bamboo to encourage new growth.
Snap off emerging shoots coming up in the wrong place
at ground levelthis causes them to abort, so they will
not regrow.
Remove yellowing leaves to keep plants looking
groomeda percentage of old leaves will yellow over
the course of the winter, but this is no cause for concern.
Top-dress clumps with a mulch or garden compost.
Bamboos
Water newly planted bamboos during dry periods while
they are establishing.
Water container-grown bamboos regularly, never
allowing them to dry out completely, which can cause
all the leaves to turn brown.
To show off the stem color of an established clump,
prune off the lowest branches close to the stems.
Take off persistent leaf sheaths from stems once they
begin leafing out (unless you like the variegated effect
they produce).
Grasses
Sow seed of annual and perennial grasses in trays or
modules (below).
Give clumps of deciduous grasses their annual haircut,
ideally just before or as new green growth starts to
appear, if they were not cut back in fall.
Comb the dead leaves out of clumps of evergreen
grasses, using a rake for larger species or fingers for
smaller ones (wear gloves if the leaf edges are sharp).
Grasses
It is still not too late to plant container-grown grasses
(below); there should be a better selection in garden
centers than earlier in the year.
Water newly planted grasses in prolonged dry periods,
particularly those in pots.
Late summer is the best time to divide Miscanthus
species and cultivars, but not other grasses.
118
Winter
Bamboos
Fall is a good time to thin bamboo clumps (below),
removing thin and weak culms, those that have died
over summer, or those that are too far from the clump.
Top-dress with an organic mulch or apply a slow-release
general-purpose fertilizer.
Continue watering potted bamboos as and when
necessaryfall can be as warm and dry as summer.
If a bamboo clump has spread too far, dig a trench
around it and cut off the rhizomes (see pp.110111).
Bamboos
Late fall and early winter are the best times to plant
bare-root bamboo divisions (see pp.5051).
Divide clumps of bamboos growing in the ground,
especially if they are too large (see pp.110-111).
In mild periods, winter is the best time to split and repot
container-grown bamboos (see pp.112115).
Check if container-grown bamboos are moist enough,
watering as necessary.
Grasses
Deadhead deciduous grasses that can self-seed too
enthusiastically, such as Molinia and Festuca species,
removing the seedheads before they ripen.
Most grass species, excluding Miscanthus, can be
divided successfully in fall.
Continue watering grasses grown in containers.
Grasses
Small deciduous grasses can collapse in winter, the dead
leaves smothering their crowns, keeping them too
damp. Cut back and remove the leaves when necessary.
Larger deciduous species, such as Miscanthus, can be left
over winter (below), but cut back stems if they collapse.
Cut back fading flower stems on evergreen grasses, such
as Cortaderia (pampas grass) and Stipa gigantea.
119
Plant guide
All the bamboos and grasses
profiled here are reliably hardy, with
one or two exceptions, and although
most garden centers stock only a
limited range, you will find more at
specialty nurseries (see pp.15455).
The symbols below are used
throughout the guide to indicate
the conditions each plant prefers.
Key to plant symbols
Soil preference
f
Well-drained soil
Moist soil
Wet soil
Full sun
Full shade
Hardiness ratings
Q Fully hardy plants
P Plants that survive outside in mild
regions or sheltered sites
* Plants that need protection from frost
over winter
Tender plants that do not tolerate any
degree of frost
122
Plant guide
Bamboos (ChusqueaIndocalamus)
Chusquea culeou
Fargesia murielae
H: to 20 ft (6 m), S: 8 ft (2.5 m)
H: to 12 ft (4 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
H: to 6 ft (2 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
qdEab
qdEab
qdEab
Bamboos (ChusqueaIndocalamus)
Fargesia nitida
Fargesia robusta
Himalayacalamus falconeri
H: to 12 ft (4 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
H: to 12 ft (4 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
H: to 22 ft (7 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
qdEab
qdEab
P/qdEab
123
Indocalamus tesselatus
Indocalamus have the largest leaves
of any temperate bamboo; those of
I. tesselatus are up to 16 in (40 cm)
long. The plant forms a dome of
foliage about 3 ft (1 m) high. It does
well in a container and looks very
tropical, though it is fully hardy.
qdEab
124
Plant guide
Bamboos (Phyllostachys)
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f.
aureocaulis
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f.
spectabilis
Phyllostachys bambusoides
H: to 25 ft (8 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
H: to 25 ft (8 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
H: to 75 ft (22 m), S: 20 ft (6 m)
qdEab
qdEab
qdEab
Phyllostachys flexuosa
Another giant bamboo, P. flexuosa,
as its name suggests, has flexible,
shiny green culms that tend to arch
over, giving the plant an attractive
weeping form. The culms of some
plants mayage to an attractive
mottled yellow-black.
H: to 30 ft (10 m), S: 20 ft (6 m)
qdEab
Bamboos (Phyllostachys)
125
Phyllostachys nigra
Phyllostachys violascens
H: to 50 ft (50 m), S: 20 ft (6 m)
H: to 50 ft (15 m), S: 20 ft (6 m)
H: to 35 ft (11 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
qdEab
qdEab
qdEab
Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens
H: to 33 ft (10 m), S: 20 ft (6 m)
H: to 25 ft (8 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
qdEab
qdEab
126
Plant guide
Bamboos (PleioblastusSemiarundinaria)
Pleioblastus pygmaeus
Pleioblastus variegatus
Pseudosasa japonica
H: to 24 in (60 cm), S: 12 ft (4 m)
H: to 6 ft (2 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
H: to 12 ft (4 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
qdEbc
qdEbc
qdEab
Pleioblastus viridistriatus
(syn. P. auricomus)
Similar to P. variegatus, but with a
rich golden yellow variegation that is
even more pronounced. The leaves
are up to 7 in (18 cm) long, the culms
an attractive purplish green. The
plant does well in shade or in pots.
H: to 5 ft (1.5 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
qdEbc
Bamboos (PleioblastusSemiarundinaria)
Sasa veitchii
H: to 10 ft (3 m), S: indefinite
H: to 40 ft (12 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
qdEab
qdEab
qdEab
127
Semiarundinaria fastuosa
var. viridis
This tallish bamboo is classed as a
runner but behaves like a clumper.
Itmakes an excellent screen or hedge,
with dense plumes of long, narrow
leaves, bright green culms, and a
tough constitution.
128
Plant guide
Bamboos (ShibataeaYushania)
Shibataea kumasaca
One of the best small bamboos,
S. kumasaca, from Japan, is clumpforming, slow-spreading, and dense.
It forms a mound of broad, pointed
leaves usually only 24 in (60 cm) high.
It is ideal for small gardens, pots, and
planting in gravel, but needs acidic soil.
Thamnocalamus spathiflorus
H: to 6 ft (1.7 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
H: to 25 ft (8 m,), S: 12 ft (4 m)
H: to 30 ft (10 m), S: 20 ft (6 m)
qdEbc
qdEb
qdEb
Yushania maculata
Although it is technically a clumpformer, Y. maculata may become a
runner, but it is never as invasive as
Sasa or Pleioblastus. Small-leaved,
arching, and graceful, it makes a fine
screen or hedge. It is not suitable for
small gardens or containers.
H: to 11 ft (3.5 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
qdEab
Grasses (AnemantheleBriza)
129
Grasses (AnemantheleBriza)
Anemanthele lessoniana
Arundo donax
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 4 ft (1.2 m)
H: 15 ft (4 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
P/qdEab
P/qEfab
H: 7 ft (2.2 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
Briza maxima
Briza minor
qdEfa
qdEfa
PEfab
130
Plant guide
Grasses (CalamagrostisCortaderia)
Calamagrostis x acutiflora
Karl Foerster
Calamagrostis x acutiflora
Overdam
Calamagrostis brachytricha
H: 5 ft (1.5 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 4 ft (1.2 m)
H: 4 ft (1.2 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
qda
qda
qdEab
Grasses (CalamagrostisCortaderia)
131
Calamagrostis emodensis
Chasmanthium latifolium
Chionochloa conspicua
H: 24 in (60 cm), S: 3 ft (1 m)
H: 4 ft (1.2 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
qdEab
qEb
P/qdEa
Cortaderia richardii
A relative of pampas grass, which it
rather resembles, C. richardii has a
mound of narrow evergreen leaves,
producing arching, shaggy plumes of
white or cream flowers. The leaves
can die back after flowering, and it is
not reliably hardy in very cold areas.
P/qdEa
132
Plant guide
Grasses (CortaderiaDeschampsia)
Cortaderia selloana
H: 10 ft (3 m), S: 8 ft (2.5 m)
H: 6 ft (2 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
qdEa
qdEa
qdEa
Grasses (CortaderiaDeschampsia)
133
Cortaderia selloana
Sunningdale Silver
Deschampsia cespitosa
Goldschleier
H: 6 ft (2 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
H: 10 ft (3 m), S: 8 ft (2.5 m)
H: 4 ft (1.2 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
qdEa
qdEa
qEab
qEab
qEbc
134
Plant guide
Grasses (ElymusHakonechloa)
Elymus magellanicus
Eragrostis curvula
Festuca glauca
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 4 ft (1.2 m)
P/qdEa
PdEa
qdEab
qdEab
qdEab
Grasses (ElymusHakonechloa)
135
H: 10 in (25 cm), S: 3 ft (1 m)
H: 10 in (25 cm), S: 3 ft (1 m)
qEfab
qEab
qEab
136
Plant guide
Grasses (HelictotrichonMiscanthus)
Helictotrichon sempervirens
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
H: 6 in (15 cm), S: 6 ft (2 m)
qdEa
qEfbc
PEab
qEfab
Grasses (HelictotrichonMiscanthus)
137
Miscanthus sinensis
Grosse Fontne
Miscanthus sinensis
Kleine Fontne
H: 6 ft (2 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
H: 6 ft (2 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
H: 5 ft (1.5 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
qdEa
qdEa
qdEa
Miscanthus sinensis
Little Kitten
A truly dwarf cultivar but just as freeflowering as its larger relatives, Little
Kitten adapts well to containers. It is
the best choice for smaller gardens,
since it mixes better with other grasses
than its more vigorous cousins.
qEda
138
Plant guide
Grasses (Miscanthus)
Miscanthus sinensis Malepartus
This medium-sized eulalia grass is a
good all-around choice for medium
tolarge gardens. It has large, erect,
reddish brown flower plumes and is
particularly attractive in fall, when the
foliage turns orange and russet
before bleaching to buff.
Miscanthus sinensis
Morning Light
H: 5 ft (1.5 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
H: 5 ft (1.5 m); S: 3 ft (1 m)
qdEa
qdea
qdEa
Grasses (Miscanthus)
139
H: up to 8 ft (2.5 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
qdEa
qdEa
qdEa
qdEa
Grasses (MiscanthusPanicum)
Miscanthus sinensis Variegatus
This medium-sized miscanthus has
broad white stripes running down
thelengths of the leaves. Forming an
arching clump, it flowers reasonably
well in early fall, but the blooms do
not last as well as those of most other
cultivars.
Miscanthus sinensis
Yakushima Dwarf
H: 5 ft (1.5 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
qdEa
qdEa
qdEa
Grasses (MiscanthusPanicum)
141
Panicum capillare
qdEa
qdEa
qdEaB
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
qda
qda
142
Plant guide
Grasses (PennisetumSpartina)
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Hameln
Pennisetum orientale
H: 30 in (75 cm), S: 3 ft (1 m)
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
qdEa
qdEa
pdEa
Grasses (PennisetumSpartina)
Pennisetum orientale
Karley Rose
This form of Asian fountain grass has
particularly long, elegant pink flowers
that are produced from late summer.
It is not the hardiest of grasses, which
makes it unsuitable forcolder areas.
pdEab
143
Pennisetum villosum
H: 24 in (60 cm), S: 3 ft (1 m)
odEab
pdEa
Spartina pectinata
Aureomarginata
A variegated form of North American
prairie cord grass forming arching
clumps of narrow, dark green leaves
edged in gold, and comblike, purpletinged flowers. It likes damp to wet,
but not permanently waterlogged, soil.
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
H: 4 ft (1.2 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
qdEab
qEFab
Grasses (Stipa)
Stipa calamagrostis
Stipa gigantea
Stipa tenuifolia
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
H: 6 ft (2 m), S: 6 ft (2 m)
qdEab
qda
qdEab
Stipa tenuissima
A deservedly popular species with
fine green leaves smothered in wispy
flowerheads that look rather like a
shaving brush. Emerging pink and
aging to white, they may obscure the
foliage until late fall, when the
deciduous structure usually collapses.
qdEab
145
Acorus gramineus
qEFbc
qEFbc
qEFbc
qEFbc
qEFbc
Carex comans
H: 30 in (75 cm), S: 3 ft (1 m)
p/Qdeab
p/Qdeab
qefbc
Carex grayi
H: 18 in (45 cm), S: 3 ft (1 m)
p/Qdeab
qefbc
qefbc
Carex pendula
A British native with its own subtle
appeal; unusually for a sedge, it is
grown primarily for its flowers. These
are like brown catkins, a few inches
long, and hang from arching stalks
well above a dense clump of broad,
fresh green leaves.
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
qefbc
147
Carex tenuiculmis
H: 30 in (75 cm), S: 3 ft (1 m)
H: 8 in (20 cm), S: 40 in (1 m)
qefbc
qefbc
p/Qdeab
Carex testacea
Carex trifida
H: 18 in (45 cm), S: 3 ft (1 m)
H: 3 ft (1 m), S: 3 ft (1 m)
p/Qdeab
Qefbc
149
Cyperus eragrostis
Cyperus involucratus
Cyperus papyrus
H: 40 in (1 m), S: 40 in (1 m)
H: 12 ft (4 m), S: 12 ft (4 m)
p/QeFbc
* fab
* fab
150
Plant guide
H: 3 ft (1 m); S: 6 ft (2 m) or more
qefab
qefab
qfab
qfab
151
Luzula nivea
qDEbc
qDEbc
qDEab
152
Plant guide
Ophiopogon planiscapus
Nigrescens
This is one of the few plants with
truly black leaves. Evergreen, it
spreads slowly by runners and
produces small white flowers in
summer, which are followed by shiny,
jet black berries.
H: 4 ft (1.4 m); S: 6 ft (2 m)
qDEAB
qDEAB
qEFaB
153
Typha latifolia
Typha minima
H: 10 ft (3 m); S: 6 ft (2 m)
qEfaB
qEfaB
qEfaB
Uncinia rubra
Hook sedges are handsome rust red
true sedges, similar in appearance to
some of the bronze Carex species
and, like them, from New Zealand.
However, Uncinia prefer damp to wet
soils and partial shade, making them
useful for bog and water gardens.
H: 12 in (30 cm); S: 3 ft (1 m)
qEfBc
154 Suppliers
Suppliers list
Bamboos
Bamboo Garden Nursery
1507 S. E. Alder Street
Portland, OR 97214
www.bamboogarden.com
Bamboo Headquarters
PO Box 1115
Vista, CA 92085
www.bambooheadquarters.com
Bamboo Sourcery
666 Wagnon Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.bamboosourcery.com
Bambu-u
2760 Gibbs Lake Road
Chimacum, WA 98325
www.bambu-u.com
Blue Ridge Bamboo
321 Colony Lane
Hendersonville, NC 28791
www.blueridgebamboo.com
Burt Associates Bamboo
PO Box 719
Westford, MA 01886
www.bamboos.com
Burtons Bamboo Garden
Morrow, OH 45152
www.burtonsbamboogarden.com
jmbamboo
4176 Humber Road
Dora, AL 35062
www.jmbamboo.com
Johnson Bamboo
70 Lark Avenue
Brooksville, FL 34601
www.johnsonbamboo.com
Lewis Bamboo Groves
265 Creekview Road
Oakman, AL 35579
www.lewisbamboo.com
Mid Atlantic Bamboo
1458 Dusty Road
Crewe, VA 23930
www.midatlanticbamboo.com
Steve Rays Bamboo Gardens
50 Cedar Cliff Road
Springville, AL 35146
www.thebamboogardens.com
Tradewinds Bamboo
28446 Hunter Creek Loop
Gold Beach, OR 97444
www.bamboodirect.com
Tropical Bamboo Nursery
2929 G Road East
Loxahatchee, FL 33470
www.tropicalbamboo.com
Suppliers
Earthly Pursuits
2901 Kuntz Road
Windsor Mill, MD 21244
www.earthlypursuits.net
ECOLAGE
2623 West Sale Road
Lake Charles, LA 70605
www.ecolage.safeshopper.com
Forestfarm
990 Tetherow Road
Williams, OR 97544
www.forestfarm.com
Garden Crossings
4902 96th Avenue
Zeeland, MI 49464
www.gardencrossings.com
Gum Tree Farm
6317 North New Hope Road
Hermitage, TN 37073
www.gumtreefarmnursery.com
Kurt Bluemel, Inc.
2740 Greene Lane
Baldwin, MD 21013
www.kurtbluemel.com
Lazy SS Farm Nursery
2360 Spotswood Trail
Barboursville, VA 22923
www.lazyssfarm.com
Paradise Garden
PO Box 267
Corryton, TN 37721
www.paradisegarden.com
Wildflower seed
mixtures
Prairie Moon Nursery
31837 Bur Oak Lane
Winona, MN 55987-9515
www.prairiemoon.com
Prairie Nursery, Inc.
PO Box 306
Westfield, WI 53964
www.prairienursery.com
The Wildflower Seed Company
P.O. Box 406
St. Helena, California 94574
www.wildflower-seed.com
155
156 Index
Index
A
Acer shirasawanum
Aureum 98
Achillea (yarrow)
A. filipendulina Gold
Plate 68
A. Taygetea 70
acidic soil 40
Acorus (sweet grass)
A. calamus 145
A. c. Variegatus 145
A. gramineus 145
A. g. Hakuro-nishiki
145
A. g. Ogon 145
care 118
combing 105
Agrostemma githago
(corncockle) 72
Agrostis 42
alkaline soil 40
Allium 84
A. giganteum 86
Anemanthele lessoniana
(pheasants-tail grass) 70,
78, 129
annual meadows 1415
Anthemis arvensis (corn
chamomile) 72
aquatic plants
planting 567
see also specific plants,
e.g., Equisetum
Aquilegia 22, 23
A. vulgaris var. stellata
Ruby Port
(columbine) 62
architectural plants see
statement plants
Arisaema 22, 23
arrow bamboo see
Fargesia
artistic planting 867
Arundo donax (Provencal
reed) 129
A. d. var. versicolor 68,
129
Asian fountain grass see
Pennisetum orientale
Asian gardens 201, 645
Astilbe 76
Astrantia 22, 23
A. Hadspen Blood 86
Avena sativa (wild oat) 72
B
Bacopa cordata see Sutera
cordata
bamboos 1228
for camouflage 823
care and maintenance
1023
containers see containers
controlling spread 11011
fall tasks 118
groves 667
jungle planting 945
planting 4851
pruning and tidying 1089,
11011
removing leaves 109
root systems 35
siting ideas 39, 43
spring tasks 117
summer tasks 117
what are they? 345
winter tasks 117
barley, wild see Hordeum
jubatum
Bashania 35
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii
(birch) 62
birch see Betula
black plants 24, 25, 27,
35
black-eyed Susan see
Rudbeckia
blood grass, Japanese see
Imperata cylindrica
blue fescue see Festuca
glauca
blue plants 17, 18, 245
bog gardens 289, 42,
967
borders
all-grass 601
mixed borders with
grasses and bamboos
1011, 43, 623
Bowles golden sedge see
Carex elata Aurea
boxwood 24
Briza (quaking grass)
B. maxima 42, 129
sowing 523
B. minor 42, 129
buttercups 14
C
Calamagrostis (feather reed
grass) 22, 23
C. x acutiflora 12, 42, 43
C. x a. Karl Foerster 74,
130
C. x a. Overdam 130
C. brachytricha (Korean
feather reed grass) 68,
130
C. emodensis 131
California gray rush see
Juncus patens Carmans
Gray
calla lily see Zantedeschia
camouflage planting
823
see also screens
care and maintenance
10019
Carex (sedge) 42, 43
C. aurea (golden sedge)
27
C. buchananii 82, 146
C. comans 82, 146
C. elata Aurea (Bowles
golden sedge) 28, 29, 43,
80, 86, 88, 146
C. flagellifera Coca-Cola
147
C. glauca 96
C. grayi 147
C. oshimensis Evergold 43,
94, 147
C. pendula 147
C. p. Moonraker 148
C. siderosticha Variegatus
(creeping broad-leaved
sedge) 148
C. tenuiculmis 148
C. testacea 148
C. trifida 148
cattails see Typha latifolia
Centaurea cyanus
(cornflower) 14, 72
cereals 33
chamomile, corn see
Anthemis arvensis
Index Ac-Ma
Cyperus
C. eragrostis (pale galingale)
149
C. involucratus (umbrella
sedge/palm) 149
C. papyrus 149
D
Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff 80
daisy 10, 11, 14
ox-eye see Leucanthemum
vulgare
daylily see Hemerocallis
deadheading 104
Deschampsia (hair grass) 12,
22, 23, 90
D. cespitosa 27, 28, 42
D. c. Goldschleier 133
D. c. Goldtau 98, 133
D. flexuosa Tatra Gold 98,
133
design ideas 629, 423
Dicksonia antartica 92
disease, cutting out 105
dividers 223
dividing 467
E
Echinacea (coneflower)
E. paradoxa 70
E. purpurea 70
Echinops (globe thistle) 12, 13
Echium (sea holly) 12, 13
edging, grasses for 17, 28, 29
Elymus magellanicus (wheat
grass) 33, 43, 60, 88, 134
Equisetum (horsetail) 37, 42
E. hyemale (rough horsetail/
scouring rush) 150
E. hyemale var. affine 96
E. ramosissimum var.
japonicum 289, 150
planting 56
Eragrostis curvula 134
Erigeron karvinskianus 78
Ethiopian fountain grass see
Pennisetum villosum
eulalia grass see Miscanthus
Euphorbia characias subsp.
wulfenii 11
exposure 389
F
fall
interest 12, 13
tasks 118
Fargesia (arrow bamboo) 20,
21, 35, 42, 43
F. murielae 82, 94, 122
F. m. Simba 122
F. nitida 64, 88, 123
F. robusta 35, 43, 66, 123
feather grass see Stipa
feather reed grass see
Calamagrostis
fennel see Foeniculum
vulgare
fescue see Festuca
Festuca
F. glauca (blue fescue) 8,
18, 24, 25, 28, 29, 42, 43,
76, 134
care 118
F. g. Blaufuchs 98
F. g. Elijah Blue 17, 134
F. valesiaca Silbersee 134
flax see Phormium
flowerheads, grasses 1415
focal points see statement
plants
Foeniculum vulgare (fennel)
62
F. v. Purpureum 62
fountain grass see
Pennisetum alopecuroides
foxgloves 18
foxtail grass see Pennisetum
alopecuroides (fountain
grass)
fritillary, snakes-head 14
G
galingale, pale see Cyperus
eragrostis
gardeners garters see
Phalaris
Geranium
G. phaeum Album 62
hardy 10, 18
globe thistle see Echinops
Glyceria maxima var.
variegata (striped mana
grass) 135
H
hair grass see Deschampsia
Hakonechloa macra
H. m. Alboaurea 35
H. m. Aureola 60, 135
variegated 26, 27
hedges 223
Helenium 70
Helictotrichon sempervirens
(blue oat grass) 136
Hemerocallis (daylily) 12
Heuchera micrantha var.
diversifolia Palace Purple
98
x Hibanobambusa 35
Himalayacalamus 35
H. falconeri 123
Holcus mollis Albovariegatus
(Yorkshire fog) 136
hook sedge see Uncinia
uncinata
Hordeum jubatum (wild
barley) 14
horsetail see Equisetum
Hosta 24, 25, 27, 28, 29
H. August Moon 98
H. Patriot 76
157
H. sieboldiana 96
Houttuynia cordata 96
I
Imperata cylindrica Rubra
(Japanese blood grass) 33,
136
impoverishing rich soils 41
Indocalamus 35, 42
I. tesselatus 123
Iris
bearded 10, 11, 18, 19
I. sibirica (Siberian iris) 12
irrigation systems 24
J
Japanese blood grass see
Imperata cylindrica
Juncus (rush) 37, 42
J. effusus f. spiralis 150
J. patens Carmans Gray
(California grey rush)
150
jungle planting 945
K
Knautia macedonica 12
Korean feather reed grass
see Calamagrostis
brachytricha
L
lawn alternatives 18
Leucanthemum vulgare
(ox-eye daisy) 72
Leymus arenarius 82
Ligularia 28, 29
loamy soil 40
low-maintenance gardens
1819
Luzula (woodrush) 37, 42
combing 105
L. nivea 94, 151
L. sylvatica 43, 94
L. s. Aurea 151
M
Magnolia stellata 11
maintenance 10019
158
Index
Index
mana grass see Glyceria
maple see Acer
marguerites 10, 11
meadow planting 1415,
42, 723
dividers 22, 23
seeding 545
microclimates 39
Milium effusum Aureum
136
Miscanthus (eulalia grass) 8
care 118
cutting back 107
dividing 46
M. sinensis 23, 42, 74
M. s. var. condensatus
Cosmo Revert 23
M. s. Gracillimus
137
M. s. Graziella 23
M. s. Grosse Fontne
23, 137
M. s. Kleine Fontne
137
M. s. Little Kitten 137
M. s. Malepartus 138
M. s. Morning Light 60,
138
M. s. Rotfuchs 138
M. s. Silberfeder 33,
139
M. s. Silberspinne 139
M. s. Strictus 139
M. s. Undine 139
M. s. Variegatus 140
M. s. Yakushima Dwarf
140
M. s. Zebrinus 60, 92,
140
Molinia (moor grass) 12
care 118
M. caerulea 42
M. c. subsp. caerulea
Edith Dudszus 141
M. c. subsp. caerulea
Variegata 88, 141
mondo grass see
Ophiopogon
moor grass see Molinia
mulches, bamboos 102,
108
N
New Zealand flax see
Phormium
New Zealand hook sedge see
Uncinia rubra
New Zealand snow grass see
Chionochloa conspicua
Norfolk reed see Phragmites
australis subsp. australis
var. striatopictus
Variegatus
O
oat, wild see Avena sativa
oat grass see Stipa
oat grass, blue see
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Ophiopogon (mondo grass)
O. jaburan Vittatus 151
O. japonicus 152
O. planiscapus Nigrescens
27, 37, 152
care 118
combing 105
organic matter
addition to soil 41
P
pampas grass see Cortaderia
selloana
Panicum (switch grass) 18, 19,
22, 23
P. capillare (witchgrass) 141
P. virgatum 8, 9
P. v. Dallas Blues 141
P. v. Heavy Metal 141
Papaver (poppy) 14, 15
P. rhoeas 72
patios 245
Pennisetum
P. alopecuroides (fountain
grass) 14, 15, 60, 142
P. a. Hameln 82, 142
P. orientale (Asian
fountain grass) 142
P. o. Karley Rose 142
P. setaceum Purpureum 143
P. villosum (Ethiopian
fountain grass) 33, 90,
143
R
red plants 8
reed see Arundo; Phragmites
reed grass, feather see
Calamagrostis
ribbon grass see Phalaris
Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan)
12
R. fulgida var. sullivantii 68
rush 37
scouring see Equisetum
hyemale
sweet see Acorus
S
Salvia 10, 11
S. pratensis 12
sandy soil 40
improving 41
Sasa 35
S. palmata f. nebulosa 35,
127
S. veitchii 127
Sasaella 35
Schoenoplectus lacustris
subsp. tabernaemontani
Zebrinus 153
scouring rush see Equisetum
hyemale
screens 20, 21, 223, 801
sea holly see Echium
sea oats see Chasmanthium
latifolium
sedges 37, 14553
fall tasks 117
siting ideas 39, 423
spring tasks 117
summer tasks 117
winter tasks 117
see also Carex; Uncinia
Sedum
as lawn plant 18
S. Herbstfreude 80
S. spectabile 68
Index Ma-Za
seeding 104
Semiarundinaria 35
S. fastuosa var. viridis 127
shady sites 38
plants for damp sites 27,
42
plants for drier sites 42
shape for small spaces 767
Shibataea kumasaca 128
Siberian iris see Iris sibirica
silica, bamboo requirements
102, 109
siting ideas 389
silty soil 40
size
bamboos 35
designing with 8
grasses 33
grasslike plants 37
see also shape
snakes-head fritillary 14
snow grass, New Zealand see
Chionochloa conspicua
soil
improving 41
pH 40
texture 40
types 40
sowing seed 525
Spanish oat grass see Stipa
gigantea
Spartina pectinata
Aureomarginata (prairie
cord grass) 143
spring tasks 11617
Stachys 10, 11
stainless steel, designing with
24, 25
statement plants 11, 22, 23
Stipa
S. calamagrostis (feather
grass) 89, 60, 144
S. gigantea (Spanish oat
grass) 10, 11, 12, 13, 17,
42, 43, 62, 68, 74, 84,
86, 118, 144
S. tenuifolia 144
S. tenuissima (feather grass)
10, 11, 12, 18, 70, 74, 84,
90, 144
streams 28
Stuart-Smith, Tom 11
summer
show planting 845
tasks 11617
sunny sites 38
Sutera cordata Snowflake
90
sweet flag see Acorus
sweet grass see Acorus
sweet rush see Acorus
switch grass see Panicum
U
umbrella sedge see Cyperus
involucratus
Uncinia (sedge) 42, 43
U. rubra (New Zealand hook
sedge) 76, 153
U. uncinata (hook sedge) 8
159
windy sites 38
winter
designing for 8
tasks 118
Wisteria 20, 21
witch grass see Panicum
capillare
woodland, grasses and
bamboos for 11, 667
woodland areas 10
streams 28
woodrush
siting ideas 39
see also Luzula
Woodsia polystichoides 76
Y
yarrow see Achillea
yellow plants 245
Yorkshire fog see Holcus
mollis
Yushiana 35
Y. maculata 20, 128
Z
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Crowborough (calla lily)
96
160 Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
The publisher would like to thank the
following for their kind permission to
reproduce their photographs:
(Key: a-above; b-below/bottom; c-centre;
l-left; r-right; t-top)
2 Airedale: Sarah Cuttle. 4 DK Images:
Peter Anderson (c). Paul Whittaker/PW
Plants (b). 67 Airedale: David Murphy:
Designer: Tom Stuart Smith, Daily
Telegraph Garden, Chelsea Flower Show
2006. 8 Airedale: Amanda Jensen (bl).
89 DK Images: Steve Wooster. 9 Sarah
Cuttle (b). Airedale: Amanda Jensen (t).
10 DK Images: Brian T North/Designer:
John Brookes (tr); Roger Smith (tl).
Airedale: Amanda Jensen: Designer: Tom
Stuart Smith, Daily Telegraph Garden,
Chelsea Flower Show 2006 (b). 12 Dianna
Jazwinski (b). Airedale: David Murphy:
Designer: Stuart Perry, Halifax Garden,
Chelsea Flower Show 2006 (tr). 13 The
Garden Collection: Jonathan Buckley/
Designer: Mark Brown. 14 Mike Newton
(bl). 1415 Mike Newton. 16 Airedale:
Amanda Jensen: Knoll Gardens.
17 Airedale: Amanda Jensen (bl); Amanda
Jensen: Knoll Gardens (t); David Murphy
(br). 18 Airedale: Amanda Jensen:
Designer: Ruth Marshall, Mencap & Cater
Allen Bank Garden (Seeing the Whole
Picture), Chelsea Flower Show 2006 (b);
Amanda Jensen: Designers: Marcus
Barnett & Philip Nixon, The Savills Garden,
Chelsea Flower Show 2006 (t). 19 The
Garden Collection: Marie O'Hara/Scenic
Blue Design Team. 2021 DK Images:
Steve Wooster. 21 Leigh Clapp: Copse
Lodge (b). Airedale: Amanda Jensen: RHS
Wisley (t). 22 Airedale: Amanda Jensen (l);
David Murphy (br). 2425 Airedale:
Amanda Jensen: Designer: Geoff Whiten,
The Pavestone Garden (Garden of
Tranquillity), Chelsea Flower Show 2006.
25 Sarah Cuttle: Designer: Ian Rochead,
The City Workers Retreat, Chelsea Flower
Show 2006 (b). Harpur Garden Library:
Marcus Harpur:Designer: Justin Greer for
Holly Oldcorn (tr). 26 Dianna Jazwinski.
27 Amanda Jensen (br); David Murphy:
Designer: Tom Stuart Smith, Daily
Telegraph Garden, Chelsea Flower Show
2006 (t). 2829 Airedale: David Murphy:
Designer: Sarah Eberle in collaboration
Discover more at