GRASSES

The grasses offered at the nursery are those which are known to perform well in the north of Scotland. Grasses add form and movement in the garden and many will extend the season, providing interest throughout the winter months. Particularly valuable in windy sites and indispensable in mixed border designs.

Anemanthele lessoniana (syn. Stipa arundinacea)- Pheasant grass
Excellent evergreen plant with shiny dark green leaves developing strong rich red-gold tints. Foliage remains bright throughout winter and recovers even after heavy snow. Flowerheads light and carried above main leaf clump (may self seed). Moves fluidly with the wind. Happiest in sun in average soil, but will tolerate shade. Height 60 cm. Spread 1m. Price Code GL

Briza media – Quaking grass
Narrow evergreen clump of blue-green leaves from which are produced open panicles of locket-shaped spikelets on long stalks. These catch the wind and are good for flower arrangements. Likes sun and average soil. Height to 60 cm. Spread 30 cm. Price Code GA

Calamagrostis brachytricha (syn. Stipa brachytricha) – Diamond grass
An easy attractive grass, clumps of green leaves streaked, in spring and autumn, with russet, from which rise tall, pinkish-grey feathery flowerheads. Happy in most soils in sun or part shade. Height to 1.2m, spread 80cm plus. Price Code GL

Carex atrata – The Jet sedge
Blue-green tidy foliage and decorative black, cylindrical drooping flowerheads. Height 25cm, slowly spreading. Price Code GB

Carex buchananii- Leather leaf sedge; Red fox sedge
An erect plant with almost cylindrical red-brown leaves which curl at the tips. Distinctive, but needs full sun to achieve the best colour. Happy in most soils, particularly moist, best in sheltered sites in full sun. In cold areas may need some winter protection. Height and spread 50 cm. Price Code GA

Carex comans 'Frosted curls'
A mop-head of a grass with long narrow leaves which curl as they grow and age. A good presence throughout the year, but especially in winter. Doesn't ever really need tidying up!. Good in upright containers or overhanging water or walls. Happy in most soils, particularly moist, in sun. Height 40 cm. Spread to 75 cm. Price Code GA

Carex flagellifera
Evergreen clump forming mop-head with ginger highlights. Likes sun, also tolerates part-shade, and average moisture retaining soil. Height 50cm. Spread 60cm plus. Price Code GL

Carex oshimensis 'Variegata'
Evergreen varigated sedgel. Broad creamy white stripe down mid-rib. Makes compact mound, [particularly eye-catching in mid winter. Height and spread 25-30cm.

Carex pendula - Weeping sedge
Strong evergreen clumps of broad foliage and decorative pendulous flower heads. Best for wet ground and pond margins. Height to 1m, spreading.

Carex testacea
Similar to the above, but developing a richer orange colour when grown in full sun. Has brown flower spikes. Enjoys average moisture retaining soil. Height and spread 50cm. Price Code GL

Carex trifida – Mutton bird sedge
Strong growing grass with broad, shiny bright green leaves. Forms impressive evergreen clump. Height to 1m. Spread 1m plus. Price Code GL

Chasmanthium latifolium (syn. Uniola latifolia) – Northern sea oats
Broad-leaved clump forming grass with an upright arching habit. Large flattened flower spikelets produced in summer, starting green and maturing to bronze. Prefers good open soil in part-shade. Will tolerate sun if soil not too free-draining. Height 60cm. Spread 40cm.

Chinochloa rubra
A tussock grass from New Zealand. Stiff, narrow, dark bronze leaves forming an arching clump. Needs space to show itself off! Plant in sheltered position in average soil in full sun. Height 75cm, spread 60cm.

Cortaderia selloana 'Pumila'
A dwarf pampas grass with showy plumes throughout late autumn and winter. Plant in open position, avoid very windy sites. Height to 1.5m plus, spread 1m plus.

Cyperus involucratus - Umbrella sedge
A plant for shallow water. Strong stems sporting umbrella like foliage topped by decorative flower heads. Hardiest when submerged. Can also be grown as a pot plant. Height to 60cm.

Deschampsia flexuosa (syn. Avenella flexuosa) – Wavy hair grass
Dense clumps of narrow green leaves and silvery flower panicles. Happiest in acid soils, but will tolerate average soil, in sun or shade. Can produce copious seed. Height 30cm, spread 25cm. Price Code GA

Deschampsia caespitose - Tufted hair grass
Dense neat clumps of arching slender leaves over which are held fluffy cloud-like panicles. Happy in all soils, especially moist, in sun or part shade. May seed in warm summers. Height and spread to 1m. Price Code GA

Elymus magellanicus (syn. Agropyron magellanicum)
A striking blue-leaved grass, happiest in dryish conditions in well-drained soil. Height 1m plus. Slow spreader. Price Code GM

Eragrostis curvula. - African or Weeping love grass
Fine deep green arching foliage and flower heads, with open airy panicles. Needs a warm sheltered position on fertile well-drained soil. Dislikes winter wet – good on sunny slopes. Cut back in spring. Height to 1m. Spread 75 cm plus. Price Code GL

Eriophorum angustifolium – Cotton grass
A native grass, familiar with its fluffy white seedhead. Found in damp or wet places it spreads rapidly. Can be contained, and makes a striking feature during its flowering period. Height 25cm. Spreading. Price Code GB

Festuca amethystina – Sheep's fescue
Slender blue-green leaves which will display purple colouring after flowering. Violet flower spikelets held above the leaves. Needs full sun and well-drained soil. Height 45cm, spread 30cm. Price Code GA

Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'
An excellent, intense blue, fescue. Dense wiry evergreen clumps of blue foliage, with light upright open flower heads appearing in late spring and maturing pale tan. Best colour develops in full sun and poor dry soil. Does not tolerate wet soil in winter. Height and spread 30cm. Price Code GA

Festuca mairei – Maire's fescue
Evergreen clump forming grass with drooping grey-green leaves. Dislikes winter wet, good on free-draining soil in sun. Height and spread up to 1m. Price Code GA

Hakonechloa macra
Deciduous grass. Drooping deep green leaves turn shades of orange and red in autumn. Enjoys moisture retaining soil, happy in sun or part-shade. Height 30cm, spread 40cm. Price Code GB

Hordeum jubatum – Fox-tail barley or squirrel tail grass
Perennial usually grown as an annual. Highly decorative flowerheads. May self-seed. Height 75cm. Spread 40cm. Price Code GA

Hystrix patula – bottle brush grass
Notable for its upright bottle-brush shaped flower spikes. These persist well into winter. Happy in average soils and tolerant of light shade. Height 1m. Spread 40cm. Price Code GB

Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra' - Japanese blood grass
Striking red leaved grass. Best in sun and, as it is a creeping grass, ideal for pot culture. Height 20cm. Price Code GB

Melica altissima 'Atropurpurea' - Siberian melic
A loose upright clump of bright green leaves from early spring. In summer one-sided purple flower heads are freely borne. Despite its frail appearance withstands wind well. Good with early bulbs. Happy in average soil in sun or part shade. Catches morning or evening sun well. Height to 1m. Spread 60 cm plus. Price Code GA

Milium effusum 'Aureum' – Bowles' golden grass
A soft yellow grass which will brighten any partially shaded area. Happiest in reasonable, cool, moisture retaining soil in part shade. Height to 60cm, spread 40cm. Price Code GA

Miscanthus sacchariflorus
Strong spreading miscanthus, requiring full sun and damp soil. This far north its robust nature is somewhat tempered, but can reach impressive heights in a good summer. Height to 2m plus. Spreading.

Miscanthus sinensis – Chinese silver grass
Strong upright clump forming grass with narrow leaves. This is the species grown from seed, therefore some variation may be observed. Happiest in most soils, preferably in full sun. A grass that may take two years to establish but gets better and better as the years pass. Strong winter presence. Height 1.2 – 1.5m.

Flowering of many Miscanthus cultivars will not occur this far north; some may not flower reliably. I am presently growing a number of cultivars to establish those that will flower well here. The following are presently offered:

M. sinensis 'Flamingo'
Early to flower with lovely fluffy, pink-tinged plumes. Slender foliage. Height 1m plus.

M. sinensis 'Gracillimus'
A fountain of graceful narrow foliage, best placed in a position which gives it room to show itself off! Average soil, happiest in sun, tolerates part shade. Can flower in warm summers and sheltered sites. Height 1.2 – 1.5m.

M. sinensis 'Grazilla'
Vertical growth and narrow arching leaves. Good flowers, silver turning to buff. Height 1.5m plus.

M. sinensis 'Morning Light'
Slender, upright leaves edged with white. Good in containers. Sunshine and average soil preferred. Can flower in warm summers and sheltered sites. Height 1 – 1.2m.

M. sinensis 'Sirene'
Tall with long broad ribbon-like foliage held aloft on strong stems. Striking throughout winter. Can be shy to flower this far north. Height 1.2m plus.

M. sinensis 'Zebrinus'
Strong upright stems with arching foliage striped with cream bands. Needs sun to develop good banding. Strong winter presence. Average to moisture retaining soil. Height 2 – 2.5m.

Miscanthus transmorrisonensis- Taiwanese miscanthus
Narrow glossy dark green leaves form dense clumps from which the flower heads rise to be held high above the foliage. Has remained evergreen through a Highland winter – unlike most Miscanthus which become straw-coloured during winter, but this may depend on its position and the severity of the winter. Likes sun and moist well-drained fertile soil. Height to 1.5m. Steadily clumps up.

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Windspiel'
Light green foliage from which rise numerous stems holding large open heads of dancing spikelets, these catch the wind and shimmer throughout the summer. Happy in sun and average soil, will tolerate some shade. Height 1.5 – 1.75m, spread 50cm.

Nassella trichotoma
A fountain of narrow leaves bearing small open globular flowerheads. Prefers sun and well-drained soil. Height 80cm, spread 45cm. Price Code GA

Schizachyrium scoparium (syn Andropogon scoparius) - Little blue-stem praire grass
Tight clump-forming grass with erect grey-green leaves changing through the seasons to develop bright orange-red tints. Sparse silver-coloured flower heads. Needs sun and well drained poor soil. Height to 1m. Spread to 60 cm.

Sesleria caerulea
Flat-growing evergreen grass with blue-green leaves. In early spring silvery-purple flower spikes are freely borne. Enjoys an open position and average soil which does not dry out. Height and spread 30cm. Price Code GB

Sesleria heufleriana – Green moor grass
Spring flowering grass with evergreen leaves, silvery beneath, which makes a compact mound. Flowering spikes held high above the foliage. Happy in sun or light shade. Height and spread 30cm. Price Code GB

Sesleria nitidia (syn Sesleria glauca) - Grey moor grass
Attractive evergreen grass, with long smooth grey-green leaves forming flat-growing clumps. Flowers are held high above the foliage in spring. Likes average soil in sun. Height to 60 cm. Spread 40 cm plus. Price Code GB

Stipa barbata 'Silver Feather'
Very ornamental upright grass producing long feather-like awns which release a sharp seed which can travel about 1 m. from the plant (position with care). Does not tolerate competition. May become dormant in late summer. Prefers sun and good well-drained soil.
Height and spread 75 cm.

Stipa capillata 'Lace Veil'
Dense clumps of erect grey-green foliage with many silvery flowerheads held stiffly above the leaves. Likes fertile well-drained soil in the sun. Height to 1 m. Spread 60 cm. Price Code GL

Stipa gigantea- Spanish oat grass
Spectacular specimen plant. A low clump of dense evergreen narrow leaves from which, in summer, arise numerous long strong stems bearing large golden spikelets which catch the sun and wind. These last into autumn (depending on weather). Likes good well-drained soil in a sunny, reasonably sheltered, position. Height to 2.2 m. Spread 1m plus. Price Code GM

Stipa pennata
Tight clumps of needle thin foliage and flowerheads held high above the foliage carrying spikelets possessing long feathery awns streaming out. Place in an open position, in sun and well-drained soil, to appreciate it at its best. Height to 80cm, spread 40cm. Price Code GM

Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails'
A true evergreen needle-grass. Fine bright green leaves form an arching clump from which feathery plumes are produced in abundance. The whole plant responds to the slightest breeze. Elegant and very tempting to touch. Good in containers. Happiest in sun and average soil. Height and spread to 60 cm. Price Code GA

Last updated: 31 March, 2006