Thursday, April 25, 2024
Texas weather is erratic and subject to severe swings. To survive, plants must be highly adaptable.
And for the long haul, they must be capable of withstanding periods of drought during temperature extremes.
Many ornamental grasses meet these criteria while also adding height, texture, color and movement to landscapes. They are sustainable additions to both home and commercial gardens.
Grasses are especially beautiful during autumn when the season’s angled sun highlights their showy inflorescences. These flowering structures come in many attractive forms, which vary with the grass species. Each type has a unique textural appeal. Purple fountain grass, for instance, sports a spiky brushy bloom.
Inflorescences range in color from green to yellow, brown, pink, maroon or silver. As they mature, their color subtly changes to tan or gold. Grasses grow in varied forms and heights with inflorescences that typically extend far above the foliage. As the wind blows, the blooms dance! This movement is eye-catching, but it also helps with reproduction.
As grass seed matures, wind scatters the seed. Wind pollinated grasses do not need the assistance of bees or other pollinators to reproduce, which aids in their survival. Admittedly, tidy gardeners may tire of the new grass sprouts. Some grasses also reproduce by creeping. They send out underground runners that result in new plants.
To control spread, gardeners may dig or divide unwanted plants or install root barriers. Clump-forming grasses expand slowly over time. Selecting these types will keep unwanted new plants in check.
Ornamental grasses come in both annual and perennial forms. Perennial grasses go dormant in cold weather, then re-appear in spring. Among perennials are cool season and warm season types. Warm season grasses are most notable in late summer and fall as they flower and set seed.
Durable ornamental grasses with fall beauty include muhly grass varieties such as “Autumn Glow,” “Autumn Embers,” “Pink Flamingo” or “Lindheimer”; miscanthus grass varieties such as “Autumn Light”; and native Indian grass and switchgrass. The tender perennial purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum “Rubrum”) is showy summer through fall.
For answers to your horticulture questions call the Texas AgriLife Extension, Hood County at 817-579-3280 or go online to visit lakegranburymastergardeners.org .
