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Can anyone recommend a grass for a novice?

Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502
in Garden design

Hi all,

It occurred to me today that a tall grass would look nice behind a young Rodgersia I have.  It comes up a chocolate brown before turning green and I thought blue would look nice with it.

I'm not very good with grass having a 50/50 live/die rate.

I thought at least a metre high, pref blue but any colour except green. Upright and formal looking. Site is sun from east and south in summer, just east in winter. Not exactly boggy in winter, but not particularly well drained. It'll have about a square metre of space after I've done some tinkering. Hardy, deciduous is fine. Soil is neutral, loam on clay. Beginner level. Relatively sheltered.

I've already got Miscanthus Malepartus so something else would be nice.

Is anything suitable or has anyone any other suggestions?

Thank youimage

Wearside, England.

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,350

    http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/calamagrostis--acutiflora-karl-foerster/classid.2000012392/

    It might be a bit too green but they don't come much more upright



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 29
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,050

    Verdun, I would love it if you would post some piccys of your grasses, I would love a couple of those really tall ones, but they do have to be wind resistant, we are almost 1000ft up and very very exposed.

    I know you can see them on the net but its not the same as seeing them in real life gardens.

    Thank you.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    Thanks so much for your suggestionsimageimage

    I've made a list of everyones recommendations and will now go through them all, research them and look at images. I don't know much about grasses and as the subject matter appears to be huge, I appreciate having it narrowed down! 

    Thank you also Verdun for the ideas of planting partnersimage That's a very nice thought and I shall look at them also.

    Wearside, England.
  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    Update:

    In the end I went for Panicum Northwind for behind the Rodgersia as even though it's not the best blue out the Panicums, I liked the shape best. I also bought Miscanthus Morning Light for the same area.

    I thought I'd test out rudbeckia in between the two grasses as it thrives in other parts of the garden.

    Cheers for all your helpimage

    Wearside, England.
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