April 2019 - 30

VARIETY INFORMATION
Festuca 'Beyond Blue'
(Photo: Peter van Rijssen/
Concept Plants)
Ornamental Grasses
On Trend:
Their value in the landscape has proven to be more than just a fad. How can you keep
up with consumer interest in this hot plant category?
BY MARIA ZAMPINI
B
ack in the mid-to-late 1980s when I entered the green industry
full time, ornamental grasses were beginning to enjoy their time
in the spotlight, just as perennials had a couple of years earlier.
I remember industry colleagues wondering how long this fad
would hang around - surely they would have their moment in time, but
then the bottom would fall out of the ornamental grass market, right? I,
on the other hand, was convinced they were here to stay - and if I were
a betting woman, that prediction would've made me a wealthy one also.
Ornamental grasses have long since proved their value in the
landscape, moving from what was once considered a craze to one that is
a solid cultural shift. Why this enduring interest in ornamental grasses?
As gardens (and the plants that occupy them) have shifted toward lower
maintenance, native driven, and nature friendly, ornamental grasses
have fit every bill that today's gardener demands - while providing the
contrast, texture and form that designers crave.
So how can we use ornamental grasses in ways that continue to feel
fresh and current? Here are some of the hottest landscape trends and a
grass (or five) for each.
BRIGHT COLOR BEYOND FLOWERS
Color trends seem to hang on for several years before shifting, and
right now there's a big focus on minty green shades. Festuca glauca
30 APRIL 2019 GPNMAG.COM
'Beyond Blue' and 'Cool as Ice' both offer outstanding color during the
summer, but continue to shine in the winter months as well, far beyond
when industry standard of 'Elijah Blue' gives up for the year. Many of the
festuca varieties tend toward the blue hues, and combine beautifully with
plants that feature silvery foliage, and purple/lavender/orange blooms.
Hot color is also " in, " and Hakonechloa macra 'SunFlare', with bright
chartreuse leaves tipped with striking burgundy accents is one of the
most appealing offerings. It pairs well with red-leafed Andropogon
gerardii 'Blackhawks' and 'Red October'. Little Bluestem Schizachyrium
scoparium 'Twilight Zone' has green leaves with blue-purple tips. It is
truly out of this world. Grasses this colorful can take center stage on
their own and be marketed as container thrillers, as well as landscape
focal points.
The design-oriented among us know that the Pantone Color of the Year is
a vivid pinkish-orange called Living Coral, which is an unbelievable foil for
ornamental grasses with equally intense color. When Living Coral shades
factor in to garden design through planters, outdoor cushions and garden
accessories, grasses naturally add high contrast and high style. Japanese
Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'), Zebra Grass (Miscanthus
sinensis 'Strictus') and Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Lumen Gold' are all
fantastic choices. And, given that color trends persist, we're likely to see an
appetite for anything that plays well with pink for several years.
http://www.GPNMAG.COM
April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2019
