Decorative or ornamental grasses have much to contribute to the garden. In Autumn particularly, the seed heads of grasses and of course the foliage add interest across many dimensions. Grasses are ideal for adding variety to existing beds due to the vast choice of height, colour of foliage, plant shape and of course texture.
At Paramount Plants, we have quite a selection of ornamental grasses which we use in many garden design situations including ground cover, in their own right as specimen plants and as part of a vertical design feature. Here we highlight a few varieties.
Cortaderia Selloana Pumila is a perennial grass with arching leaves, and tall plumy stems. Carex Silver Sceptre Sedge Grass is a low growing and low maintenance elegant grass, ideal for under planting, roof terraces and against darker deep green backdrops.
Festuca Glauca (Elijah Blue) is a lovely silvery blue evergreen grass with narrow leaves that rustle in the wind. Phormium Yellow Wave (Flax Lily) has striking variegated leaves in yellow and green stripes.
Astelia Silver Spear another grass with variegated foliage, having white leaves with a dark green edge, works very well with darker green ornamental grasses and perennials. Also ideal for contrasting effect is Ophiopogon Nigrescens (or Lily turf or Black Grass). This is a small, low growing grass with very dark purple narrow leaves, giving it a contemporary look. For contrasting colour choose the bronze grass Carex Buchananii Leatherleaf Sedge.
Discover many more ornamental grasses in the special grasses section of our website. Most of our grasses are available to buy online.