When I started with the layout of my grass feature, I knew that I would have a few gaps where I could add some low ground cover. So off I went (again!) to the nursery and assembled a few new grasses to add to my collection. I wanted to share these with you, seeing I took some photo’s of them this week. I also found out that these grasses actually came from Fairholme Nursery. So I was very pleased to see that Builders Warehouse’s Nursery at Sunningdale had a lovely range of grasses.
So here are my additions to my family:
Armeria Maritima – “White Thrift” – Thrift or sea pink is a compact, low-growing plant which forms a dense, mounded tuft of stiff, linear, grass-like, dark green leaves (to 4″ tall). Tufts will spread slowly to 8-12″ wide. Tiny, pink to white flowers bloom in mid spring in globular clusters (3/4-1″ wide) atop slender, naked stalks rising well above the foliage to 6-10″ tall. Sporadic additional flowering may occur throughout the summer. Flower clusters are subtended by purplish, papery bracts. In the wild, thrift or sea pink commonly grows in saline environments along coastal areas where few other plants can grow well, hence the common name.
Carex ” Frosty Curls” – Carex albula ‘Frosty Curls’ is an evergreen perennial grass that has a dense clumping growth habit. The foliage is a silvery color and as the ends die back the blades will curls hence the name Frosty Curls Sedge. This grass does best in partial shade to shady conditions and can get 12″ tall with a 2′ spread. When planted on a hillside or when allowed to spill over a wall Frosty Curls Sedge gives the illusion of flowing water. Frosty Curls Sedge is an excellent choice for mixed containers as well, giving them movement. Does best in a moist well-drained soil.
Deschampsia Caespitosa – ” Tufted Hair Grass” – The feathery flower spikes can be green, silvery, golden, purple or variegated with these colours. Tufted hair-grass arches gracefully; this is a delicately beautiful grass of damp grassland and marshes. It has a tendency to be invasive and its coarse tussocky habit threatens to form a monoculture unless it is controlled. Hmmm, I did not do my homework before I planted this grass, so I best watch it carefully.
Dierama Latifolius – “Angels Fishing Rods” – This is not a grass but I liked it. D. latifolium is an evergreen perennial with grass-like leaves and in summer, it bears pendant pink or red, bell-shaped flowers, on slender, arching stems that move in the slightest breeze. Another name for it is wand flower.
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Armeria Maritima[/one_half]
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Deschampsia Caespitosa[/one_half_last]
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Carex Frosty Curls[/one_half]
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Dierama Latifolius – image from google[/one_half_last]