Won't you help chosse the right plants?

Question

My garden plot is well-drained, with slightly chalky soil and in a very sunny position.

I'd like to grow some structural/ornamental plants there.

I like the idea of ornamental grasses - like the black varieties - but not tall growing grasses like Pampas.

What other structural, low-lying grasses could I plant there?

Are there flowers/plants that would go particularly well with the black grass AND thrive in these soil conditions?

(Climate: South East England)

"chosse" should of course be "CHOOSE" :o]

Answer 1

I'm not sure how cold it gets where you are (I'm in Australia) but I buy alot of grasses for my garden from Growers who import them from England. See if any of the following suit your requirements:

Strappy - Grass like

Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens')

Various Coloured (including black) flax - Phormium cookianum & p. tenax.

Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' (I think this is the 3ft high black/maroon grass you may have had in mind.) There are alot of interesting Pennisetum grasses in lots of different colours)

There is a new variety of cordyline which doesn't eventually develop a a long stem called Cordyline banksii x pumilio var."Red Fountain". It is a superb burgundy/ruby colour, 3 feet high.

Some black/burgundy leafed Cannas may also suit you for a different leaf size. Can get a bit boring if its all grass.

Also purple leafed sedums.

Carex is another variety of grass that may interest you.

I find the best leaf colour to go with Black/burgundy is gray.
Easily obtained through Artemisia (Many tough varieties with different leaf sizes and shapes), Stachys (Lambs ear), Cerastium tomentosum, (Snow in Summer), Sedums (Gray leafed), Irises (german particularly).

I grow all these in sun, with allkaline soil. Some loose their tops to frost in winter, we get down to -5C. But after a 'hair cut' after the final frosts up they come again as good as new. Flax may be the only one a bit fussy about frosts.

The BBC Gardening site may be of use to you also. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

try japanese blood grass variety"red baron" very striking with black. it only grows about 18-20 inches tall so is good for near the front. its dark green leaves with brilliant red tips about a third of the way down from the top. have you thot about adding a few large rocks or boulders? they add perfect contrast to the spikiness off the grasses. there is also a black iris, i believe its called "superstition" looks good in bloom and the foilage itself looks grass like. theres also a black hollyhock, think its called "night watchman" but not real sure. but a hollyhock may be too tall for what you want. a good low front-of-the-border plant would be some of the gray/silver leaved artemesia like stellerania. as a focal point you might want to try a Yucca filementosa its a dramatic plant with large fleshy pointy leaves kind of like an aloe vera but much larger. also theres a new variety of ornamental corn called "purple majesty" the leaves are darkest purple/black..very striking but only an annual--can grow 3-4 feet in a summer. hope this helps. all these plants do good for me in our alkaline soil in full sun here on the canadian prairies--dont know how theyd fair in your climate.

Answer 3

There is a type of plant called a cordaline. They have spikey leaves and are very attractive they look a bit grassy but aren't .
They grow about 2-3 foot tall and come in different colours. I have two "bronze ones.
They are widely available in garden centers but not at this time of year - wait until spring.
They seem to do well in most soil types and mine seem to be okay throughout winter in the north of scotland although i do cover them if its very frosty.-Enjoy

Answer 4

Sunflower.

Answer 5

Here is a link that should help you...

http://www.hotgardens.net/ornamental_grasses.htm

Answer 6

I was going to answer and then I realised you said plants not pants. If it had been pants I would have said get into your GFs pants, it's so fulfilling.

Answer 7

who cares