Left: After planting, October 2004. Right: October 2007
Left: After planting, October 2004. Right: October 2007
Miscanthus gracillimus (20), miscanthus morning light (5), miscanthus yakujima (10), pennesetum moudry (5)
Miscanthus sinensis gracillimus. Height 1.5 - 2m. clump forming. Tolerant of different soil types.
Miscanthus sinensis Morning Light. Height 1 - 1.8m Narrow leaves, lighter centre stripe
Miscanthus sinsensi Yakujima. Height 1 - 1.5m.. Leaves similar to Morning Light, slightly wider
Pennesetum alopecuroides moudry. Black fountain grass. Height 40 - 80cm. Forms mounds with arching leaves
Ideal conditions: full sun; tolerate a wide range of soil types; moderately drought tolerant; hold up to wind and snow
The grasses were supplied by plantsman Howard Lloyd whose website I am now developing
Under the pebbles is a membrane. The grasses were planted in holes. Recommended planting distance was 1 metre apart, but they were so tiny, I put them a bit closer! A watering system was installed to help them get established in the first year.
I cut the grasses right back to 50cm or less, using a hedge trimmer, each spring, and cut away more of the membrane to give them space to spread out.
Sep 2005 foreground Pennesetum moudry, middle Miscanthus gracillimus (Leylandii and poplars behind) right: Miscanthus yakujima
left: Oct 2006: foreground Pennesetum moudry, background Miscanthus gracillimus. right: also showing Miscanthus Morning Light to the left in Oct 2007
L - R. Nov 07 Miscanthus sinensis gracillimus. With pennesetum moudry in foreground. Detail of p. moudry. Miscanthus s. yakujima with M. morning light behind
Some more pics through the year:
Left: in January, still graceful. Right: in April, after cutting back
Left: in July, providing screening at the end of the pool. Right: In October - you can see how tall the Gracillumus is - I'm just over 5' !