Growing roses

Water-wise lawn replacement 

In Fall, the seed-bearing plumes of fast growing Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) rise to 20 feet high with little need for irrigation or fertilizer.  By mid-winter, this perennial should be cut back to 18 inches tall.  It will re-grow to the height shown in the following summer.  Given the right conditions -- usually near a stream -- it will self-seed and spread invasively.

Deer grass (Mulhenbergia rigens) looks like a smaller cousin of Pampas grass -- growing to only about 4 feet tall. In Fall it puts out fine purple plumes.  While it can be evergreen in milder climates, it does best when cut back to about 6 inches in January.  Very drought tolerant, but looks better with some supplemental water in summer. For a photo of Deer grass used as a "skirt" for a Japanese Privet hedge, click here.

Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon simpervirens) – looks like giant blue fescue grass,  but grows to 2 to 3 feet high and wide.  Bright blue leaves with tall stems of yellow flowers in the Spring.   Needs rich soil.  

Common Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) -  this is not the fescue you plant for a lawn, but rather the short, clumping, fine blue or silvery gray grass, often seen as an edging to borders.  The ‘Elijah Blue’ selection is relatively long lived and very blue.  To 1 foot high.  It is not necessary to cut it back in winter.

Red Fountain Grass (Pennisetum  setaceum) -  has reddish brown leaves and rose-colored plumes.  Dies down in winter and should be cut back to a few inches high.  Be sure to get the red variety, the white fountain grass is invasive and has been displacing native grasses.  For best appearance Fountain Grass should be planted in dense clusters.

Flax (Phormium tenax and lots of hybrids) -  These New Zealand natives can be 5 to 7 foot tall giants, but with the proliferation of hybrids, smaller, more colorful plants are now available. You may have to ask for some of the newer colors – and they are glorious.  For example, ‘Morticia’ has purple-black leaves; ‘Dazzler’ has scarlet leaves striped with maroon; ‘Tiny Tiger’ (only 1 foot tall at maturity) has variegated leaves that become tinged with pink as the weather cools and ‘Tom Thumb’ gives you green, wavy-edged leaves with a reddish border.   You will have to put most of these in large pots out of direct sunlight.

Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrical ‘Rubra’) - leaves emerge in spring with brilliant red tips and a green base.  The red color intensifies as it grows to 1 or 2 feet tall.  Rarely blooms and should be cut back almost to the ground in mid-winter. The photo, taken in early Spring, shows young Japanese Blood grass.

Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) – a member of the lily family, has very fine bluish-green leaves with shoots of lavender flowers in Spring and summer.  On the right, it is shown in a pot filled with rich soil.  It retains its leaves all year round.  Other members of the lily family, including daylilies (Hemerocallis) are also excellent grass like plants for hot climates.