Mums aren’t the only plants that add color to your autumn garden. The plant experts at Monrovia (a wholesale nursery based in California with a large operation in Dayton, Oregon) say plant grasses now to add a magic glow of color and moving form to your autumn garden.
The slender foliage and plumes of ornamental grasses adds distinctive form to a garden’s autumn palette. They may begin their season in shades of green but each turn a warm golden hue in fall.
Here are 10 of Monrovia’s favorites:
Golden Variegated Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’): Excellent for brightening the edges of ponds or water gardens. Richly colored, golden yellow, grass-like leaves provide colorful accents, even in lightly shaded areas. Slowly naturalizes by spreading roots. Crushed foliage emits a delightful scent. Slowly spreads wider. Partial to full sun. Moderate growing to 10 inches tall, 4– 6 inches wide. Zones: 5–11.
Adagio Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’): Dwarf plant with graceful, silvery-green arching foliage transforms to a whirl of orange, gold and burgundy in fall. Plus, hundreds of plumes that emerge bronzy-pink, fading to white. Spectacular in mass or mixed into perennial borders. Partial to full sun. Fast up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Zones: 6–9.
Foerster’s Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’): This low growing ornamental grass stars feathery flower spikes. They emerge reddish-brown in spring and turn golden to buff in fall. Sterile seeds do not produce unwanted seedlings. Plant wherever it can catch a breeze to make it sway gracefully. Full sun. Reaches up to 2 feet tall and wide; stalks to 6 feet tall. Zones: 4–9.
Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’): Fluffy, buff-colored plumes arching above foliage which turns golden-russet in fall. Terrific contrast used among shrubs or as a backdrop with other waterwise plants. A great choice for smaller gardens, containers, and city courtyards. Full sun. Reaches up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Zones: 4–11.
Blue Heaven Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘MinnblueA’ PP17310): Narrow, upright, grassy foliage emerges blue. It develops pink and burgundy hues in late summer, and turns a rich copper in fall with purplish panicles. Great vertical accent for a border, rock garden or container; perfect for bird-friendly landscapes. Tan seed heads persist into fall. Full sun. Reaches up to 2 feet tall and wide. Zones: 3–10.
Malepartus Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’): Flower plumes come on mid-summer held high above broad foliage with a superb erect habit. Blooms open pink, turn coppery red in fall and turn silvery white in winter. Bronze-red fall foliage adds striking contrast. Plant where you need height and scale; blooms hold through winter. Full sun. Reaches up to 5 feet tall and wide; plumes to 7 feet tall. Zones: 5–9.
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’ PP22048): Rugged, cold hardy native grass features blue-green foliage and striking, flag-like summer flowers on stiff, weather resistant stems. Long-lasting blonde seed heads provides cool-season interest. Plant massed in a low border or as a waterwise turf substitute. Partial to full sun. Reaches 3 feet tall and wide. Zones: 4–9.
Overdam Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Overdam’): Create striking vertical effects with reddish-brown, feathery, summer blooms that turn golden in fall, atop beautiful yellow-margined foliage. Massed where you need height. Stunning in bouquets. Sterile seed-heads. Full Sun. Foliage reaches up to 24 inches tall and wide; blooms to 6 feet tall. Zones: 4–9.
Shenandoah Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’): Prized for its unmatched foliage color. Fast-growing green leaves emerge with red tips in spring, darkening through summer, and turning burgundy in fall. Airy reddish-pink flowers in summer. Plant in mass for a drift of almost year round color. Add a modern twist by planting in rows and grids. Partial to full sun. 4 feet tall in bloom, and 2 to 3 feet wide. Zones: 4–9.