Ornamental Grasses

Pennisetum alopecuroides var. viridescens has broader leaves and darker flower heads than the regular species and, growing to around 60cm tall, it is also slightly smaller. It has graceful smoky purple-black plumes that contrast nicely with the slender arching, glossy, deep green foliage.

With their arching, strappy, sword-shaped leaves, Phormiums make a dramatic statement in the garden. They are versatile evergreen plants that tolerate a range of conditions and look at home in a variety of different planting schemes.

Setaria italica Red Jewel is a rarely-offered variety of annual grass with intensely coloured burgundy red foliage and dramatic foxtail-shaped flower heads. Suitable for growing in the garden or in containers the dark foliage is a great contrast in the garden or the vase.

Setaria macrostachya is a perennial ornamental grass that is usually grown as an annual. Long, erect, slender stems bear broad, arching leaves and produce lovely soft foxtail-like flower-heads. Suitable for growing in the garden or in containers they make a wonderful addition to the garden and the vase.

Sporobolus displays a magnificent fountain of fine textured, emerald-green leaves which develop rich shades of reddish-gold or deep orange in the autumn, but the great joy of this plant is that it produces a great cloudy haze of tiny flower heads. Numerous stalks with delicate, open panicles shoot up and over the clump.

Stipa capillata 'Bridal Veil' is one of the prettiest perennial grasses. Forming a dense, glossy green clump of foliage they bloom in summer with beautiful upright plumes. The hair-like awns are at first clear green, and as they mature they turn a beautiful silvery-white.