Ornamental Grasses in Autumn

Since a traditional lawn is simply not an option in my garden, I have planted many different varieties of ornamental grass all around it, taking care to check whether they can cope with heavy alkaline clay and partial shade.  Thankfully a number of beautiful forms can, and I haven't shied away from the larger types amongst these, as big and bold statement plants in a small garden can create dramatic space illusions.  Grasses are particularly good for this, as most have soft, trembling leaves that simply caress you as you walk by them, and most die back each winter so shouldn't take over the garden (pampas grass, of course, is an exception on both fronts!).    I love the waving leaves of ornamental grasses through the summer but for me their best feature is the stunning plumes they throw up each autumn.  These can be left on the plant as it fades to brown over the winter, providing fluffy structural interest in the bleaker months.  I cut back all of the ornamental grasses pictured below to a few inches each March.  They sprout anew shortly afterwards.       



Cortaderia selloana pumila, dwarf pampas grass, without a doubt my favourite large grass in the garden.  I simply adore the huge, soft, plentiful plumes that shine and sparkle when the sunlight glows through them.  Though dwarf, this variety reaches 5-6 feet easily with a wide radius of sharp, tough, evergreen leaves which make for a challenging March cut-back, so it's not for every small garden.  But I would not be without it.      

This miscanthus is a much more delicate grass than the pumila in every way but is equally resilient, reliable and beautiful. Again the sunlight catches the plumes which creates a striking contrast in this largely shady green border.

In the foreground another miscanthus, a dwarf form called 'Nippon', throws up beautiful reddish plumes against the fountain of soft panicles emerging from the floppy foliage of anemanthele lessoniana.