Whether planted as a main feature or en masse as a ground cover, they create a garden feature that lasts the whole year.
Grasses are relatively easy-care plants.
They generally prefer good drainage but are not too fussy about soil type.
Give grasses a grooming to remove old or dead foliage. Some will also benefit from being dug out and divided once in a while to rejuvenate them.
For best results choose plants that are most suitable to the growing conditions in your garden.
The following examples are all New Zealand native species.
However, there is a world of grasses to choose from - true grasses are found nearly everywhere on Earth.
Shade: Microlaena avenacea, bush rice grass.
Sun: Poa cita, silver tussock and Carex comans.
Wet: Carex secta and Cortaderia species.
Dry: Anemanthele lessoniana, gossamer grass.
Native grasses that particularly suit mass plantings for ground cover are Festuca coxii or Poa astonii. Both have blue foliage that works well with other plants.
Try a species of Chionochloa for a bold specimen planting which will also provide contrast with surrounding trees and shrubs.
Ornamental grasses are planted throughout the Dunedin Botanic Garden in all sorts of situations so come for a visit to see what suits you!
Shirley Stuart is curator of the New Zealand Native Plant Collection at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
