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Ornamental Grass

Compact non-invasive grass for clay soil

12 years ago

Can you please recommend a compact (max 3') non-invasive ornamental grass that could grow in clay soil in zone 6?
I have a lot of "mounding" and round perennials so I would like something vertical or spiky for contrast. It will be up against the green leaves of a landscape rose so something coppery or burgandy would be nice. Also I'd like to plant it in the fall, if that's possible.

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Comments (3)

kidhorn
12 years ago
miscanthus purpurascens turns coppery/burgundy in the fall. It's mostly upright but can get kind of floppy when it flowers in the fall.

Feather reed grasses meet all you needs. Karl Foerster produces stiff stalks around early June that start out kind of pinkish and then turn golden.

Both are available anywhere that sells ornamental grasses.
kateedwards11
Original Author
12 years ago
These are lovely suggestions but I am looking for something below 3' - sorry I should have mentioned this earlier!
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GreatPlains1
12 years ago
Little Bluestem is very vertical when it blooms and would be about that height. There's some nice cultivars available such as 'The Blues' which is very blue, 'Prairie Blues' is another. Some types are more red in fall. You might pull up Santa Rosa Gardens and look at the different types if you think this might work for you. It grows naturally in clay.

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