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GRASSES

Botanical: Calamagrostis Aculata "Karl Foerster"
Common: Karl Foerster Grass

4-5’ x 24” wide, (division propagated). Rather drought tolerant (but not quite xeric) and tolerating a wide range of garden soils. Feather Reed Grass has a wonderful upright growth habit, making it very useful to place behind perennials with a spreading or rounded shape. The feathery plumes emerge in early summer and ripen to handsome wheat-colored seed heads by fall. Combine with Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ or Russian Sage. Plant in groups of three or five for best effect. Zones 5-9.

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Botanical: Cortaderia Selloana Pumila
Common: Dwarf Pampus Grass

6’ x 36” wide, (division propagated). This ‘Pumila’ variety is a smaller, more cold hardy version of Pampas Grass. It is extremely showy with its large, fluffy white flower heads that are held on stout stems. It thrives in hot, full sun exposures and is especially useful as a specimen along walls and in corners. Plant it in moderately fertile soil with good drainage. Leave standing over the winter before cutting it back hard in mid-spring. Pumila is sterile and won’t re-seed itself. Not recommended for fall planting in Zone 6. Zones 6-10.

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Botanical: Cyperus Alternifolius
Common: Papayrus
(PF)

Cyperus alternifolius is a native of the swamps of Madagascar. It is a relative of papyrus of the Nile river. The plant can grow to 3-5 feet if given plenty of water.

Blooming Time: Summer The flowers are a brownish spadix produced in the center of the leaves.

Culture: Cyperus alternifolius does best in a tropical environment, but quickly adapts to the home. Give the plant lots of water. Never let this plant dry out. The wetter the roots are, the more it thrives. It is best to put the pot inside another pot with water or grow it in an aquarium. Fertilize the plant monthly during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. A rich peaty soil is best (2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part sand).

Propagation: Cyperus alternifolius are propagated by cuttings or division. Take cuttings from the top 4-6 inches of the plant. Place them upside down in water and when new plants emerge, repot in soil. When dividing the plant, it is best to keep the younger growth from the outside edges of the pot and discard the old growth in the center of the pot.

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Botanical: Muhlenbergia cappillaris "Regal Mist"
Common: Regal Mist Muhly Grass
(PF)

3’ x 3’ wide, (division propagated). A selection of Gulf Coast Muhly made by Ron Gass of Mountain States Wholesale Nursery in AZ, “Regal Mist”™ becomes a spectacular haze of dusky pink in the fall, when it blooms. Well suited for garden use along the CA coast and throughout the warmer areas of the intermountain West. Adapted to a wide range of soil types in well-drained situations. Irrigation in late summer encourages heavier flowering. Zones 7-10.

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