GardenDC Podcast Episode 128: Ornamental Grasses and Sedges

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Shannon Currey of Izel Plants all about ornamental grasses and sedges. The plant profile is on American Persimmon Trees and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with Doug Oster, who shares the Last Word on his Daffodil Obsession.

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Show Notes:

01:06 Introducing Shannon Currey of Izel Plants 01:50 Shannon's career trajectory from people to plants 04:51 What goes into being "grass-like" 07:15 What's growing in Shannon's garden 09;30 Grasses vs Sedges 14:05 What to look for vis a vis grasses and sedges 18:40 Are there any native edible grasses 20:40 How to care for lackluster plantings 22:31 "If you baby them, you actually cause them to grow really lushly and then flop over. The better approach is actually you put them in a tough spot." -Shannon 25:30 Pet peeves and ideal conditions 32:00 what to do about cutting and weeding grass 35:33 ‘Pink Muhly’ 36:56 ‘Little bluestem’ 39:22 ‘Mexican feather grass’ 40:56 'Pennsylvanica' 42:07 Shannon's favorites 43:58 Non-native shout outs 47:43 How to get in touch with Shannon 48:41 "Grasses are a great way to have landscapes that do more for us ecologically. They are a good solution for a lot of common environmental challenges.” -Shannon 49:04 This week's plant profile is… American Persimmon Tree! 51:13 What's new in the garden? Bulbs, Lettuce, and late bloomers 51:43 What's going on around town? Gardening club, online workshop, horticulture classes, and holiday happenings 55:47 The Last Word – My Daffodil Obsession by Doug Oster

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 80: Bay-Wise Landscapes

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-80-bay-wise.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 91: Outdoor Lighting

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-91-outdoor.html

This episode is archived online at:
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Episode Credits:

Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Editing: Brandie Bland
Show Notes: Jaime Breeden

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Little Bluestem Grass Plant Profile

Little Bluestem Grass Plant Profile

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a perennial grass that is native to eastern North America. It is hardy to USDA Zones 3 through 9.

This clump-forming grass forms a mound a few feet wide and grows to about three feet high.

The spring and summer foliage is a silvery blue with hints of pink and purple. In the fall, it turns various shades of burgundy, rust, and pink.

It is the larval host for a number of skipper butterflies and has attractive seed heads that are fuzzy white and are eaten by small birds in winter. It is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.

Little Bluestem grows in full to part sun. It tolerates a variety of soil conditions, but does not like a constantly wet root zone.

The only maintenance is to cut it back in late winter or early spring before the new growth emerges. It can be propagated by seed or root division.

This ornamental grass was designated as Perennial Plant of the Year for 2022 by the Perennial Plant Association. It pairs well with coneflowers and tall sedums.

There are several cultivars that are widely available. They include ‘The Blues', 'Standing Ovation', 'Jazz', and ‘Blue Heaven’.

Little Bluestem: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio, video, and text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Jamie Oberg

 

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Plant Profile: Hakone Grass

Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra) is a tough, ornamental plant with attractive foliage. It also known as Japanese Forest Grass, after its country of origin.

   It forms a pretty weeping mound of bright foliage that looks stunning on the edge of a path, as a groundcover, and in containers.

   The foliage colors range from bright green to variegated gold and white hues. In autumn, the grass even takes on gorgeous coppery shades. This is a true multi-seasonal interest plant.

   Hakone Grass is adaptable to many garden situations. It prefers moist, shady spots and well-draining soils. It is resistant to disease or pests and is generally low-maintenance. Keep it out of direct afternoon sun, as the leaves can get a bit scorched and make sure it never totally dries out.
   Give it a bit of extra mulch in the fall and if it starts looking tattered, you can cut it back in late winter, when the new shoots appear.
   It slowly spreads by rhizome and after several years you might want to divide it. The best time do that is in the spring.

   The most popular Hakone Grass cultivars are ‘Aureola’ and ‘All Gold’ – both are widely available and look terrific combined with other shade-loving plants like Hosta, Toadlily, and Hellebore.

   Try a Hakone Grass in your garden today – you can grow that!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine and edited by intern Jessica Kranz.

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

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Video Wednesday: Pink Muhly Grass

Muhly Grass is a tough, native, ornamental grass that is topped in late summer and fall with fluffy plumes of cotton-candy pink. It is airy and beautiful. You cannot resist brushing your hands through it as you walk by.

It grows to about 3 feet high and wide. Pink Muhly makes a great border or edge plant. It combines well with the pink-flowering forms of Echinacea, Sedum ‘Autimn Joy,’ and other ornamental grasses.

It is native to the southern United States and Mexico. The genus (Muhlenbergia) contains over 150 species, but only a few are commercially available.

It prefers full sun (6-8 hours), but can tolerate part-sun. It grow best in well-drained soils, so place it on a slope and amend clay soil well with compost for best results. This grass can tolerate drought conditions, high heat, humidity, and nutrient-poor soils. 

Pink Muhly is disease -and pest-resistant. The only maintenance needed is to prune it back to about one foot high in late winter/very early spring.

There is a white version called 'White Cloud' that is equally as stunning and traffic-stopping. 

This is the fourth video in series of plant profile videos aimed specifically at the Mid-Atlantic home gardener. See the other videos in this series:

~ Japanese Anemones - click here
~ Asters - click here
~ Toad Lily- click here