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Briza media
"Rattlesnake Grass"

Carex divulsa - "Berkeley Sedge"

Carex testacea
"Orange sedge"

Festuca glauca "Siskyou Blue"

Elymus condensatus "Canyon Prince." This is a beautiful blue-gray grass that is very drought tolerant.. When planting in the ground it can, however, become very invasive. In order to curtail the spreading roots, find a a way to limit their spread. This can be done by placing a 15 gallon plastic container in the soil with its bottom removed (if gophers are a problem, place some chicken wire under the opening) and plant the grass insde the plastic container. Elymus can also be a very satisfactory container plant.

Helichtotrichon sempervirens. A silvery grass growing about 18" with an upright habit. Looks its best with some afternoon shade in the North County. Average water.

Miscanathus transmorrisonensis This is a bold, very green grass with striking flowers in late summer. The blades reach 3 to 4 feet with flowers growing to 5 feet. If the plant becomes too overwhelming to tackle - removing all the spent flowers - it can be cut clear back to the ground.

Seslaria autumnalis
"Autumn Moor grass"

Deciduous Grasses for Sun

Bay Laurel Garden Center - GRASSES
	Grasses lend a special touch to any landscape; they bend and sway with the breezes. They can add an airy, vertical aspect to the garden; they can provide a tough, drought-tolerant ground cover. The list below is a good sample of the grasses we stock in our nursery; we don't alway have all of them on hand. We will, however, be willing to order them for your specific needs when they become available.
	EVERGREEN GRASSES for SUN
Home California Natives Perennials Shrubs Grasses Deer resistant plants Pottery Garden Art Fountains Potting Soils and Amendments Gardening Aids Special Sales About Us Links	Briza media "Rattlesnake Grass" Carex divulsa - "Berkeley Sedge"	Briza media (Rattlesnake Grass) Clumps of rather ordinary furry green leaves to 1 foot long. In spring, they produce open flower sprays resembling a rattle snakes rattler - which are very showy, and can be dried. Sun or light shade, most soils, moderate irrigation. Hardy to 0 degrees. Carex divulsa (Berkeley sedge formerly Carex tumulicola) is a bright, evergreen grass 12 to 18" tall. Tolerates some traffic, drought, full sun and boggy conditions. One of the best sedges for ground cover. Looks best with part shade. Hardy to 10 degrees. Carex glauca "Blue Zinger" is a lovely, low growing ground cover with slender blue green blades. Does best in full sun. Hardy to 0 degrees
	*Carex testacea* "Orange sedge"	Carex tenuiculmis A handsome grass which is ever-brownish red. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall in full sun with minimum water needs. Carex testacea Another colorful grass that has very bright orange blades in full sun. Stays attractive throughtout the year. Does best in full sun and requires only minimum water once established.
	Elymus Festuca glauca "Siskyou Blue"	Elymus condensatus "Canyon Prince." This is a beautiful blue-gray grass that is very drought tolerant.. When planting in the ground it can, however, become very invasive. In order to curtail the spreading roots, find a a way to limit their spread. This can be done by placing a 15 gallon plastic container in the soil with its bottom removed (if gophers are a problem, place some chicken wire under the opening) and plant the grass insde the plastic container. Elymus can also be a very satisfactory container plant. Festuca glauca "Elijah Blue" and "Siskyou Blue" Both of these silvery grasses, growing about 18" tall are great accents to the garden plus the fact that they are easy to grow - minimal water and care.They form charming clumps which look great in almost any landscape, particularly handsome amongst rocks or along dry stream beds.
	Helichtotrichon sempervirens "Blue oat grass" Miscanthus transmorrisonensis	Helichtotrichon sempervirens. A silvery grass growing about 18" with an upright habit. Looks its best with some afternoon shade in the North County. Average water. Miscanathus transmorrisonensis This is a bold, very green grass with striking flowers in late summer. The blades reach 3 to 4 feet with flowers growing to 5 feet. If the plant becomes too overwhelming to tackle - removing all the spent flowers - it can be cut clear back to the ground. Muehlenbergia rigens "Deer Grass" This native California grass can survive with very little water, although it looks best with a minimum. The Getty Museum in Los Angeles has planted great stands of it. The flower stems are very tall and it can be very effective in masses. Should be cut back every few years for best appearance.
	Seslaria autumnalis "Autumn Moor grass"	Seslaria autumnalis A meadow grass reaching 12 to 18" with light green foliage. Flowers appear in the spring and fade gracefully throughout the summer. Tolerates a wide range of conditions Seslaria cearulea Low growing, only 6 to 8" tall, this grass is green on the top and silver underneath, a very pleasing two-tone combination. Flowers are inconspicuous.
	Stipa arrundinacea "New Zealand wind grass" Stipa giantea "Giant feather grass" Stipa tenuissima	Stipa arrundinacea or Anemanthelea lessonia- 3' by 3' with shades of olive and orange. This is a lovely grass for all seasons. A new variety "Sirocco" is said to be smaller, about 18" with bright shades of copper and pink in cool weather. Needs full sun or it will color green. Minimal water. Stipa gigantea This grass has arching blades about 20" tall. The tall flowering wands are reminiscent of golden wheat; they can attain heights of 8'. Very dramatic when back-lit by the sun and moving with the breeze. Quite drought tolerant Stipa tenuissima Another very drought tolerant grass - this one does reseed readily but can easily be removed if it's a problem. The seed heads produce a waving, airy look. Plants are often available in 4" containers as well as gallons. Grasses are not immune to the appetites of gophers, so if these little pests are in or around your garden, be sure to protect them with wire cages.Most of the grasses are deer resistant - check the deer-resistant lists to determine which ones.
	Deciduous Grasses for Sun
	Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' Miscanthus "Cabaret" Pennisetum rubrum Pennisetum orientale	Calamagrostis acutiflora "Karl Foerster" A very striking, upright grass that produces narrow brown flower heads 4 to 6 feet tall. The straw colored flowers remain throughout the winter. This grass prefers rich, moist soil. Other cultivars include "Overdam" and "Avalanche" which exhibit white striping in the leaves and "El Dorado," a selection with golden stripes in the middle of the green leaves. Miscanthus. This genus has many different species. Some varieties we stock include a very dramatic variegated one, "Cabaret," which can grow 6 feet tall; this grass is grown for its outstanding foliage as it is not known to produce any flowers. Varieties "Sarabande," "Morning Light," and "Gracillimus," however, have extremely showy flowers Panicum virgatum called Switch Grass is very versatile, adapting to many types of soils and becoming quite drought tolerant once established. "Cloud Nine" can grow to 8 ft.! The leaves are bluish green in the summer and dark gold in autumn. "Heavy Metal" is very upright, reaching 5 ft. Flowers show shades of pink. Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum.' This grass is by far the most popular; it's no wonder as the purple blades are topped with graceful waving flowers. The main drawback, however, is it's potential for freezing in the North County. And if it does survive the winter it generally takes a long time to rejuvenate. We usually tell folks to buy it early in the season and enjoy it as an annual. Pennisetum orientale is a much smaller grass with light pink flowers throughout the summer. It is a very charming small grass and is not considered to be at all invasive.
Bay Laurel Garden Center • 2500 El Camino Real •Atascadero, CA • 805-466-3449

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