Grasses, mostly perennial clumping varieties, have made an impressive debut onto the modern landscape scene. We have recently seen garden grasses featured in books and articles, planted in "meadows," "grasslands," and as "accents," bringing "movement" and "drama" to the landscape. In fact, the current hot trend for using ornamental grasses has sought to bring back to our gardens a refreshing "natural" look. But for a truly natural look (true to nature), only native grasses will suffice. Exotic species, that is, grasses from foreign lands, simply appear too "exotic" often too gaudy, to fit into the subtle California landscape.
We have many beautiful native grass species here in California, so there is no need to search Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, South America, nor far a-field on our own continent to find nice varieties for our gardens.
As you will see in this special feature, Masses of Grasses there is a native grass type for every situation you could imagine in the garden, now, you can finally see all of the native grasses we grow at Tree of Life along with pictures and descriptions.
Use these plants with confidence. Since grasses are often prolific seeders, and their seeds usually germinate readily, careless use of exotic grasses may actually create new weed problems both in the garden and in the surrounding country. If native grasses reseed in your garden in is called recruitment. If exotic (foreign) species successfully reproduce, it would be called an invasion.
Check this information and try a few native grasses in your garden. They are the perfect compliment for just about every native design theme, and they are super easy to grow. We have a lovely grass section at Tree of Life Nursery, so come on over to compare them and see them in action… planted near rocks, flowering plants, in meadows, dry streams, alongside paths and in pots. They grow fast, they change with the seasons, and they add a truly natural look to the native plant garden.
See the new Grasses Guide in the Featured Plant Article: Masses of Grasses
