Grasses spice up a perennial border nicely. Not only do they bring vigor and greenery to the flowering bed, many ornamental grasses are also steadfast in winter and decorate the otherwise empty perennial bed. Below you will find a list of the most beautiful ornamental grasses as well as tips and tricks on how to beautify your perennial border with grasses.
Grasses are beautiful companions for the perennial border
Create a perennial bed with grasses
Many ornamental grasses are hardy and often winter green, making them a beautiful sight even in winter. In addition, many types of grass also thrive in the shade and can thus green difficult perennial beds in partial shade or shade. There are various ways of arranging ornamental grasses on the perennial bed. The decisive factor here is the growth height of the ornamental grasses:
- Majestic ornamental grasses such as giant Chinese reed can be placed in the center of the perennial border and be the main actor, so to speak
- Bushy grasses can be planted like small, green islands between colorful flower patches of medium-tall perennials
- Small, delicate grasses such as the colorful Japanese sedge or bearskin grass can be planted at the edge as a bed border or as a green dab between ground cover.
Combine grass with stones
Grasses are particularly beautiful in combination with stones, be it pebbles or larger boulders. Cover the bottom of the perennial bed with pebbles or decorate your perennial bed with large, decorative stones. A bed border made of field stones is also conceivable. You can also use pebbles in different colors to create pretty patterns and effects.
| ornamental grass | growth height | wintergreen | location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas fescue | Up to 1m | Yes | Sunny |
| bearskin grass | Up to 20cm | Yes | Sunny to semi-shady |
| mountain sedge | Up to 20cm | no | Sunny to semi-shady |
| blue fescue | Up to 30cm | Yes | Sunny |
| Broadleaf sedge | Up to 30cm | Yes | Shady to semi-shady |
| Colorful Japan sedge | Up to 30cm | Yes | Shady to semi-shady |
| Chinese reed 'Malepartus' | Up to 2m | no | Sunny |
| diamond grass | Up to 1m | no | Sunny |
| Japanese forest grass | Up to 50cm | no | penumbra |
| Pennisetum grass | Depending on the variety, up to 1.20 m | no | Sunny |
| Morning Star Sedge | Up to 70cm | Yes | penumbra |
| mosquito grass | Up to 30cm | no | Sunny |
| pearl grass | Up to 60cm | no | Sunny |
| moor grass | Up to 80cm | no | Sunny to semi-shady |
| riding grass | Up to 1.50 m | no | Sunny |
| Giant Chinese reed | Up to 4m | no | Depending on the variety, rather shady |
| Switchgrass | Up to 1.20 m | no | Sunny |
| snow marble | Up to 40cm | Yes | Half shade to shade |
| reed | Up to 2.50m | no | Sunny |
| iridescent grass | Up to 40cm | Yes | Sunny |
| Sedge 'The Beatles' | Up to 20cm | Yes | Shady |
| silver spike grass | Up to 80cm | no | Sunny to semi-shady |
| beach rye | Up to 1m | Yes | Sunny |
| Carpet Japanese sedge | Up to 40cm | Yes | Shady to semi-shady |
| forest marbel | Up to 40cm | Yes | Shady to semi-shady |
| zebra reed | Up to 1.50 m | no | Sunny to semi-shady |
| trembling grass | Up to 40cm | Yes | Sunny |