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Native Grasses
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Carex buchanii
| Gone are the days when grass was only something in the lawn (that you mow), or on the farm, (that cows eat). As well as being intrinsic and interesting parts of the natural landscape, grasses are now regarded as plants of great ornamental value. And we are fortunate that our native grasses can more than hold their own in the botanical world (and in good looks). Look around - grasses are popular with councils and commercial landscapers, and are increasingly gaining acceptance in private gardens.
One of grass’s assets is a handy range of sizes. Probably the biggest would be Toetoe (Cortaderia toetoe). Some thought is needed to fit it’s mature height of 2m (and seed stalks of 3-4m) into the average garden, but out on the farm, a big bunch of them, with silvery tassles waving, looks great. A slightly smaller variety (at 1.5m) is Cortaderia fulvida.
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Chionochloa conspicua
Chionochloa rubra
| A bit smaller, but still impressive, is Hunangamoho (Chionochloa conspicua), which grows quite happily in sun or moderate shade, and puts up handsome seed panicles in summer. But the best of the ‘big’ grasses is ( I reckon), Red Tussock (Chionochloa rubra), which grows about 1m+ high. A mass of red tussocks, shimmering in the sun and rippling in the wind, takes a lot of beating for impact. Moreover, it tolerates dry or wet conditions, and generally stays looking good for years. Actually, it is not really red, but takes a slight reddish hue, when grown in full sun.
Another one that grows to about a metre, is Turutu (Dianella nigra), which looks a little flax-like. In full sun, it’s fronds take a bronze hue; or in shade, a dark glossy green. The berries that appear in summer, are an unusual bluish/purple. Carex secta, also gets to about a metre, or more. It grows naturally in bogs, but does ok in ordinary moist soil. Every year, the old fronds lie down below, gradually building up a kind of trunk, and new bright green fronds grow out the top.
Slightly smaller (about 75cm), are two grasses with much appeal - Anemanthele lessoniana has an upright, open form, with fine seed heads a bit like spider webs (whence they get the common name Gossamer Grass) - Chionochloa flavicans has a rather thicker and droopy form, with prominent seed heads looking like miniature Toetoe. Both types grow ok in sun or light shade.
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Carex testacea
| Carex testacea would probably be the best known of all native grasses - an orange tinted weeping grass that grows up to about 60cm high. At home in hot, dry (or damp) conditions; and needing lots of sun to bring out the strongest orange. Another one that likes the sun is Carex flagellifera - new growth starts out with a kind of pinkish-brown colour scheme, then fades to a shiny beige as it ages (how does that sound?). Rounding out a trio, is Carex dipsacea - with long, fine, green fronds - preferring moist to wet conditions, in sun or moderate shade.
Carex trifida merits a paragraph on it’s own - nothing like the other Carex’s above, leaves much wider, greyyish-green colour, weeping form; thick seed stalks and fluffy brown seed heads. It grows ok in sun or light shade, dry to moist.
At the small end of the scale, are two delightful specimens, which are ideally suited to limited garden space - in the 30-40cm range. Although they both produce seed heads, it is their colours that excite most interest. Festuca coxii is blue (great contrast in bark or red scoria); Uncinia egmontiana is a rich red/tan - I am not sure which. This one is (in my humble opinion) the king of grasses.
I have read other views along the lines that grasses are ‘easy-care’ or ‘low-maintenance’. Well, I think that is an over-simplification. Firstly, if a grass is in conditions it does not like, it will look awful - mostly dead fronds, or dry, withered foliage, of poor colour. I believe the secret is to put the grass in conditions (of moisture and sun or shade) that it suits, and it will reward you with a long, good-looking life.
As a grass ages, some of the fronds naturally die (look grotty) and are replaced by new ones (look lovely). The rate at which this happens depends on how happy it is. It is a natural process - if you don’t mind the dead foliage, just leave it - that’s how it is in nature. If you prefer, remove the old fronds, say late winter, or mid-summer before a spurt of new growth. Eventually, with many grasses, a total renewal is warranted - like mowing the lawn. In late winter, cut it right down to near ground level. This looks awful - but new spring growth soon produces a much more handsome specimen.
The rest of the time - sit back and watch the grass grow.
Kindly supplied by Greenridge Nursery
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