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Ornamental Grass in front of Roses
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Posted by
miclino 5 MI (
My Page) on
Wed, May 16, 12 at 23:49
| I have a red double knockout rose bush behind a boxwood hedge. Would like to plant an ornamental grass in front of the rose that would complement it. I want it to be as tall as the rose bush ie ~3ft but not block it completely from view. I was thinking of purple fountain grass (yes I know its an annual) because I like the plumes. Any other suggestions? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Ornamental Grass in front of Roses
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| I use Pennisetum 'Hamelin' and find it a pleasure to grow. Easy and always looks good all season. It grows to 30" tall, a little less than 3ft and it is perennial. It won't 'run' and it doesn't reseed much at all which are good qualities in a grass. But it isn't red, which is hard to find in a perennial that is hardy. How many plants are you talking about, one? Then to plant an annual would not be a big deal. Plus you could see if you like the grass before you commit to one long term. |
RE: Ornamental Grass in front of Roses
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| Just one for now. I know the fountain grass grow pretty fast so a little worried it might overwhelm the area but then again it's only for one season |
RE: Ornamental Grass in front of Roses
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| Is you double KO rose that small? All my double KO are 5'-6' tall and wide. Is it fully grown? |
RE: Ornamental Grass in front of Roses
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| roses are generally FULL SUN plants ... shading the first 3 feet MAY significantly alter its vigor ... i dont understand your comment that the roses are already behind boxwood.. and now you want to bury them behind tall grasses ... new things are found by peeps who try new things.. so go for it ... i just mention a concern ken |
RE: Ornamental Grass in front of Roses
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| They are 2nd year plants so definitely not 5ft tall. The boxwoods are short, only 1.5ft tall. If I don't find something else to put in that spot, I will try the grass. I don;t think it will shade the roses too much. |
RE: Ornamental Grass in front of Roses
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| Bowles Golden Grass - milium effusum is a gorgeous grass which is quite short but has long delicate flower heads. Blue oat grass (heliotrichon), festuca glauca or stipa tenuissima (in fact there are several smaller stipas such as S.barbata which might work) are all mannerly. Calamagrosis Karl Foerster is a terrific upright grass which will make a narrow clump. For an unreal pale turquoise blue, Elymus magellanicus is a lovely grass (not to be confused with blue lyme grass, Elymus arennarius - a rhizomatous monster). Finally, I grow a small molinia, Edith Dudzsus (purple moor grass) which is a neat, tufted grass which looks delightful with organum and tritoma (My current favourite grass). All of these are well-behaved clump formers with no running roots. Please forgive dodgy spellings. |
RE: Ornamental Grass in front of Roses
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Thanks!
While on the topic, any lighter colored grasses that will do well in partial sun just outside the dripline of a sentry crimson maple tree (which means only couple feet from base of tree) |
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