Ornamental Grasses are a collection of lots of species, most common are Miscanthus, Poa, Calamagrotis, Brizia, they are clump-forming ornamental grasses that are well worth growing. They have some of the best flowers of all the ornamental grasses, producing large, feathery plumes in late summer, in shades of silver, buff or pale purple-pink, depending on the variety. 

Their fine, arching foliage is attractive too – some varieties start out fresh green before turning orange or bronze in autumn, while others have variegated leaves.

Although some varieties are deciduous their faded foliage and flower heads remain on the plant over the winter months, giving structure and interest at a time when the garden is bare.

Native to Asia, parts of the Pacific and east Africa, miscanthus are becoming increasingly popular in the Australia, with many new varieties from Europe and the US now available. The most widely available are the Miscanthus sinensis cultivars, which hail from China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. There’s now a miscanthus for every garden, from compact varieties that reach no more than 80cm tall, to larger varieties that can reach 2.5m, in a variety of forms and colours.

Swaying gently in the wind, ornamental Grasses bring movement and structure to any planting scheme and combine brilliantly with perennials. The larger varieties can be used as a screen or as a focal point, while the more compact varieties can be woven through borders or grown in pots. The flowers can be dried for flower arranging or for Christmas wreaths. 

And if that’s not all, Ornamental Grasses are hardy, low-maintenance, don’t need staking and grow well in most soils. They’re largely free of pests and diseases, too. They should reach their ultimate height and spread in two to three years.

Miscanthus can be planted all year round, but ideally plant them in spring or autumn. Dig a planting hole, place the plant in the hole so it’s planted at the same depth as it was in the original pot, backfill and firm in. Water plants in well.

Ornamental Grasses should survive on average rainfall across most of the country. They don’t need feeding, over watering and over feeding causes them to flop in the garden.