All About Ornamental Grasses for Gardens & Landscaping
Oct 04th 2018
Most people think of flowers, trees and shrubs when considering what to use in gardens and landscapes. And while these are all staples of many properties, native ornamental grass species and cultivators should be considered for improved aesthetics and health of lawns and yards. If you’re ready to leverage the benefits of native plants in your commercial or residential Gainesville landscaping, contact Evergreen Lawn Care.
4 Florida Native Ornamental Grasses
If you want to give your landscape the best opportunity to grow and thrive, consider using grasses native to your area. Native ornamental grasses require little water, reduced maintenance, and help cultivate an overall healthy environment for other native plants, animals and insects. Native ornamental grasses can bring your Florida landscape to life with incredible textures and colors. They can be used as borders to walkways or ponds, used to cover a wide area of open space or for erosion control. While ornamental grasses don’t produce flowers, this often overlooked group of plants is aesthetically pleasing, low maintenance and pest-free. Gainesville lawn care experts with Evergreen Lawn care share four native ornamental grasses that make great additions to any Florida landscape.
1. Fakahatchee Grass
Fakahatchee grass adds an instant tropical look to landscapes This plant’s grassy texture can add diversity to your yard or garden. Sometimes called Eastern gamagrass, this ornamental plant grows in a large clump that works well as an accent plant or planted as a border. Fakahatchee grass is easy to grow and propagate, making it a great addition to any Florida landscape. As fakahatchee grass can grow to be large in size, landscapes with limited space should opt for the smaller dwarf fakahatchee. As an added perk, fakahatchee grass provides larval food for Byssus Skipper butterflies.
2. Muhly Grass
This variety of Florida native ornamental grass is considered a lawn and garden superstar for its fabulous displays of tall, beautiful purple-hued plumes produced in the fall. Muhly grass is easy to grow and can withstand extreme flooding as well as drought. In terms of size, this ornamental grass produces clumps that reach three to five feet tall and 3 feet wide as the plant matures. In landscaping Gainesville, FL garden designers often plant muhly grass in large quantities for a stunning visual effect in both home and commercial properties.
3. Purple Fountain Grass
If you’re looking to add a robust splash of color to your Gainesville landscaping, purple fountain grass is the ornamental native for you. Purple fountain grass has colorful purple to burgundy-toned foliage and plumes. Flower plumes produced by purple fountain grass are highly prized and look great as dried additions to flower arrangements. This native grass is virtually pest-free, can grow up to five feet in height and thrives in full sun, making it a great option for any Gainesville landscape.
4. Wood Oats
Also known as Indian Wood Oats, this native ornamental plant is an aesthetically brilliant, clump-forming grass with wide leaves and nodding and arched clusters of flat oat-like seed-heads. Wood oats first grow in greenish-blue hues that change to yellow and brown as the plant develops. This ornamental grass works well when planted in groups and can be used for erosion control in moist, shady areas.
Lawn Care in Gainesville, FL
If you’re looking for a company that specializes in Florida native lawn care in Gainesville, FL contact Evergreen Lawn Care. From choosing the best native plants for your landscape to maintaining, irrigation repairs and removing debris, our expert landscapers provide lawn service Gainesville, FL residents rely on to achieve beautiful lawns and gardens without breaking a sweat! Call us today!
