Grasses are a versatile and beautiful element in garden design, bringing texture, movement, and year-round interest to any outdoor space. In New Zealand, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of native and well-suited ornamental grasses that thrive in our unique climate. Whether you’re looking to create a naturalistic landscape or a sleek, contemporary garden, grasses can play a starring role in your design.
Why grasses?
Grasses, including grass-like species such as sedges and rushes, offer a diverse range of forms, textures, and colors. They provide a long season of interest, with many varieties offering beautiful seed heads that persist through winter, adding structure and visual appeal to the garden. They are also very low-maintenance, only requiring a haircut once a year or less.
In New Zealand, some of the most popular grasses include Anemanthele lessoniana, Chionochloa flavicans, and Carex testacea. These grasses can create an ethereal quality when backlit by the setting sun, glowing warmly in the evening or autumn light. Other grasses, like Miscanthus sinensis, Festuca novae-zelandiae, and Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster', are valued for their striking foliage and architectural presence.
How to incorporate grasses in your garden
Grasses can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your garden design. They are perfect for softening the edges of borders, adding movement to static planting schemes, and creating a sense of depth and layering.
In the Border: Grasses like Anemanthele lessoniana and Festuca novae-zelandiae are ideal for adding a sense of lightness and transparency to planting borders. Their delicate foliage and airy flower heads can create a soft veil that complements more substantial perennials.
Front of the Border: For the front of borders, consider Carex testacea or Acorus gramineus. These grasses can arch gracefully over paths or terraces, blurring the hard edges and providing a natural transition between garden elements.
Accent Planting: Larger grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis or Chionochloa flavicans can be used as focal points in the garden, where their bold forms and striking seed heads create visual interest throughout the year.
Naturalistic Planting: For a more naturalistic look, combining grasses like Lomandra species with native shrubs and perennials can create a landscape that feels both wild and cohesive, blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment.
The right grass for the right place
When choosing grasses for your garden, it's important to consider the specific conditions of your site, such as light levels, soil type, and moisture availability. Fortunately, there are grasses suited to a wide range of conditions:
Shade Tolerance: Anemanthele lessoniana, Lomandra species, Acorus gramineus, and Carex secta are grasses that can tolerate part shade, making them perfect for planting under trees or in shaded borders.
Dry Conditions: For hot and dry spots, Festuca novae-zelandiae, Lomandra species (yes they work everywhere), Chionochloa flavicans, Helictotrichon sempervirens are excellent choices. These grasses are drought-tolerant and require minimal watering once established.
Coastal Gardens: Coastal areas can be challenging, but grasses like Chionochloa rubra, Apodasmia similis, and Poa cita are well-adapted to these conditions, thriving in sandy soils and withstanding salty winds.
Designing with grasses in New Zealand offers endless possibilities. Whether you want to create a serene, low-maintenance landscape or a dynamic, textured garden, grasses can play a crucial role. By selecting the right varieties for your conditions and thoughtfully incorporating them into your design, you can enjoy a garden that is both beautiful and resilient year-round.
Comments