GrassSolutions for May 2011

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In This Issue

Expand Your Palette

Which sedges should get the spotlight? Paul Cappiello gives us his picks for Carex that may not be in your repertoire.

In the News

Need some inspiration in designing with grasses? Can you the think of 15 ways to use ornamental grasses? These articles from past and present should do the trick.

New Plants

This native sedge may not grab you right away, but when you need to cover some ground, it comes to the rescue.

Comments

A catalog sneak peek, our photos get some face time in the trade, and customers brighten our day.

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Expand Your Palette with Underused Grasses (and Sedges!)

Yew Dell Gardens logo

Our readers are enjoying our lists of underused grasses, and we're having a great time talking to our contributors.

We continue this month with a slight twist. All our
recommendations are sedges rather than true grasses. These stellar selections come from Paul Cappiello, Executive Director of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens in Kentucky (their new website launches next month). You may remember that Paul wrote an article on sedges for American Gardener last year. You can link to his article via the "In the News" section of our February 2010 issue.

Paul suggests three sedges that deserve serious consideration, especially if you're dealing with shady areas:

Carex siderosticha 'Variegata'
Carex morrowii var. temnolepis 'Silk Tassel'
Carex appalachica

For photos and Paul's comments on these sedges, read more.

To see other lists in our underused grasses series, go to the March & April 2011 issues in our GrassSolutions™ archive.

In the News

A Bit of Inspiration in Designing with Grasses

Designer Piet Oudolf always uses grasses in his designs because they create spontaneity and wildness. He included a full palette in the Lurie Garden in Chicago, pictured above.

This past month, we've noted several design-related articles that pertain to grasses, which has prompted us to look back a bit in our news archives. We bring you a slice of design, present and past, with a focus on grasses.

Garden designer Piet Oudolf has led the way in designing with grasses. Learn more in this profile from the Wall Street Journal.
Are there really 15 ways to use ornamental grasses? Find out in this article from Better Homes and Gardens.
Generous use of grasses and a four-season palette breathe life into an old farmhouse in East Hampton. Get inspiration from this slideshow in Garden Design magazine.
Garden Design also highlights grasses as container plantings. Two slideshows feature containers at Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art in Nashville. Get the short or long version.

Spotlight on New Plants for 2011

Carex cherokeensis

Cherokee Sedge

Use as a beautiful rich green ground cover or low maintenance filler in large gardens
Evergreen in mild climates
Pendulous seed spikes add texture and interest in spring
Highly deer resistant

Many North American native sedges can serve as backbones to larger plantings, particularly in meadow gardens, natural areas, and in alternatives to traditional plantings. Now you can add Cherokee Sedge to that list. It is similar to C. pensylvanica, but is a little larger, with coarser texture.

The rich green, arching foliage spreads slowly in well-behaved clumps--a verdant companion to woodland perennials. It's a real workhorse, handling sun and shade in moist and wet areas. Cherokee sedge prefers moist conditions but can also tolerate average soils. The flowers are insignificant, but the wheat-like seed spikes that follow gracefully droop and add interest in spring.

Quick facts: Green foliage, 12-18 inches tall, insignificant flowers, sun-part shade, medium-wet, Zones 6-9, Origin: Southeastern US

Call (800-203-8590) or email us for more information or to book your order.

Comments & Features

Sneak Peek at Our New Catalog

The Hoffman Nursery 2011-2012 Catalog of Grasses is going to the printer this week, and we couldn't be more excited. The cover features Panicum virgatum Ruby Ribbons™ 'RR1' PP17944, one of our new favorites.

We've added some nifty tools that should make the catalog even more useful. One new item is a quick reference listing Miscanthus cultivars by height and bloom time, and Panicum cultivars by height and foliage color. That should make it easier to sort out all the cultivars and choose the one that best fits your needs. There's a lot more to tell you about, and next month we'll give you the full scoop. Stay tuned!

HNI Photos in GPN Magazine

The May 2011 issue of Greenhouse Product News (GPN) included an article on Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Eldorado' PP16486. We love this Feather Reed Grass for its upright habit, persistent plumes, and variegated foliage. The article gives detailed information on growing this cool season grass in production, which many of you may find helpful. The print version features photos from Hoffman Nursery, while the online version is text only. We prefer the print one!

Colorful Comments from our Customers

Some recent customer comments were too fun not to share with you. We love the descriptions and appreciate the feedback.

Penelope Maynard of Penelope Maynard Garden Design offers this vivid description of grasses that arrived in our shipping netting:

"What a glorious sight when we opened our boxes. It was like an ad--each tray bright green and wearing yellow hairnets! Thank you and all who were involved very much indeed for enabling us to plant such perfect Sesleria autumnalis plugs."

Ellen Cohen from Peconic Lawn & Tree Care, Inc. tell us, "I love working with you and your company. You've delivered in every aspect every time!"

If you have something to tell us, we'd like to hear it. Call us (800-203-8590), email your comments to GrassSolutions, or contact Magan or Brendan on our Sales Team.