By Bev Johnson

Master Gardener

If you appreciate the ethereal beauty and contrasting texture that ornamental grasses add to gardens, you can thank Mary Hockenberry Meyer. So says Gail Hudson in an article in the May edition of The American Gardener. Mary is a horticulture professor emeritus of the University of Minnesota. In 1975 she wrote a book called Ornamental Grasses.

Not all grasses are hardy here in the frozen North, but Mary has found some that are hardy to -30 F. She warns that there are a few that are invasive, like Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis), a zone 5-9 that may grow here in a protected area. Don’t plant that one.

She worked with Bailey Nurseries’ Debbie Lonee to promote two hardy grasses, moor grass  (dechampisa) and hair grass (theleria). Here are a few others she recommends.

Golden Sunset Yellow prairie grass (Sorghastrum). This is a prairie grass with olive-green foliage. It’s 6 feet tall and remains upright. The key feature is 10- to 12-inch-long golden seed head flowers in mid-August. A zone 3 plant.

Mary won a patent for this 4-foot-tall grass   Blue Heaven Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium socparium). It was selected for its 4-foot upright form and great fall color from 3,000 planted. This one was taller and a darker burgundy red in the fall. Its drought tolerant, great for sunny sites and is habitat for butterflies and birds.  It too is zone 3. There are other Little Bluestem grasses available too.

Palm sedge looks like grass, but its scientific name is (Carex muskingumensisi). This baby will grow almost anyplace, even in the shade. Mary says it’s a very, very tough grass and it’s hard to put it in a place it won’t grow (in zones 4 to 9). It resembles palm fronds and makes a really great ground cover with interesting architecture. (It probably spreads).

Northern sea oats (Chasmamthium latifolium) are a 2- to 5-foot-tall grass that likes damp soil- medium to wet, and well drained. Grows in full sun to part shade. It has a pressed oats appearance. Pick it early and it will last forever. Great for dried arrangements. She warns however that it can be an aggressive self- seeder. In other words, you have to keep this one from heading for the nearest interstate by pulling up its seedlings. It’s zone 3 to 8.

Path rush (juncus tenuis) is another “not a grass” – it is a 2-foot grasslike plant. It grows wild all-over North America. In other words, it is a WEED. Mary uses it as a ground cover and to help erosion.

Prairie dropseed (Sporbolus heterolepis) is a warm season grass native to the prairies of north central North America. It provides food for moths and butterflies.

Check out the Minnesota Arboretum. It has almost 400 different kinds of plants from the grass and sedge families. Today it’s the largest collection of ornamental grass collection accredited by the American Public Gardens Association. Nonetheless. Bunkey won’t be planting any of these soon. His philosophy is “grass doesn’t belong in the flower garden.”