A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 Ornamental Grass Question

Hi everyone...
Does anyone know of a good 8ft. tall clump forming grass that is hardy in zone 5? Were looking for one for a screen along the fence.
Thanks for the help

Hey Greg,
Is the pampas grass hardy in your area??

That's about the only one I know that
grows that tall??

Weezie

Hi Weezie...
I think it is...Its hard to know whats available for your area here in IL because out nurseries rarely stock grasses..
Greg

Here's one or two others..
Take a peak at them..

http://www.ernstseed.com/Catalog/NativeRecl.htm

Some don't look too bad!!!

Weezie

I know about that,
They never carry alot of stuff.

Try going through your catalogs and
take a peak in there.
And you can order over the phone.
Watch to see what their return policy is...

Weezie

I think the Pampas grass is hardy, but the clumps are NEVER as big as some of the pictures show.
They are pretty, they come in white and pink

How big does pampas grass get there? here in the savannah area, it gets big enough that an elderly friend parked his whole car on top of a clump of it (he doesn't drive anymore) and it is just fine, only bigger. and the car is a cutlass.

Jiffy and Greg,
As I've read in magazines,
In the South or West, where it is constantly
warm and always growing, it's HUGE!!!
I think I even remember something about being
banned in Calif. Maybe it reseeds or something,

I would imagine, in our cold region, it
doesn't get as big, because it has to have
down time or dormancy time when it's cold
and stops growing and puts it's energy into re~growing instead of constant growing,
does that make sense.....

I'm almost sure that it should grow,
but may be some kind of protection over it... like hay or straw or leaf mulch????????

Greg, are you a straight zone 5??
I am a 5 b here, and I have a 6 on the side
of the lake here too, so that's a helper...

Weezie

Hi Weezie........
Im a 5a....Some maps put us on 4b too....That little blue blob :rolleyes: in some maps falls right next to us.
I agree with the south and the west climates. When i went to school in Oregon everything was so much bigger as with the south.I sure wish we could grow beautiful roses and southern magnolias here.

Greg,
I saw some tall grasses yesterday,
let me take a look...
Gotta feed the kids too,
Check back in a bit!!
I'm slow, but sure...
Weezie

Greg,
Did you take a peak at the site above???
I found one that was 8ft plus but they said it
was a brut..

What are the conditions by the fence.??


Here's a site on the care of them
and for winter protection......
(we don't need any of that do we?)

http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/horticulture/g1310.htm

Here's one for mail order
http://www.santarosagardens.com/subcat.asp?0=24

Let me know what you come up with!!
Weezie

Hi Weezie.....
Thanks, as always for your help! The pink Japanese Silver Grass Malepartus is nice. I think i might order that this spring.
The spot is in the back SW corner of the yard that is somewhat protected by the arborvitaes and wishing well.
I can't wait to start getting my hands dirty again ....and winter hasn't even started yet! Greg

I hear you on that one!!!

I think sometimes I like the break from gardening
during the winter, but I always hate to see the plants die, but I know that they will come back with the spring.... All new again!!
Chance to sit down and read and do other hobbies without feeling guilty I'm not doing the gardening.

Weezie

It's cold here today!!
White stuff here on the ground in the morning

My feelings exactly....

Greg,
I have been meaning to ask you,
on your profile you have flea markets,
Do you like going to them or you have a stand like.

My cousin is like totally into flea markets,
he has a stand that he does, I believe it's
baseball cards or something like that,
and he is there every Sat. and Sun., like clock
work.... He does nothing else on the weekends..
We NEVER see him any more, only once in a blue moon, if it's his parents turn for the family reunion at their house and then, When, the market closes, then he comes over,
We tell him, thanks alot, we see how we rate...

We joke about it, he even gave up a few girlfriends because he likes it so much! :rolleyes:

Weezie

Hi Weezie....
I love to go to them....My parents and i could probably open a few booths with all we collect....lol
I have some friends who are dealers and they are the same way...every weekend thats where they are. In the summer its a toss between that and garage sales..which i love also.
I guess i am a collector of everything...lol I mainly collect Precious Moments but i have gotten into many more collections thru the years..

Greg,
What is cranberry glass?
Like Pink Depression Glass???
I have some of that, from my Granny!
Weezie

Weezie,
Its a dark red glass..almost burgundy.. Fenton makes most of it. It is really pretty. Its like pink depression glass only in the ruby color. Cranberry hobnail is pretty too.

Pampas grass gets BIG... i remember when my dad attacked a huge clump off Pampas grass in our garden.... by the end off the day the clump looked as big as when we started.. we even tried settin fire to it... didnt work either.

if ur set on Pampas grass did u know that there is actualy one with pink flowers ?

Have u thought bout Stipa Gigantea? its much more delicate and the seed heads can last a long time ( mine have been on for bout 4 mouths now ) . Stipa is a smaller plant so might not be what ur after. ( its hardy in the UK dont know bout usa)

hope this helps

dan