Native Ornamental Grasses

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
In the Midwest Garden with Rob Zimmer on whb Y
is brought to you by Care Patrol local Senior care Advisors.
Here's Rob with today's tip.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Many of the finest and most beautiful of the ornamental
grasses are our Wisconsin native grasses. Many of these grow
quite large and showing, making them attractive to gardeners who
appreciate their natural beauty, vertical interests, colors, and texture. All
this week on in the Midwest Garden, I'm talking about
ornamental grasses for the Midwest. August is peak grass season,
when many of them are flower and sending up their

(00:32):
spectacular feathery plumes. The blue stems are among the most
popular of Wisconsin's native grasses. Big blue stem may reach
six to seven feet tall and wide and is often
called turkey foot grass because its seed plumes resemble a
turkey's foot. Little blue stem is a smaller version, growing
only about two feet tall and wide. Both are at
their peak in August and September, when their colors begin

(00:53):
to transform to reddish orange, purple, and blue. And attractive
grass for hot, dry places is Canada Wildloe. Why This
native grass features beautiful elongated foxtail plumes that become more
and more attractive throughout the summer and fall. They are
also excellent for winter interest. In fact, all of the
ornamental grasses should be left standing all winter long for
the beauty they provide in the winter garden. Prairie drop

(01:16):
steed is one of my favorites, with finely textured, perfectly
round clumps of foliage that are a beautiful silvery green
during summer and transformed to bright lemon yellow for the
fall season. Each clump is a perfect specimen, and planting
several together it creates quite a spectacular display. Switchgrass is
another excellent native grass here in the Midwest. There are
also many wonderful garden hybrids that have been created in

(01:37):
all colors, such as reddish, silvery blue, even variegated green
and white. I'll have more to come on ornamental grasses
all this week in the Midwest garden.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
Looking for more tips in the Midwest garden with rob
Zimmers available anytime at whby dot com and brought to
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