Grasses, mostly perennial clumping varieties, have made an impressive debut onto the modern landscape scene. We have recently seen garden grasses featured in books and articles, planted in “meadows,” “grasslands,” and as “accents,” bringing “movement” and “drama” to the landscape. In fact, the current hot trend for using ornamental grasses has sought to bring back to our gardens a refreshing “natural” look. But for a truly natural look (true to nature), only native grasses will suffice.
Native grasses are a beautiful, practical, and a climate appropriate addition to California gardens. There’s a native grass type for almost every situation you can imagine, even for green roofs! Grasses are easy to grow and compliment almost every design theme. Use them near rocks, in pots, to accentuate art, or to shield a view. Plant them as a meadow, a dry stream bed, or to frame a path. Grasses grow fast and change with the seasons which adds to their interest. In this video, garden expert Nan Sterman explains the virtues of Aristida purpurea, a delicate pink grass that’s hardy enough to thrive on the Palomar Medical Center’s green roof.