Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora)

Tall, feathery pinkish flowers appeared a couple of weeks ago on our Feather Reed Grasses. Early morning or late afternoon, this grass is stunning. The flowers glow in diffuse light and sway even in the slightest breeze. Yes, grasses have flowers and are considered flowering plants. It’s just that since they’re wind pollinated they don’tContinue reading “Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora)”

Deschampsia. Muhlenbergia. Calamagrostis. Grasses have really long names!

Two of these grasses, the Deer Grass and the Tufted Hair Grass, are California natives. The other, Karl Foerster Grass, is a hybrid that does very well here. Tufted Hair Grass has been proposed as a lawn substitute, but that would mean mowing off the flower stalks, since at about three feet high they makeContinue reading “Deschampsia. Muhlenbergia. Calamagrostis. Grasses have really long names!”

Penstemon!

Our penstemons are swinging into full bloom, and providing a nice bit of color to fill in for the departing blue-eyed grass. Native bees visit the flowers, as do hummingbirds. The plants don’t need much, if any, water – depending on the species they’re bred from. Penstemon spectabilis should thrive with no additional water; MargueritaContinue reading “Penstemon!”

A native flax for the perennial border

We’re trying  out some new California native perennials, to see what kind of border we can create using primarily native plants. We’re mixing several species of penstemon, this flax, Blue-eyed grass, Red Buckwheat and coyote mint to see what happens. The funny thing about California natives is that most of these plants aren’t native hereContinue reading “A native flax for the perennial border”