Sporobolus heterolepsis

Freshly dug Sporobolus heterolepsis. A native prairie grass which forms handsome, arching clumps. The fine textured, green leaves are about 1/16" wide and produce a flowing mound. It turns golden hues in the fall and in August will produce long, refined, airy panicles. This grass is extremely drought tolerant. The fragrance of the plume has been compared to sort of like burnt buttered popcorn. It requires at least four years to attain significant size. This long-lived, trouble-free plant just keeps getting bigger for decades without any center dieback or need for renewal.

Bamboo Companion Plant - Petasites Japonicus

Picture shows the developing flower bud of petasitas japonicus which is an excellent under story/ground cover plant for a bamboo grove. The flower bud emerges before the large tropical leaves, up to three feet across, develop.

Miscanthus Grass

This is an example of an urban planting of Miscanthus grass still showing good structure and seasonal interest in late winter.
Photo taken at Chelsea Waterside Park, Manhattan, New York. April 2008

Calamagrostis ”Karl Forrester”

Calamagrostis ”Karl Forrester” – Spring digging getting large clumps ready for their new urban home.

Panicum Virgatum – This is another example of urban use of this versatile native grass for river bank stabilization and as a buffer zone. Photo taken at Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island City, New York. Jan 2008

Panicum Virgatum - Green Plant

Panicum Virgatum Grass - Metro New York urban use. Photo taken at Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island City, New York. Jan 2008

Panicum Virgatum

Panicum Virgatum - Here is a prime example of how our native grasses can be used in the urban setting.This grass will provide interest from early Spring through winter - changing with the seasons. It is very drought and flood resistant and will also give cover for wildlife. This grass will not need any pesticides or fertilizers and will not need to be irrigated once established.

**photo taken at Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island City, New York. Jan 2008