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Bad Boys of Ornamental Grasses
by Marie Hofer, Gardening Editor, HGTV.com

For gardeners who find Pennisetum (l) or Miscanthus invasive, ornamental grass expert Rick Darke offers some good cultivars and great alternatives.

Those chocolate-brown seed heads look so striking, I thought. It would be fun to mix them with white-flowered forms. And that's how I came to buy three fine specimens of 'Moudry' fountain grass and take them home. A year later there were plenty of seedlings that wound up sporting brown flowers and four years later I'm still digging the unwelcome 'Moudry' up. The more well-behaved white-flowered 'Hameln' has never multiplied.

Loved for its form and its bristly seed heads, fountain grass (Pennisetum sp.) is a staple of many gardens. Selected cultivars behave nicely but several species self-sow freely in warmer climates. That's why fountain grasses wouldn't pose a problem in Rick Darke's Pennsylvania garden but they often reproduce with abandon in California.

Invasiveness depends on region, culture and genes, says Darke, author of the new Pocket Guide to Ornamental Grasses. "Chasmanthium latifolium [river oats] normally grows along rivers and floodplains. If you put it where there's a long season and moist climate, it will seed and go everywhere. But it's been in my garden for 14 years and it's never been a pest." Not only is the growing season shorter in his locale, but as a matter of long-standing practice, no plant in Darke's garden gets supplemental water.

And even if you live in an area where Chasmanthium could be a problem, you can control it to some extent with culture. "If you have a south-facing area, a big tree with surface roots and soil compaction, that grass is going to be fine, but if you add lots of mulch, drip irrigation and fertilizer, it's going to be all over the place."

The grass that's gotten the worst press lately is the venerable Miscanthus sinensis. Appreciated for its fine texture, density and showy flowers, the species (not selected cultivars) is the problem grass of the mid-Atlantic and Southeast, not only creating a problem for the gardener but escaping cultivation altogether. But find a region that's either dry or short-seasoned, and M. sinensis doesn't spread. "In the Tennessee bottomlands where it's moist or wet, you're crazy to plant it, but it's a non-issue in New York," Darke says. "And in California, unless you water it, it dies. There, Miscanthus isn't a problem."

The full story plus photos

How to tell whether a grass is invasive

Other invasive grasses

Good versions of Miscanthus and Pennisetum

Good-Guy Grasses

One of the showiest grasses in fall is pink muhly, whose fine flower panicles form cloudlike drifts above the foliage.

The sky's the limit when it comes to wonderful ornamental grasses. Here are a few of Rick Darke's favorites:

Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris). This very ornamental clump grass generates a mass of frothy pink flower panicles in September to November. Flowers hold in winter. Drought-tolerant. Three feet tall, USDA Zone 6.

'Dallas Blues' switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). A tall clumper with wispy panicles, switchgrass' bold presence in the garden makes this grass a great alternative to Miscanthus. May self-sow in moist climates, but it won't disrupt native habitats in the Midwest and East. In drier areas, it won't self-sow without a lot of supplemental watering. USDA Zone 4.

Colorful fall foliage and, best of all, no self-sowing make 'Purpurascens' a great Miscanthus selection for the garden.

Miscanthus 'Purpurascens'. The flower heads aren't the only draw. In fall the foliage turns red-orange. Blooms early but rarely self-sows. USDA Zone 4.

'Karl Foerster' feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'). A lovely upright grass that's tolerant of a wide range of conditions. The seeds are generally sterile, so self-sowing is rare.

More great grasses and photos

Related Articles:

·	Splendor in the Grass
·	Leaves of Grass
·	Ornamental Grasses

·	Care of Grasses
·	The Height Report
·	Fall Flair in the Garden

	Show us your fall garden!
	Do you love your fall foliage, new asters or great grasses? Whatever you like about your fall garden, share it with us! E-mail a digital photo with a short description of your garden to Gardening@HGTV.com. Put "Fall Garden" in the subject line. Or, send by regular mail to Gardening Online Home & Garden Television 9721 Sherrill Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37932 We'll publish the best!

	Fall Checkup!
	Which perennials can be divided? Is that tree in trouble? Need a cool idea for a quick-and-dirty cold frame? Take your garden's pulse and get ready for winter.

	You Should See What's on HGTV!
	Tune in this month for new episodes of Landscapers' Challenge every week! On Thursday, Oct. 7, 8:30 pm/7:30c, a cramped and rundown balcony gets a facelift. NEW Discover the essential ingredients for a romantic dining area. Landscape Smart, Saturday, Oct. 9, 11 am/ 10c. NEW Keep your pets safe: know which plants to avoid. Gardening by the Yard, Saturday, Oct. 9, 11:30 am/ 10:30c. NEW This homeowner brings the best aspects of her favorite boutique hotels to her backyard. Outer Spaces, Saturday, Oct. 16, 1:30 pm/ 12:30c. NEW Get a guided tour of a major landscaping transformation on Ground Breakers. Brand-new episodes every Saturday at 10 am/ 9c.

	Great Ideas
	From apples and pawpaws to kiwis and dwarf citrus trees, create a fruit garden that's perfect for your backyard. What is your favorite fall foliage color in a tree--yellow, orange, red or a kaleidoscope of color? Pick the right trees for the color you want. Orchestrate your bulb planting for color-coordinated sequences of spring bloom. Look for more great tips in Bulb Basics--we've added new stories!

	It Pays to Diversify!
	The best defense against landscape wipeout is plant diversity. When you're choosing plants, trees and shrubs for fall planting, consider adding species that aren't presently in your landscape (first making sure, of course, that they're not pest-prone and that they're hardy to your climate). Having a wide variety of plants means you'll be less likely to suffer significant loss if a particular pest comes to call. Note: The words "low maintenance" and "easy to care for" aren't necessarily an indication that a plant is pest-free. To find out whether a species is problematic in your area, ask your local extension agent or reputable nurseryman. Find out more: The Benefits of Diversity Pest-Prone Plants Downsizing the Garden Wildflower Garden