Drought is often an ally of grasses. Many of them become stockier, sturdier and flower more when growing in poor, dry soil, provided they are well established (the first year, a little watering is still necessary). Conversely, rich soil and frequent watering result in lush but less resistant clumps, which lie down more easily. It is obvious that now is not the time to adopt new plants, but if you plan to plant some at the end of September, here is an anthology among the most resistant.
A sure value
A guaranteed effect, with Stipa gigantea and its slender and fine silhouette, dazzling like fireworks, elegant even in winter with its fine shiny foliage. It dominates the other grasses, undulating in the slightest breath of wind. The light inflorescences, silvery purple in early summer, take on a golden hue in winter. It likes light soil, tolerates drought and needs sun. It has its place wherever flowerbeds need a tall but light plant, which can measure up to 2 m high.
A well-suited nickname
No spectacular flowers for this perennial, but foliage so supple, so fine, so elegant that it bears the pretty nickname of angel hair. Stipa tenuifolia displays spikes with silky, light, blond awns, waving in the slightest breeze. The very dense tuft, 30 cm in all directions, takes on superb autumn colors, then it dries and remains graceful all winter. The feathery hair ensures a sumptuous spectacle until October, and delightful during the winter. It sometimes reseeds abundantly depending on the region.
Blue, blue, blue…
A touch of steel blue, for pretty 30 cm borders? This is Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’. Festuca glauca, the grass with blue foliage, goes almost unnoticed next to this hybrid with fine intense blue leaves. The color of its evergreen foliage is its main asset, but it is far from being the only one. Its resistance to drought is impressive. This fescue grows in round, compact, dense clumps, 30 cm in all directions. Its disheveled appearance brings fantasy, complemented, in June and July, by small, supple ears, almost drooping, perched on thin erect stems. These silvery spikelets take on reddish-brown tones over the months. It likes the sun, light, drained soil, even dry, even poor. Rock garden, border, gravel garden… it lends itself to multiple uses.
Blue oats
This is the common name for Helictotrichon sempervirens. This grass is perfect for the gravel garden or rock garden, as it hates wet soil. The tuft of evergreen foliage, almost electric blue, measures 50 to 60 cm in all directions. It’s a wonder in winter.
Japanese grass
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ is always breathtaking, and of good composition, whether in a border, in a pot, or in suspension. Sun or partial shade, it doesn’t matter, its very thick golden foliage, falling gracefully, is as beautiful in winter as in summer. It’s guaranteed light as soon as it’s installed! But in case of violent sun like this summer, shade suits it better: if it resists drought well, the sun can burn its leaves.
