Ornamental Grasses

With plenty of movement, colour, shape and texture, grasses really come into their own in autumn. But forget the big boys, there are varieties that are perfect for the most petite of plots.

- Tamsin Hope Thomson

WHILE they might conjure up images of prairie style planting and vast, rustling borders, ornamental grasses are every bit as impressive in a small space. The qualities they bring to large displays – movement, height, sound and colour – are also vital in gardens where space is at a premium and every plant must justify its place.

And tapping into those benefits is simply a matter of choosing the right varieties. Luckily, there are many beautiful, compact grasses available for planting now that won’t take over the garden, as well as upright ones that, while they may be tall, will take up little ground space.