Everlasting Love

Inspired by the American plains, prairie and meadow gardens not only maintain their interest year round, they’re low maintenance and wildlife friendly

- Connall Oosterbroek

Prairie and meadow gardens traditionally consist of a mix of grasses and perennials. The advantage of this style is that interesting shapes, flowers and resulting seed heads maintain the visual appeal through the seasons. Plus, plants don’t have to be deadheaded or cut back after flowering, keeping maintenance to a minimum. Another benefit is that the flowering plants attract pollinating insects, while the seed heads bring the birds.

Grasses form the backbone of a prairie garden, and fortunately, most nurseries carry a good selection. Choose varieties with different heights and interesting seed heads, for example Melinis repens ‘Natal Redtop’ and Chasmanthium latifolium. For coloured foliage, try Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ (purple fountain) and Imperata ‘Red Baron’ while Muhlenbergia dumosa and Setaria megaphylla provide attractive texture. Interplant these with the following long flowering perennials and create impact with repeat plantings in large groups.

1 COSMOS (COSMOS BIPINNATUS)