We have been growing and testing various herbs at Helga Botanical Garden for almost twenty years, and grasses for over ten. Since the botanical garden is located in a rather cold place compared to the average in Estonia, it gives us the courage to share our experiences and recommendations with the whole of Estonia in mind. At the same time, this experience has taught us that the years are not brothers and therefore different species and varieties are happier every year.

I am sharing my personal experience growing all the species and varieties described in this booklet, and certainly experiences will be completely different in different growing conditions.

First of all, I must honestly admit that I have not always had such a warm attitude towards grasses as I do today. Rather, they seemed to me like a “grass” that had crept into the planting area without permission and behaved like a weed. When wanting to create a truly beautiful lawn, success always depended on a few small things or the weather of the moment, but in the bed, some grasses could cause headaches again and again.

Over time, however, grasses have become indispensable design elements for me – both as an element of natural and geometric garden design.

The spring awakening of grasses and the time of opening of flower whorls later vary greatly from species to species. This could be taken into account when drawing up the plan. By planning bulbous and decorative perennials that fill the planting in the first half of summer, and various combinations with tall perennials in the second half of summer.

Sharp-flowered boxwood (Calamagrostis × acutiflora)

The most well-known varieties are 'Karl Foerster' and 'Overdam' . The first one captivated me with its unusual upright brush shape.

The plant got its name when the world-famous German botanist and gardener Karl Foerster (1874–1970) once noticed an unusually shaped plant from the window of a train and stopped the train by pulling the emergency brake to remove the plant. The man was fined 10 German marks at the time, but the world is richer for a very valuable landscaping plant.

In spring, the boxwoods wake up quite early and usually by the end of June, bronze flower clusters develop at the ends of long, straight flower stalks.

'Karl Foerster'

Height up to 180 cm. Golden yellow, it remains very decorative even in the autumn-winter period. Does not self-sow and therefore does not pose a risk of weeding. Prefers a sunny location with moderate humidity.

Cut back in early spring. The plant spreads slowly by short rhizomes and can be propagated by division in spring. It is well suited for use in groups, mass plantings, or as individual eye-catchers among other perennial groups.

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'Overdam'

The variety was discovered in 1981 in the Danish nursery of the same name. It also starts growing in spring with fairly cool weather, is slightly shorter than the previous one and has nice white-green striped foliage. The height of the inflorescences is 150–160 cm.

It is well suited for mixed plantings or in beds designed with taller summer flowers. Other varieties with striped foliage include 'Avalanche' and 'England' .

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'Waldenbuch'

It could be called the smaller brother of 'Karl Foerster'. It also has an upright growth habit, about 150 cm tall. The foliage is more curved and bright green, and the nuts are lighter.

It is wind-resistant and decorative in the winter garden. Suitable for planting both singly and in groups among other plants.

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Short-haired boxwood (Calamagrostis brachytricha)

It awakens in spring when the soil is warm enough. It forms beautiful pure green mats with its gracefully arching foliage.

In the second half of summer, greenish-pink, later silver-gray puffy flower clusters appear. The height is about 120 cm. Both sunny and semi-shaded places are suitable for growing. It may be a little cold-hardy in some places.

Good companions are crocuses, daylilies and spring bulbs, whose leaves, when they start to fall, are shaded by the growing leafy spurge. They also look very beautiful in pots on the terrace.

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Blue-bellied toadflax (Molinia caerulea)

Together with the subspecies Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea, they form a dense, upright clump.

In spring, they only wake up with the arrival of warmer weather and reach flower buds in late July or August. Young plants need a few years of recovery before they reach their true nature.

Among the varieties, you can find quite different-looking puffballs, differing from each other in height, nut growth pattern, and color. Different varieties can be 50–250 cm tall.

Thanks to their strong stems, they stay upright even in windy areas and will delight the eye for a long time in the winter garden.

Varieties

  • 'Transparent' – foliage 60 cm, inflorescences up to 170 cm.
  • 'Skyscraper' – very tall variety, inflorescences up to 240 cm.
  • 'Fontäne' – with a curved growth habit, inflorescences up to 140 cm.
  • 'Karl Foerster' – strong bush, dark inflorescences up to 150 cm.
  • 'Bergfreund' – airy greenish-purple nuts.
  • 'Rotschopf' – foliage that turns red in autumn.
  • 'Windspiel' – very upright, honey-colored winter shade.
  • 'Cordoba' – strong flower stalks, golden yellow autumn color.
  • 'Edith Dudszus' – dark purple flower stalks and pods.
  • 'Moorhexe' – columnar bush with dark nuts.
  • 'Heidebraut' – purple nuts in August-September.
  • 'Heidezwerg' – a low variety with orange autumn color.
  • 'Poul Petersen' – an airy vase-shaped fan.
  • 'Variegata' – yellow-striped foliage.
  • 'Igel' – a small bush with golden yellow autumn color.

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Prairie pillgrass (Sporobolus heterolepis)

A beautiful, glossy green bush with hairy leaves. In the second half of summer, the plant is covered with delicate, airy, fragrant flower clusters.

It can successfully cope with our volatile winter conditions. The orange-brown autumn color is also nice. As a prairie plant, it prefers a more fertile, well-drained site in full sun, but is also suitable for moister soil in partial shade.

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Meadow dew (Deschampsia cespitosa)

Our own native species. It starts growing very early in the spring and by Midsummer, the flower stalks are already opening their whorls.

As the summer progresses, the flower color changes from silvery yellow-green to golden yellow. They look good in larger groups among other perennials.

Prefers moist, fertile soil and a sunny or semi-shaded location. Since the stems of the common dew plant produce quite abundant seed reproduction, the flower stalks should be removed before the seeds drop to prevent unwanted self-sowing.

Best-known varieties

  • 'Waldschrat'
  • 'Tardiflora'
  • 'Scotland'
  • 'Hot'
  • 'Golden dew'
  • 'Goldveil'

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Whip-millet (Panicum virgatum)

It grows naturally in the prairies of North America. It only wakes up in spring when warm weather arrives, but its decorativeness remains for a very long time.

Prefers a sunny, well-drained location. Tolerates wind well. Flowering begins in the second half of summer, with strong flower stalks bearing airy flower clusters.

Varieties

  • 'Shenandoah'
  • 'Rotstrahlbusch'
  • 'Cardinal'
  • 'Hanse Herms'
  • 'Rhebbrown'
  • 'Heavy Metal'

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Sesleria

Quite undemanding low grasses with wintergreen foliage. Suitable for planting between lower perennials or as ground cover.

Autumn lime (Sesleria autumnalis)

The yellow-green foliage forms dense clumps. It blooms in August and is suitable for both solitary planting and in groups among other perennials.

Shiny clematis (Sesleria nitida)

Forms a magnificent clump with stiff grey leaves. Requires good drainage and a sunny location.

Green foxtail (Sesleria heufleriana)

In spring, blackish-purple flower clusters open before the leaves grow. Very cold-resistant and hardy species.

Common lime (Sesleria caerulea)

Also grows naturally in Estonia. Well suited as a ground cover or in planting containers. Lime-loving species.

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Helictotrichon sempervirens (Helictotrichon sempervirens)

One of the best blue-leafed grasses. Dense gray-blue hemispherical tufts bear tall flower stalks in June-July.

The growing site should be sunny, fertile and well-drained. It does well in groups or as a single plant.

Varieties

  • 'Pendula'
  • 'Sapphire Spruce'

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Onions (Allium)

The rich world of lilies has won my heart for a long time. Mostly relatively undemanding plants, they are always nice to use in larger or smaller groups among other plants.

The main flowering period is from late May to July. The color range varies from very light pink to deep purple, and there are also white, blue, and yellow species.

Most species prefer fertile, well-drained clay soil. They need sufficient moisture in the spring, but good drainage is especially important during the dormant period.

Best-known species and varieties

  • Dutch salad 'Purple Sensation'
  • Stemmed clematis 'Mount Everest'
  • 'Gladiator'
  • Giant garlic (A. giganteum)
  • 'Beau Regard'
  • 'Round and Purple'
  • 'Ambassador'
  • 'Globemaster'
  • 'Forelock'
  • Bulgarian honey garlic
  • Persian honey garlic
  • Turkmen lak
  • Slanted bangs
  • Golden garlic
  • Makhachkala peak
  • Karatau peak
  • 'Ivory Queen'
  • Pscheme's spot
  • Garlic
  • Slouchy forehead
  • Watch out!
  • Siberian larch
  • Chives 'Rising Star'
  • Chives 'Corsican White'
  • Ironweed
  • Narcissus-flowered spot
  • Nice shot

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This brief introduction has only covered a small part of the ornamental representatives of the laucaceae family. This is a rich and easy-to-grow family that should be experimented with much more, both in the commercial garden and as ornamental plants.