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Tall and see through plants?

9 replies

RoganJosh · 09/08/2016 19:16

Googling this or rhs searching isn't working very well!

I have a narrow border which in aiming to create a partial screen with. I've got some verbena bonanariois (you know what I mean) and this year some Ammi magus, but I'd like something else.
I tried some grasses but they're too bushy and wide.
Anyone think of anything shrubby that's kind of see through? Or a perennial?
It gets sun and the soil is clay.

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Ferguson · 09/08/2016 20:43

We have black bamboo, which isn't invasive but it does send up new shoots each summer, that seem to get progressively taller. We take off the bottom little branches to expose more of the black stems.

Stipa gigantea only has comparatively small leaves at the bottom, but sends up tall slender flower spikes, that can be particularly attractive with the sun through them:

www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/garden-plants/stipa-gigantea-golden-oats-grass-large/

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RoganJosh · 10/08/2016 06:35

Thanks, I think that's the grass I planted! Last year it sent three long seedy bits up, this year it's just a clump of grass at the bottom, taking up room on the ground but with no height.

I think bamboo might be over cooking it a bit in terms of height. I'll have a think though as I have some in pots that is a pain to keep watered so I was planning to plant it out somewhere! It's even the black stemmed variety.

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traviata · 10/08/2016 19:13

knautia macedonica
did you try a small miscanthus grass?
poppies
gaura
scabiosa
perovskia
dierama

many of these like quite dry conditions, so you might ned to put some grit into the planting hole if you have clay.