Ornamental grasses for borders

[BarkingHat]

I’m overthinking and read too many plant catalogues. New border would love some easy to care for grasses of a medium height.

Medium height grasses can look lovely in a border, but be careful not to choose one that is too freely seeding.
I have some Miscanthus in my garden that doesn’t seem to seed everywhere.
Look on the RHS site, there is a guide to different types of ornamental grass, it will help you choose what’s best for you.

I bought a few from Waitrose garden, they gave a good choice. It was on a recommendation from here, one was Hakonechloa

How sunny is your new border? If shade, look at sedges - they look like grass but cope with shade better.

There's a shady side and a sunny side. We took out a huge pampas grass that must have been 4 foot across because it was totally in the wrong place. So I don't want to inadvertently put something similar in!

Looking for tall and wafty but not a thug. Though I love the look of the Hakonechloa.

Stipa gigantea is very wafty with arching golden seedheads. It looks stunning when the light catches it, particularly low morning or evening sun. It prefers a sunny position. No maintenance apart from a rake through with your hands in spring to remove dead foliage.

Just ordered some Sipa gigantea - it looks perfect. It'll be planted where it gets the evening sun.

Fantastic, BarkingHat. I'm sure you'll love it. .

I don't know if you are thinking of exclusively grasses but verbena bonariensis goes very well with the stipa. Again, no maintenance, light airy feel and small purple flowerheads that glow in evening sunshine.

I love verbena bonariensis. I tried it in previous garden hoping it would selfseed . Maybe I’ll have more luck in this garden.