PLANT OF THE WEEK

No trip to Stonington Gardens is complete without a visit to "De Bloementuin" (The Bloom'n Garden). It's the area that we feature plants in bloom, or plants that otherwise merit your attention. At Stonington Gardens we supply our garden center and nursery with plants selected specifically for our growing zone. This month we are featuring a fall favorite - ornamental grasses:

There are six major categories of ornamental grasses. The descriptions that follow describe the foliage. The descriptions will apply regardless of height and do not reflect any flowering stems.

• Tufted: These are some of the clump forming grasses that will be characterized by spiky foliage. Tufted grasses will range from coarse, almost sedge-like to fine textured with upright leaves originating from a basal clump. A good example of tufted grass would be Festuca cinerea 'glauca'.
• Mounded: These grasses exhibit a mounded habit with a somewhat weeping nature. An excellent choice for a mid-sized mounded grass would Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hamelin'.
• Upright: Erect. The foliage of upright grasses grows vertically in a uniform, columnar fashion. Cattails, or Typha latifolia would be an example of an upright grass.
• Upright Divergent: Clumping in habit, these grasses will grow up and out in a stiff upright nature. Blue oat grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens, is an example of an upright divergent grass.
• Upright Arching: Another clump forming upright that ascends to form an almost fountain-like effect at the top. The most recognized example of an upright arching grass would be Japanese silver grass, or Miscanthus sinensis. A favorite is M sinensis 'Gracillimus.
• Arching: One of the most dramatic examples of 'ornamental' grass, these plants are usually characterized by foliage that raises up and out in equal proportion. Pampas grass, or Cortaderia selloana is probably the most widely known example of arching grass. Prized for its exotic plumes, it is grown as an annual in northern growing zones.

Southeast Connecticut and Southern Rhode Island gardeners face particular challenges, and opportunities, they might not have in other parts of the state. As trained horticulturists we're very picky about the plants we sell. For that reason, and a few more, you'll find plants you won't necessarily find anywhere else - and you will find plants that can work in your garden.

Check out our "De Bloementuin" (The Bloom'n Garden) for more feature plants.