Do you like the look of ornamental grasses?
One of my favorite plants has the appearance of an ornamental grass, but isn’t.

Do you like the look of ornamental grasses?
One of my favorite plants has the appearance of an ornamental grass, but isn’t.
Yesterday, in my latest “Landscape No-No” post, I asked you if you could figure out what was wrong with this landscape that I drove by earlier this summer.
It starts out green in spring and summer…
As fall approaches, burgundy-colored plumes begin to appear…
I am so glad that September is finally here!
Oh, I realize that it is still hot, but if you look carefully, there are signs that summer is beginning to wane. The days are becoming shorter and you can see lengthening shadows at days end.
Fall is a busy time in the garden if you live in the desert Southwest, because that is the best time to add new plants to the garden.
Are you wondering what to do in your garden this month? Here is my latest garden article from Houzz.com
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Okay, you were probably thinking that I meant the ‘other’ type of grass. But the type of grass I am referring to cannot be smoked, (at least I don’t think it can). ‘Regal Mist’ (Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘Regal Mist’), is a beautiful ornamental grass to include in your landscape. It is low-maintenance, thrives almost anywhere and has stunning burgundy foliage in late summer and early fall.
USES: This Texas native looks best when planted in groups of at least 3, but I think groups of 5 or 7 are better. This ornamental grass grows to approximately 3 ft. High and wide. However, when flowering, add 1 – 2 ft. to their total height. They can be planted in full sun, areas with reflected heat and even in areas with partial shade.
This ornamental grass is tolerant of most soils. Regal Mist is a great choice for planting around pools, boulders and in front of walls. I have planted them around golf courses, and many people would ask me, “What is that plant? It is beautiful.” It is evergreen in areas with mild winters, but it is hardy to -10 degrees F (Zone 6). Frost will turn them light tan in color.
MAINTENANCE: You can hardly get more low-maintenance then this – prune back severely in the winter, almost to the ground, to remove old foliage and spent flowers. I do not fertilize Regal Mist, and they look just great. Although drought tolerant once established, supplemental water is necessary for them is needed for them to look their best and to flower. Self-seeding is not usually a problem when they are irrigated with drip-irrigation.