Xeriscaping

Over the past couple months, I have been wandering around my yard inhaling the fragrance of dried flowers, wondering why I decided to move to Death Valley, aka, Roxboro. It’s been so hot and dry, the only thing flourishing are my cactus and ornamental grasses. Even the crabgrass and zucchini have given up the ghost. I guess the powers that be finally admitted we are having a drought now (ya think?). Recently, on vacation, I visited The Desert of Maine, near Freeport. Apparently, this was once a fertile farm, but year after year, sand dunes appeared and now cover the entire property. This is an unexplained, creepy natural phenomenon (or is it…?), but folks flock to see the place and pay good money (I know, because I paid my admission fee!) to do so. They even had a camel once, but he wasn’t tourist-friendly, so they gave him to a zoo. Since, out of the corner of my eye, I believe I have spotted a couple tumbleweeds and skittering scorpions in my backyard, this might be just the ticket for me. Now, I just have to wait for the dunes to start appearing, buy a camel of my own, and I am good to go!

I decided finally to plant some shade trees, so 30 or so years from now I could get some relief from the Seventh Circle of Hell. It took me 3 days just to dig a hole for my tree. I have found out the hard way that tillers don’t dig so well in orange concrete! Now, it’s time to re-think my landscape plan and try xeriscaping with some more drought-tolerant ornamental grasses. Since some of these tough plants are native to the hot, dry Great Plains, I figure these were made for me! Yes, xeriscape is one of the few words that begin with an X (stump your friends on Scrabble night). It might be a tongue twister too if you say it five times fast. This is a term that is loosely translated to mean ‘successful landscaping on the surface of Mercury,’ but can be adapted to North Carolina as well.

When you think ornamental grass, most likely what comes to mind is Pampas grass (Cortaderia). For sunny, large yards, this may be perfect, but at 10 feet can be imposing. There is a dwarf variety, ‘Pumila,’ at 5 to 7 feet, but why not try something a little different from the Joneses. Miscanthus, or Maiden grass, encompasses a wide range of plants with a more elegant shape and feathery plumes. This family of gorgeous grasses has many outstanding varieties in height, color and contrast for every landscape. Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ and ‘Graciella’ are tall, but airy. ‘Zebrinus’ and dwarf ‘Little Zebra’, have groovy horizontally striped foliage and shiny, copper-colored seed heads. ‘Cabaret’ and ‘Cosmopolitan’ have wide green- and white-striped peppermint ribbon leaves and add colorful contrast. I cannot sing enough praises about all of these, as they are thriving in my desert-like yard and not one brown leaf!

Of course, everyone is familiar with Pennisetum ‘Rubrum,’ or Purple Fountain grass, well loved all summer for constant pink and tan plumage and burgundy foliage. Unfortunately, this grass is an annual in our zone, but I make sure to reserve spots in my garden every year for this breathtaking plant and leave it in place uncut for winter interest. Most of the Pennisetum family of grasses are hardy here, grow more compact, and their bottlebrush plumes appear earlier in the season. Pair these colorful grasses with a metallic blue switchgrass like Panicum ‘Dallas Blues’ or ‘Heavy Metal’ (gotta love the name!) or multi-colored red ‘Shenandoah’ for stunning height and color contrast. In full sun, nothing can compare to the fall plumes of Muhlenbergia capillaris, or ‘Pink Muhly grass.’ Its candy-colored clouds of pink are absolutely traffic stopping!

Obviously, these easy plants live most successfully in full sun, well-drained areas. If you plant them in shade, they probably will flop and not bloom reliably. Fortunately, if you are a shade gardener, you are in luck! The Carex family of sedges need or will tolerate at least half-day of shade. These also make a great substitute for liriope (monkey grass). Carex ‘Ice Dance’ is a great variegated wide-leaved choice, as is the shorter weeping groundcover, ‘Evergold.’ These plants are great for smaller gardens, being that they stay short and compact. Depending on the variety these can be 6 to 8 inches to only 2 feet. I wish I had more shade at my house so I could try the cute new mop top sedge called ‘Beatlemania,’ just for fun! ‘Heavy Metal’ and ‘Beatlemania’ would look great with my ‘Pink Floyd’ dahlias, I think. Hey, I might just have the first real “rock garden”!

Most ornamental grasses thrive in the relentless heat, sun and drought we have had this summer once they are established. Typical lawn fescue obviously does not! Quit struggling with mowers, weed & feed and irrigation systems. Plant some great groupings and mass plantings of these low-maintenance winners, along with sun-loving perennials like sedums, sages, daylilies and rudbeckias. Guess what? Quite a few grasses are also very deer resistant! If this isn’t a reason to plant them, nothing is! Remember to leave the seed heads and dried foliage throughout the winter for food and habitat for the little overwintering critters. Xeriscape does not have to mean cactus, rocks and sand. With a little help you can actually have a lush, colorful landscape with little stress involved. Unless you steal my desert idea. I got dibs on the camel…

Dawn Leith

Durham Garden Center