Ornamental grasses to structure a garden

18 years ago

Anyone know of examples of ornamental grasses (e.g. miscanthus sinensis cultivars) being used as the "bones" of a Japanese garden?

I'm just beginning. Using the drainage contours--small arroyos to structure the space. 3 bridges are in place. Cover cropping in the arroyos to build organic matter. Several OG planted as experiments in the adobe soil.

Thanks, Joel

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Comments (4)

nachodaddy
18 years ago
Joel;

If you have not done so already pick up David Slawson's book "Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens". IMHO, the best Western book on Japanese Garden design theory. Read, take notes, walk your garden, repeat as necessary.

To answer your question, I believe "yes, it can be done". If you want to make it formal, I have always thought that sage can be a good substitute for azalea in desert climates.

Look forward to investing in a lot of larger stones. "Dry landscaping" does not have to mean barren but in your case you might need to offset some green for hardscape.

If you are just beginning and have the beginner mindset, take a roadie to the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix. Based on your initial post, I think you will find a lot of answers there.

Good luck, keep an open mind, spend more time outdoors finding those "things" that are the tenets of Japanese Gardens.

Michael
Cytania
18 years ago
Miscanthus does appear in scrubby hill areas of Japan but that doesn't seem to be the kind of a landscape you are creating.

I'm sure miscanthus could be used, particulary as a substitute for ferns in the same way palms substitute for ferns in Okinawa gardens.

Most miscanthus cultivars originate from one prolific German hybridiser including the one I have 'Nippon' which I believe is the smallest miscanthus cultivar (still looks quite tall at over a metre).

I think your desert garden is going to look amazing soon! Well done.
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Gardener_KS
18 years ago
What about bamboo?
Arroyo
Original Author
18 years ago
Bamboo would be wonderful but their are only a few mountain bamboo cultivars that are zone4b. My understanding is that bamboo loves shade or dappled shade -- non-existent in my situation.

My internet-derived list of z4b OG that do well in clay, and full sun, and have strong winter interest :
M.sinensis purpurescens
M.sinensis Gracillimus
Sorghastrum nutans
Andropogon gerardii
Penisitum alopecuroides Hamelyn (a bit chancy but planting location is protected by a wall which will also bounce and capture winter sun)
Penicum virgatum (rejected because we are in grasshopper country)
Calamgrostis acutiflora Karl Foerster
Helictotrichon sempervirens

Appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Joel