Ornamental grasses are outwardly different from ordinary wild varieties. The only function of this herb is aesthetic. These plants create beauty in the summer cottage and original landscape. Ornamental grasses create variety in texture and form in the garden, make it brighter and more saturated. Herbs, different in height, allow you to bring novelty and originality to the traditional garden design.

Ornamental grass for the garden is a godsend for those who are looking for a way to improve appearance your site, make it more voluminous. These plants have a lot of advantages: independence from the season, resistance to winds and bad weather, to droughts and heavy rains, low level susceptibility to diseases and pests. Ornamental grass harmoniously looks on different areas- flowerbeds, in rose gardens, in natural gardens, on gravel plots, near water bodies. This is a fairly large group of plants. We will introduce you to some of them today.

tall grasses

These plants are widely distributed in the autumn-winter period. Decorative which is a plantarium, ideal for the cold season. This is a plant with thin and high fluffy branches. It has a delicate structure that gives even a sad autumn landscape a welcome charm.

Feels great in the cold and Miscanthus Chinese. It grows up to 2.7 meters in length, has plump feathers and graceful stems. This ornamental grass can compensate for the emptiness of the landscape during the cold season.

Pennisetum bristly

This is a tropical plant, but with proper care, it can feel as comfortable as in its homeland. Its height is 70-130 cm. Pennisetum has purple flowers and many sharp spikes, which gradually change to softer burgundy or purple inflorescences. Its leaves are also burgundy.

Sheep

Another ornamental grass that is suitable for the cool season. The height of the plant is less than two meters. Prefers open, sun-drenched spaces. Under such conditions, the sheep shows its spectacular blue leaves.

Uniola broadleaf

The pod seeds of the ornamental grass uniola look like oats. The plant belongs to the group of cold ornamental grasses. Even after it fades, the uniola still adorns the dull autumn landscape of the garden.

short herbs

Short ornamental grasses, photos of which you can see in our article, are muscarine liriope. Its height rarely reaches one meter.

Plant loves good soil and frequent watering. Tolerates partial shade well. This grass should be fed with fertilizers (organic). This plant is very attractive in appearance - it is decorated with interesting pointed flowers of a wide variety of colors.

Black mondo

This is unusual view, which will certainly attract attention with the original "color" of a black tint. Its height is 15-20 cm. It goes well with greenish-yellow or golden leaves of other plants.

gray fescue

This ornamental grass is drought tolerant. It well complements any composition with grass and flowers, both in a bouquet and in a flower bed.

Hakonekhloya big

An amazing golden ornamental grass that prefers to grow in the shade. It grows quickly and effectively fluffs with long leaves. On average, it reaches a height of about 30 cm.

decorative climbing grass

The most popular way of landscaping is decoration household plots climbing plants.

Creepers are rightfully considered the most spectacular climbing plants. They have long shoots, beautiful greenery and magnificent flowers. Using hooks and antennae, they are able to rise to great heights, forming luxurious green flowering walls or individual spots on the support.

Often there is decorative climbing grass with flowers that have a thin and pleasant aroma. The indisputable advantages of these plants include the ability to achieve decorative effect in a short time and decorate the territory of the garden or cottage with flowers and greenery. landscape designers sure that vertical gardening apply is necessary.

Curly ornamental grass for the garden can be used to decorate columns and arches, arrange green pyramids, and decorate various garden buildings.

Clematis Arabella

This showy plant needs support and a sunny spot. It will feel good on the gazebo with regular and abundant watering. Star-shaped flowers are not only beautiful, but also have an exquisite aroma. With proper pruning, flowering can last the entire summer season.

The flowers are medium-sized, painted in a delicate lilac-blue hue. The plant can be a groundcover planted under low bushes, but it looks more impressive on a low obelisk.

Ipomoea

This is one of the most unpretentious annual climbing herbs. It must be planted in a pot, remembering to moisten the soil, and you will notice active growth very quickly, and soon delicate flowers with a delicate aroma will appear.

Nasturtium

This plant is suitable when you want to add freshness and freshness to the design of the site. warm shades. These annual plants are well accepted in mid-latitudes, need abundant watering before flowering and a sunny site. Nasturtium grows up to 2 meters long, so it is suitable for decorating a gazebo or a well.

Highlander Aubert

This plant has many benefits. It easily tolerates penumbra, is not subject to attack by pests.

Sweet pea

Another climbing annual plant that bright flowers and delicate aroma will decorate any area. It blooms for more than four months.

decorative beans

This plant designers use to create bright background in flower arrangements. Unlike sweet pea, beans do not like frost, so it is better to plant them in May.

Ornamental grasses and cereals

There are no clear canons for use in the landscape. They can be used to create arrays, group plantings of various types, combined use with shrubs, perennial and annual flowers.

Cereal herbs are also great for those who prefer moorish lawn in the allotment. AT decorative groups reed, pennisetum, feather grass looks especially good. They go well with coniferous shrubs. Even a slight fluctuation of the air creates the illusion of movement, and their pleasant rustle soothes and pacifies.

In arrays, pike, cortaderia, and fescue look more advantageous. The borders of these herbs are quite spectacular - their lightness and airiness do not create a rough landing.

Cereals retain their decorative effect throughout the year. Even in winter, under a layer of snow, they enliven the garden. Pruning should be done in early spring. Cereals can be sown in open ground or grow seedlings. Adult bushes divide without problems and take root well.

decorative artificial grass

Owners own houses equip the surrounding area to create Better conditions for the rest of the whole family. Do not forget that the more complex and richer the landscape with plants, the more difficult it is to care for it.

This problem will help to solve decorative, which is undemanding to care. In this case, we recommend that you lay artificial turf in some areas, which looks no less beautiful, while it will require a little effort from the owners when laying and maintaining it.

Do not go too far and line the entire territory artificial grass. In this case, the design will be too primitive. In small quantities, such an alternative is very appropriate, especially where the grass for some reason does not want to grow.

Many people know that living grass does not tolerate constant walking on it - as a result, bald spots appear. And artificial turf can easily cope with such a load. Decorative artificial grass can be used to decorate the territory of open parking lots by combining it with paving slabs, patio areas and a swimming pool.

In places near buildings, where the earth is in the shade all day, natural grass looks pale and thin because it doesn't get enough light. These areas are best covered with artificial.

Important Details

When choosing such a coating, make sure that it is made well-known company from high quality and safe materials. The cover must not be bad smell. Poor-quality painting of "grass" and other defects are unacceptable.

Grass in the interior

Decorative grass for home interiors has been used for a long time. Optimal location in the apartment for the maintenance of these plants - a window sill. In addition, herbs planted in a container look great on a shelf by the window, on the walls.

Such as thyme or sage, not only look very beautiful, but also fill the air with pleasant smells.

Green or purple basil is very beautiful, has a pleasant aroma that changes the mood for the better.

Ecostyle - current trends

Natural grass flooring in the interior is very popular in Europe today. Since it is quite difficult to take care of living grass in an apartment, artificial ornamental grass is becoming widespread. A path that mimics a lawn is the simplest solution. In addition, there appeared original furniture as if overgrown with grass. One more modern solution- Grass on the roof of the house.

The space of your house, in which ornamental grasses “settle”, will change, it will come to life, acquire originality.

plant height:

Cereals in the garden

Ornamental cereals are an integral part of any landscape composition . They are able to complement the overall ensemble of the composition, give it an interesting look and make it more voluminous. Very often, such trifles as falyaris growing among stones, fescue neatly framing a border, marsh calamus near a babbling brook, a solitary gray-gray koleria sitting near a gigantic penis in a rockery, a majestic emperor, as well as bright bulbous ryegrass, despite their small size, can significantly revive any composition in a rock garden, rock gardens and even a decorative pond.
Grasses come in different shapes and sizes. They differ in the shape and color of the leaves, the size of the stem and the placement of the leaves themselves on it. This helps them to actively combine with varieties of other herbs and create entire gardens from them. Ornamental cereals are characterized by unpretentious care and rapid growth. They are able to decorate both a small summer cottage and home garden, and even winter Garden. You can use them both in the preparation of bouquets, and for decorating flower beds and mixborders.

Ornamental grasses are more and more firmly woven into garden landscapes and participate in the compositions of flower beds and other landscapes. The trendy natural nature garden and natural style only furthers the popularity of these herbs. They help create exactly the mood that is necessary for landscape design..
It is impossible not to love cereals. Thanks to them, decorativeness is always preserved in the garden. They easily endure the change of weather and the onset of winter. Even at this time, they retain their decorative appearance and continue to decorate the garden until spring.

Using cereals in the garden, you can create amazing compositions. If you use only one flowering plants, then you will not achieve such an effect. Cereals do not pull on themselves leading role flowers in overall design. They only gently emphasize and make it possible to make the flower garden more delicate and unique.

Different shades of cereals from silver to bronze can make a special impression. Against their background, other plants shade more favorably and become even brighter. The flower garden will definitely play with all colors, but at the same time do not strain your eyes at all. Having correctly selected cereals by shade and size, it will be possible to create colorful flower beds, among which there will be islands of both primary and secondary colors.

All cereals differ in their shape and size.. The structure and shape of their leaves is also different. This allows them to be widely used in landscape design. Moreover, their durability and the ability to shine with beauty throughout all seasons will make it possible to make minimal efforts to care for a flower garden or a mixborder where cereals are planted. No need to constantly plant or remove flowers. Even in the absence of any flowers in early spring or autumn, you will get a neat and finished look.

Choice of cereals

Depending on the location of the flower garden or flower bed, various decorative cereals are selected. Before choosing, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with their features, preferences and possible height. Some of them like moisture, others prefer dryness and warmth. Therefore, when choosing, all this must be taken into account.

All cereals are divided into warm and cold growing. Heat-growing grow in the warm periods of the year. Cold-growing actively grow in early spring and late autumn.

Heat growing cereals

Such cereal grasses wait for the period when the soil and air warm up. Only then do they go into active growth. most optimal temperature for them is 25°C. Maximum temperature will be around 35°C. In the cold season, they practically do not grow. But when the heat appears, they actively grow. For such plant species, a long development of a flower spike is characteristic.

It is convenient to plant such heat-growing cereals next to the bulbs.. They will hide dying and fading flowers. With the help of them, it is excellent to hide drooping and obsolete bulbs and decorate the formed empty spaces with their overgrown stems.

It is desirable to transplant and separate cereals in spring and summer time . This is done by dividing the roots, but only with active growth. If young sprouts have just begun their growth, you will have to wait a while and let them get stronger.
It is equally important to divide the plants before the flower stems appear. In this case, they will significantly slow down growth and the stems will become less strong. Some heat-loving cereals can be transplanted in autumn.

Heat-loving ornamental grasses

Heat-loving cereals constantly grow in the summer. They look amazing. one of these are grate or sandy elimus. This grass grows all summer. Lightning is a little different from the rest in that it begins its active growth at a more low temperatures. For her, 20 degrees of heat is enough. How older plant, the more actively it grows with the onset of warm weather.

Cold growing ornamental grasses

Cold growing cereals begin to grow only with a decrease in temperature after a hot summer or immediately after the snow melts. It can be close to zero temperature. Their growth continues up to +24 degrees, and at more high temperature it ends. The most active growth of these cereals is at + 15-24 degrees. This period is characterized by high humidity and long daylight hours. As summer temperatures rise, there is more sunshine and less rainfall. At this time, cold-growing herbs stop growing. These cereals in the conditions of the middle zone have two growth periods, which occur in autumn and spring. They usually include evergreens or semi-evergreens. Most of them grow even at low temperatures, before coming winter cold. These green areas that appear in the garden in early spring are not afraid of the arrival of frost. Herbs begin to bloom in early spring or early summer, and their panicles and spikelets persist all summer and autumn, often until spring..
Due to the characteristics of growth, cold-growing cereals are divided and transplanted in early spring before the arrival of warm summer weather or at the end of summer, with a decrease in temperatures, until mid-autumn, when there is a period of intensive growth. They are then cut back to make room for new foliage to form. During the summer dormancy, these herbs are undesirable to divide and replant.

With the help of meadow foxtail in landscape design, lawns are arranged in shading. It blooms in May, forming fluffy and soft inflorescences resembling a fox's tail.
Bulbous ryegrass tolerates cold well and is unpretentious to soils. On dry days and cold nights, it forms magnificent decorative curtains. By cutting off the drying leaves in the summer, you can wait for new foliage in the fall, when the ryegrass regains its decorative effect. For the formation of a strong and beautiful plant, division should be carried out in spring or autumn.
Peristoschaetin. Grows well in full sun and moist soils. Volumetric curtain in the form of a fountain can be 80 cm or more high. It begins to bloom in late summer - early autumn, forming beautiful spikelet inflorescences.
Barley is maned. In the garden, this cereal is stored for two months. In order to prevent self-seeding and provide the plant with a second flowering, inflorescences should be removed in time, preventing the seeds from setting. Sow barley before winter or spring. One sowing is enough to keep this plant in the garden for long time. Maned barley is characterized by self-sowing, but it is not an annoying weed. It will decorate the site and will not grow much. If desired, this plant can be weeded out without much difficulty, since it has thin shoots and shallow roots. Barley requires open sunny places. It tolerates drought well and is undemanding to watering. Forms strong tussocks on nutrient soil, although it can develop even on poor sandy soils.
Double source reed. Enough beautiful plant with variegated leaves, thanks to which it is actively used to decorate gardens. It grows well on moist soils, occupies vast territories, as it grows strongly. To limit its growth, wide metal strips should be dug into the soil to a depth of 15-20 cm or planted in a container. The double source grows up to 90-120 cm. You can plant it along the banks of reservoirs.

The most unpretentious cereals

Spreading pine forest is one of the first plants that appear in spring. Its most decorative part is considered to be bright leaves, which have a green or yellow tint depending on the variety, and are also multi-colored. In order to get a rich yellow group in the shade or partial shade, you can plant the Aureum variety of spreading boron. This plant is cold-growing and does without shelter in winter. With the arrival of hot summer days its growth stops. Since the rhizome grows strongly, you need to be careful with this plant. It is better to propagate boron using division - this will allow you to quickly form a beautiful curtain. Also, the plant can be obtained from seeds. All new plants adopt varietal properties. Boron can also propagate by self-seeding.
Buharniksoft. One of the few ground cover grasses with white striped leaves. It is used to strengthen slopes and create low curbs, but at the same time you need to make sure that the bukharnik does not spread to the sides. Variety Variegatus has leaves from 15 to 20 cm tall stem peduncle. With a long spring and early autumn, the bukharnik will grow well, even with insufficient watering and on infertile soil.
The plant loves the most sunlight on cold days. In hot weather, it is better to shade it, and in the rain, the bukharnik will lie down. The division is carried out in autumn or spring. When a plant self-sows, its seedlings will give pure green leaves and will behave too aggressively.
Reedweed pungent. If you plant a reed in the foreground of a flower bed, then it will look like a translucent canvas or a living screen. Then the main composition will be viewed through this cereal curtain. The genus Reed grass from the Cereal family includes more than 200 species of various reed grasses. In the conditions of our climate zone the original reed grass grows - acute-flowered. This cold-growing perennial grass has a creeping rhizome. Varietal reed grasses do not have root shoots, they are not characterized by aggressiveness. Reed reed grows up to 150 cm or more, is undemanding and drought-resistant. It is characterized by rapid growth and flowering in July. Looks great near a pond. A large number of long and narrow spikelets of reed grass flutter beautifully in the wind, which gives the garden a special atmosphere.
This quality distinguishes them from other gardens. In early spring reedgrass begins to grow long leaves, blooms in long panicles by mid-summer, and in autumn the cereal garden acquires a crimson hue. cerealsgardens retain their decorative effect all year round.

Landscape design is artificial creation a landscape with maximum naturalness, where grasses play a key role. Only with their help you can balance the riot of colors in the yard. The names and photos of ornamental grasses for flower beds given here will help you decide on maximum height, which adult plants reach, because it is this factor that is fundamental in determining areas for planting.

Ornamental grasses - noble modesty

For the design of courtyards, cereals are used, which can ennoble and smooth out the brightness of flower beds or give special charm performing solo. There are creeping, low, medium and high specimens, reaching 2-3 meters in height.

Low grasses for the foreground of the flower bed

Low cereals elegantly complement any flower bed, giving it a natural look. Most grow quickly, so they can be contained by planting in metal containers without a bottom, or by making metal fences dug into the ground.

Photos and names of herbs for flower beds:

gray fescue reaches 20–50 cm. Its bluish tussocks are often decorated with compositions of stones, boulders, and are also chosen as an addition to shrubs. An excellent ground cover plant, neat islands of which bloom in the summer. Unpretentious to the type of soil, likes sunny places. Frost-resistant.

Fescue creates neat islands

keleria comb- forms hummocks up to 40 cm high. It blooms in the middle of summer with spikelets of a purple hue. Unpretentious, but prefers sunny places. Drought-resistant, not afraid of frost.

Inflorescences in the form of panicles at the keleria

(pike) - grows from 30 to 60 cm. Forms tussocks of narrow leaves of bright color. Unpretentious to the choice of soil and drought-resistant. Winters easily.

Meadow winding has a juicy color

Tonkonog gray- evergreen grass, grass height - 10 cm, and inflorescences - 25 cm. The leaves have a greenish-gray tint. Prefers sunny places, unpretentious and frost-resistant.

Thin-legged gray is a wonderful companion for tall plants

Tall beauties are a chic addition to the landscape

Many ornamental grasses for flower beds are represented by tall specimens, the use of which is possible not only in a joint composition, but also independently. Growing tussocks are most attractive during summer flowering, and in autumn and winter they will enchant with their colorful beauty.

Meadow soddy(pike) reaches a height of 100–150 cm. It creates bumps from many thin, long and rough leaves. Summer inflorescences are tall panicles of a silvery or bronze hue. The pike comes from Russia, therefore it easily adapts to any territory, is unpretentious in terms of soil and watering, and is also frost-resistant. Wakes up early after winter.

Soddy pike is beautiful during flowering

canary(double spring reed) grows up to 90 to 120 cm. It is often chosen to refresh the green background, as it has white or beige veins. It prefers fertile soil, but is unpretentious, therefore it grows in any area. Even during frost does not lower the stems. It grows very fast. Wakes up early after winter.

Low curb from canary grass

It has elegant and graceful stems, reaching 150 cm. It acquires the greatest decorative effect in autumn, when purple inflorescences appear. It grows slowly, but is unpretentious, drought-resistant, withstands cold.

Lightning blue inflorescences gracefully sway in the wind

Miscanthus- the most common decorative grass used by designers. Different types reach from 80 to 200 cm. Miscanthus is chosen for the original foliage, which creates the appearance of a fountain. A very strong plant that can become an independent accent in the garden. Prefers full sun and moist soil. Frost-resistant. Photos of this grass for a flower bed confirm the royal position.

Miscanthus can act as an independent accent

Conditions and secrets of growing ornamental cereal crops

There is a conditional division of cereals into three groups:

1. Prefer dry places.
2. Loving soil moisture.
3. Grown near water or in swampy areas.

The first two types are chosen specifically for decorating the yard, and the third looks good on artificial reservoirs and ponds. All considered cereals are perennial and are characterized by unpretentious care. For their planting, it is not necessary to add anything to the soil. During extreme heat, it is important to keep it dry by watering occasionally.

Cereals look great near the water

When choosing, you must take into account the periods active growth and types of crops:

• thermophilic active in summer period;
• those growing in the cold season wake up early after winter, go dormant for the summer, and grow again in the fall.

It is according to these criteria that you need to choose a place for plants in the yard. This knowledge will allow you to enjoy the magnificent landscape from early spring to the very frost. Evergreen species will decorate the winter landscape. Their use is convenient even for beginner gardeners.

When we talk about our garden plot, then more often we are talking about flowers, shrubs, trees. And rarely it comes to herbs. But herbs, especially cereals, become a real decoration of any garden. 200 species of these plants are known, which can be planted both singly and combined with other plants, creating unusual flower ensembles.

Features of cereal grasses and their care

ornamental cereals A great addition to any garden or lawn. Plant them along the paths, along the edges of the flower beds, decorate them with rockeries or alpine slides and you will be surprised how the landscape has changed.

Cereals in the garden you can plant a wide variety. Color, height, dimensions may vary. But the main thing is to know the measure and understand biological features plants, so that they please you annually (as a rule, perennial cereals).

Herbs that can be grown in the garden include not only representatives of the cereal family, but also cattail, rush, sedge. At any time of the year they attract attention:

• in spring - these are bright green carpets; elegant and bright curtains,
• in the autumn-summer period they form inflorescences of various shapes: panicles and spikelets,
• in winter, under snow caps, they seem unusual and mysterious, like aliens from other worlds.

Cut off, they continue to look attractive for a long time. They look great in dry bouquets, florists create unusual compositions.

Important: Herbs for the garden are not only decorative, they do not require special agrotechnical care practices. And this is the trend of modern gardens - an element of slight neglect.

They easily tolerate excess moisture and prolonged lack of water, while being little affected by pests and diseases. An important feature is that they take root well and get along with other cultures, so they can be combined with any plants. These unpretentious cereals for the garden even novice gardeners can grow.

Low-growing types of cereals

Good to know: Some cereals cultivated in southern regions"in the open air", in the northern - grown at home. In the summer, they are put in tubs on terraces and gardens, and in the fall they are brought back into the house. For example, millet pogonaterum (indoor bamboo).

Figure 1. Maned barley

• barley maned refers to unpretentious perennials. Usually grown as an annual crop, as it can freeze in winter. This is a representative of cereals ornamental crops. Forms dense bushes with spikelet inflorescences, which are placed on long awns. During the flowering period, the awns change color, which can be seen in the photo . The plant can propagate by self-sowing. Low-growing cereals are ground cover crops, their height is not more than 20-50cm. They look good in planting carpet flower beds, borders, rocky gardens and slides. It can also be used as a frame for paths or paths.
• haretail , whose inflorescences, small and fluffy, really look like hare tails. Grows up to 50cm. It looks very elegant, decorative and in dry compositions. Withstands partial shade, which is not typical for all cereals.
• blue looks like a fluffy spherical bump blue color. It is good both as an independent plant and planted in rows along the paths. Against the background of stones and ponds, it looks exotic. It grows quickly, literally in 2 years. Then it must be divided new landing. High winter hardiness: winters well without shelter.

Medium-sized species

Flower beds and multi-tiered mixborders lose a lot without medium-sized cereals growing up to 50-100cm. The most attractive of these species are feather grasses. When the wind blows, they look like huge, swaying "waves". They are good for lawn, especially in plantings in groups. The combination with wild flowers is also interesting: daisies, poppies, cornflowers.

Figure 2. Feather grass: group planting along the path

• Feather grass , his jackets on the lawn look unusual. The most delicate is the most beautiful feather grass, the pubescence of which looks like thin threads that entangled the plant. Reaches 80 cm. This is a perennial with dense tufts. Grows in one place up to 10 years. Does not tolerate transplant well.

• Setaria italian , its varieties are grown as fodder plants. But it is more valued for its attractive appearance: it is decorated with yellow or green panicles hanging down. It looks equally beautiful as a tapeworm and when planted in groups. Setaria forms large bushes. drought tolerant, but frequent watering more lush. In dry bouquets, when cut, panicle inflorescences “keep their shape”, so florists are interested in it.
• Peristoschaetinka shaggy - a perennial that needs to create barriers, as it grows quickly and strongly. Height 30-60cm, forms panicles-spikelets. It looks shaggy because the golden spikelets are surrounded by bristles.

tall species

Perennial ornamental grasses that attract attention are tall cereals. Reaching high more than a meter, they create a background in compositions consisting of several levels. They can be used as screens. It is easy to create a cozy and picturesque corner along the banks of the reservoir. They create impenetrable "walls" of ears and panicles, blooming in the height of summer. They form a colorful background, since panicles of different inflorescences have different colors.

Figure 3. Lightning blue in a group planting

Good to know: Ornamental grasses and conifers are not a common combination. Evergreen dark conifers are associated with constancy, while cereals are a symbol of constant movement.

• Lightning blue - one more interesting plant belonging to ornamental cereals. It reaches a height of 1 meter, and is absolutely not demanding on growing conditions. Attractive due to grayish leaves and lilac inflorescences. Cut, dried, used in flower bouquets and flower arrangements. Moliniya decorate the shores of artificial reservoirs. Looks natural, planted next to shrubs and trees. In autumn, curtains turn yellow and orange which gives the garden a picturesque look.
• Two-way reed source (falyaris) widely used in landscape design. Cultivated only variegated form with a height of 90-120m. Falyaris attracts attention with leaves: green, with white or cream stripes. It grows well in the sun, but is resistant to shading. Drought tolerant and winter hardy. It can be cut, giving a certain shape.
• Hasmanthium broadleaf (wild oats) looks ugly, but group landings gives a special touch. The inflorescences are slightly flattened and arranged in a parallel plane. It seems that earrings are hanging on the stem. A lighted area and humidity are what wild oats need. Reaches 1.2 -1.5 m in height. Flowering occurs in autumn.

It is interesting: autumn garden will not look dull and nondescript with cereals. Panicles, spikelets, foliage until frost looks decorative and gives the garden a rich, deep and fabulous look. They will decorate the appearance of any home with bright colors, giving it a special flavor.

We examined the photos and names of only a part of the varieties of ornamental grasses, more photos of interesting herbs can be seen in the article about.

Miscanthus in garden design

Figure 4. Miscanthus in garden design

In our country, only two are known decorative forms This perennial plant forms large tufts. This giant cereal is rightfully considered one of the most popular. No one can compete with him in terms of showiness, abundance of forms and varieties. In addition, it is distinguished by excellent adaptability to different conditions.

Therefore, in the design of the garden are simply irreplaceable. Most famous varieties- This:

1. Miscanthus giantus - a hybrid of unknown origin. Stems erect with stiff, linear leaf blades. Turf quickly "spreads". The flowering period is late summer: panicles appear with pink tint becoming silver over time. Used as a background, in the background of the flower garden.
2. Miscanthus sinensis - a powerful cereal up to 3m. height. The foliage is linear, hard, rough. Spikelets form unusual white, fluffy panicles. Shelter is needed for the winter. 100 varieties of this species are known, which differ not only in the shape and color of the inflorescences, but also in the leaves. Some varieties can be grown in middle lane.
3. Miscanthus sugarflower interesting inflorescences - white-pink and silver. Flowering occurs in July, but is beautiful all autumn due to foliage that changes color. It grows well in the middle lane, hibernates without shelter. Prefers sunny, open spaces, does not bloom in the shade. But the most favorable climate is damp and warm.

Good to know: When choosing a variety, you should know that most miscanthus are thermophilic and cannot tolerate harsh winters. Choose varieties that can overwinter under cover.

You can create a whole garden of cereals, the compositions of which are very diverse. The main thing is to show imagination. If you take only miscanthus, then groups in mixborders, near water bodies will delight the eye all summer and autumn, since they are decorative throughout this period. When planting them, do not forget to take into account growth and biological characteristics.

Secrets of growing cereals

Conventionally, cereals are divided into three groups:

• drought-resistant,
• moisture-loving,
• growing near water bodies or on swampy soil.

The site is usually drawn up using the first two types, and the third is planted near artificial reservoirs. Most perennial grasses are unpretentious in care. They don't need to be fertilized. But when the soil dries out, watering is important.

Important: Do not fertilize the ground before planting. This can lead to the active growth of bushes and their "collapse". These crops grow well on "poor" soils.

When choosing cereals for a garden, the names of the varieties should tell a lot, for example, about the period of active growth of the crop. Those that love heat are active in summer, those growing in cool conditions wake up early in spring, they have a dormant period in summer, and actively grow in autumn. If you know these features, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery from spring to autumn. In winter, the landscape will be decorated with evergreen species.

To the uninitiated eye, cereals are inconspicuous, you do not immediately pay attention to them. But combining bright colors flowers with inconspicuous curtains of cereals, you can create unique compositions that are fabulous in their unusualness. They will give the garden sophistication, depth and special chic, which cannot be created without hard, linear leaves and spikelets of cereals.

Herbs in autumn

The video below shows a selection of photos of the use of herbs in landscape design. Herbs look especially advantageous in autumn. Some of these ideas can be borrowed and used in your own garden.

ORDINARY BURNER - Carlina vulgaris L.

Aster family (composite) - Asteraceae Dumort. (Compositae Giseke)

Common thorn ( folk names: white elecampane, dedovnik, kalyuka, lumpy, otkosnik, tumbleweed, field buddyak, tributary grass, ordinary downy, urochnik, urochnaya, hall, thistle) - biennial herbaceous plant tall

20-125 cm with a spindle-shaped branched root and an upright cobweb-pubescent stem. In the first year it forms rosettes of linear-lanceolate, spiny-toothed leaves about 10 cm long, the stems branch out in the second year. Flowers tubular, bisexual; inflorescences - hemispherical baskets, including 2-4, collected with a shield and each equipped with an involucre, the outer leaves of the involucre are leafy, the middle ones are comb-spiky, brownish, with branched spines, the inner ones are linear, horizontally pubescent, exceeding the basket, in the middle - ciliated, straw yellow. Receptacle flat, covered with spiny-pointed setae, fused at base in tufts.

Five stamens, soldered by filaments into a tube, through which passes a column with a forked stigma, equipped with a ring of hairs at the base; ovary inferior, unilocular.

Fruits - achenes are oblong, hairy, with a tuft of straight hairs.

Blooms in July-September.

With therapeutic purpose fruits, grass (stems, leaves, inflorescences) are used.

The plant contains alkaloids, polyacetylene compounds, tannins. Flavonoids (rutin, orientin, homoorientin, shaftoside, carlinoside) were found in the leaves.

Infusion, herbal decoction is used for hypofunction of the stomach, as a diuretic, diaphoretic, externally - for rheumatism. It has been experimentally established that the extract and infusion of inflorescences, fruits have a sedative effect.

The plant has no noticeable toxicity and usually does not cause side effects. However, when course assignment at higher doses there is some agitation nervous system. This phenomenon disappears after discontinuation of the drug.

The therapeutic effect was obtained in cases of using the drug in a hypnotic state, general inhibition of the cerebral cortex; with dysfunction of higher nervous activity associated with pregnancy.

AT folk medicine when frightened, they give water to children with a decoction of grass or, burning a plant, fumigate it with smoke. 1 tablespoon of herbs for 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain. Take 1/4-1/3 cup 3 times a day for hypofunction of the stomach, as a diuretic and diaphoretic. A more concentrated infusion or decoction of the herb is used for compresses for articular rheumatism.