Blog

Every ornamental grass makes a garden statement.The Royal Collection issues proclamations.It’s time to plant big, bold, fast-growing, traffic-stopping Royal Collection grasses – and stand back, these varieties don’t dawdle! Royal Pennisetum varieties thrive on warm weather and full sun. Nobly bred by award-winning Dr. Wayne Hanna, these bold black beauties fill big-ticket containers with remarkable style and speed.Lined up by height for a Royal Family portrait, they’d arrange themselves thusly:

About the Rock Star AwardOur Rock Star award honors ECG employees who demonstrate a sustained high level of performance and inspire others.This month’s award goes to assistant grower Luis Villarreal.If there’s a common thread connecting our Rock Star winners, it’s this: They all have a “Can do” attitude, and a “Whatever it takes” work ethic. Luis is no exception.Our April champion scored a first: He was praised by a peer for worn-out teeth -- not in his smile but on the equipment he works to its

Miscanthus xgiganteusOne of the tallest ornamental grasses we offer, “giant Miscanthus” is a stalwart sterile performer that can’t self-sow. From magnificent upright clumps of wide green blades, flower stalks reach for the sky, bearing pink plumes that mature to silver. Hardy in Zones 4 – 9, it soars a majestic 10’!Naturally, not every garden setting can handle a grass of such stature. That’s why we grow a littler giant. Miscanthus Not-So-giganteusM. xg. Alligator (‘Lottum’) PP20348For gardens

We grow four varieties of blue Festuca, and one that’s rich dark green. The blue ones all have similarities, but also a key distinguishing attribute, subtle or obvious.Each has its fans who claim their favorite is the best. The Blues, after all, is (are?) a very personal thing. Festuca glauca Beyond Blue(‘Casca 11’) PP23307 The Great Beyond!This Dutch intro is a direct descendent of ‘Elijah Blue’. Years of patient selecting yielded this compact, summer stable form, famous on both sides of t

If there’s a sedge worth screaming about, it may just be ‘Ice Cream’.This garden confection’s winning recipe features minty green stripes alternating with creamy white stripes. Its neat, mounded, spherical habit completes the picture.But don’t keep it in a bowl. Serve it up in a decorative container, or sprinkled generously around the border. ‘Ice Cream’ stands a tidy 12” tall, and is hardy in Zones 6 – 9. And it won’t melt in sun or part shade.Order up a heaping helping of this cool Carex. No n