Blog

Ornamental grasses offer many outstanding blooms, large, small and in-between. But for downright dazzle, few can outshine a swath of flowering purple muhly grass.This American native is attractive all summer, with graceful clumps of slender, wiry, deep-green blades. But autumn is when it really shines, when masses of finely-divided inflorescences float in glittering clouds above the foliage. It’s a traffic-stopping display, and it comes in several attractive forms.Culture NotesAll our Muhlenberg

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