Ornamental grasses
Grasses are very easy to care for and have the advantage of being visually attractive in almost any season. They generally need a lot of sun and little watering, and are very tolerant of drought in hot weather. They simply need to be watered more regularly in the year of planting to establish themselves well. The tall spikes left in place stay beautiful throughout the winter season, you can simply cut them off at the base in the spring before the new growth emerges. The spikes can also be used to make beautiful autumn decorations.
Those who need a lot of sun:
Calamagrostis ('Karl Foerster' on the picture)
Calamagrostis blooms in July in beautiful, upright bunches, perfect for a contemporary setting. It has the advantage of not spreading too much. Its golden spikes of about 1m persist throughout the winter.
Miscanthus ( purpurascens on the picture)
Commonly known as Chinese Reed, Miscanthus should be chosen for its feathery spikes, copper or silver in autumn, then straw yellow during winter. This grass offers a nice height of about 1.5 to 2 m depending on the cultivar.
Panicum ('Prairie Fire' in the photo)
Panicum is loved for its very wispy spikes. It grows from 1 m to 1.8 m depending on the cultivar and can be interesting in the countryside as it repels deer. It has beautiful red or purple colours in the autumn.
Molinia (caerulea in the photo)
A tall grass of about 1.5 to 2 m, it is appreciated for its tall inflorescences above shorter, bushy foliage.
Festuca (glauca on the picture)
A very dense, bushy, bluish-coloured grass that grows to between 20 and 30 cm and has a compact, rounded habit. It is a very good choice for green roofs.
Those that can grow in the shade or half-shade:
Sesleria (heufleriana on the picture)
It is a small grass, about 30 cm tall, and can be planted in both sun and shade. Sesleria is a good choice for rock gardens and alpine gardens.
Hakonechloa (macra 'Aureola' on the picture)
Also known as Japanese Grass, this grass of about 45 cm prefers to grow in the shade or semi-shade where it adds brightness. It is chosen for its soft, elegant foliage rather than its flowers.