Grasses, Sedges & Rushes

Showing 1–4 of 26 results

  • Achnatherum calamagrostis, Silver spike grass Z 5-8

    graceful, tawny-silvery spikes on this clumping grass

    $10.25/bareroot

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    Achnatherum calamagrostis syn. Stipa calamagrostis  Silver spike grass  Z 5-8
    Gorgeous, graceful, tawny-silvery spikes on this clumping grass from June all summer

    Size: 36" x 36"
    Care: sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil
    Native: Central & southern Europe

    Collected before 1750

  • Andropogon scoparium Little bluestem Z 5-9

    Blue gray foliage turns plum orange in fall

    $10.25/bareroot

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    Andropogon scoparium  Little bluestem  Z 5-9
    Blue gray  foliage turns plum orange in fall  with wispy, feather-like seed heads

    Size: 18" x 12"
    Care: full sun in well-drained soil. Drought tolerant.
    Native: all No. America, Wisconsin native

    Discovered by French plant hunter André Michaux (1746-1802) in America’s prairies.  Comanche used it to relieve syphilitic sores.  Lakota made soft wispy seed heads into liners for moccasins.

  • Bouteloua gracilis syn. Bouteloua oligostachya Blue grama Z 4-9

    Shortish grass with spikelets like fake eyelashes - very cute

    $10.25/bareroot

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    Bouteloua gracilis syn. Bouteloua oligostachya          Blue grama  Z 4-9
    One sided, horizontal, purple tinged spikelets in July-September, very unusual.

    Size: 2' x 12"
    Care: sun in dry to moist well-drained soil. Deer resistant.
    Native: Manitoba & all US except SE & Pacific NW, Wisconsin native
    Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies

    For the Navajo this was a “life medicine” and an antidote to an overdose of “life medicine.”  Also used to cure sore throats and cuts – chew on the root and blow on the cut.  Navajo girls carried it in the Squaw Dance.  Hopi made baskets from this grass.  Zuni made brooms & hairbrushes from it.  Several tribes ate this & made bedding for their animals from this.  1st collected for horticulture by Humboldt & Bonpland in early 1800’s.

  • Briza media Quaking grass, Pearl grass, Didder, Totter, Dillies Z 4-8

    Elegant inflorescences with dangling oat-like spikelets

    $10.25/bareroot

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    Briza media   Quaking grass, Pearl grass, Didder, Totter, Dillies           Z 4-8
    Elegant inflorescences with dangling oat-like spikelets in May.  Use for cut arrangements, fresh or dried

    Size: 30” x 10”
    Care: full sun to part shade in any soil. Deer resistant.
    Native: Eurasia.

    In cultivation since at least mid 1700’s.