Page 63 - Free State Summer 2023

CULTIVATING COMMUNICATION A Wendy Brister
Ornamental Grasses –

You’ve come a long way baby!

25+ years ago as I sat in my first grasses and their structure caught Height. It’s expected from a lot of
herbaceous plants class, I was less than my eye. Especially the orange-yellow ornamental grasses, right? I love the
impressed with ornamental grasses. I’m glow of ‘Cheju Do’. A much shorter new(er) Andropogon cultivars from
sure we studied other plants, but my Calamagrostis than I was used to, this Intrinsic Perennials (https://www.
brain only retained the sharp, finger- 24” grass seemed to be the perfect intrinsicperennialgardens.com/).
slicing edges of Miscanthus (not a great garden addition. The late fall color Whether ‘Blackhawks’, ‘Holy Smoke’,
first impression). really was THAT GOOD! or ‘Red October’ – Big Bluestem is a
delight. The purple-red foliage first
It wasn’t until many years later The first six ‘Cheju-Do’ made their way
that ornamental grasses made an into my garden the next spring (it didn’t hooked me, but I couldn’t ask for more
impression and I started to appreciate take long), and I discovered what resilient plants. I have Andropogon
this unique group of plants. fantastic plants these were through the ‘Blackhawks’ in a former lawn area, not
growing season! Tiny white hairs lining horrible soil but not bad either; it has
My latest fav – Calamagrostis ‘Cheju-Do’. performed well. But with ‘Holy Smoke’, I
On a cold November day, I dragged the green leaf blades are spectacular tried a rocky hill that would barely grow
my husband to the studio garden of when covered with dew. I was hooked weeds. ‘Holy Smoke’ has been a rock
Donald Pell Gardens in Phoenixville, and never looked back – a.k.a. 50 more star!
PA. While the gardens were preparing plants were ordered and planted within
for their winter’s nap, the ornamental weeks.

Calamagrostis 'Cheju-Do' fall color
Get Active. Stay Involved. • SUMMER 2023 63