Page 64 - Free State Summer 2023

CULTIVATING COMMUNICATION (Continued)

The 4-6’ tall plants are soft to the touch
and provide so much movement in the
garden. I paired Andropogon
‘Holy Smoke’ with Coreopsis x ‘Gilded
Lace’ and Kniphofia ‘Orange Blaze’ –
plus a few “pops” of Okra. Don’t knock it
‘til you try it!
Eragrostis. There is so much to love
about Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis
spectabilis). This petite bundle of love is
great in the garden (think poor, dry soil)
and in containers. The haze of purple
flowers in the summer is sure to give you
heart palpitations.

But have you seen Eragrostis trichodes?
Sand Love Grass is slightly taller (2-4’)
with a haze of white flowers. Picture it
with Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ just as
the light is changing in the evening –
breathtaking.
Throughout my career in horticulture,
I have observed Little Bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium) go from a
simple native “weed” to an explosion
into the landscape mainstream. The
number of amazing selections on the
market makes this an easily accessible
plant for the masses. But are we always
using it correctly?

Little Bluestem, as with many of our
native grasses, thrives with good
drainage and lower fertility. One would
think this would be easy to incorporate
into the landscape, that is until we
install an irrigation system, heavily
amend the soil, and/or do not train our
staff to the needs of this plant. The three
above-mentioned factors are all within
our control.

While any plant that comes from
a production nursery will need
supplemental irrigation initially, it is just
that – initially. As this plant takes hold
and roots into the soil, overwatering
can lead to an untimely death.
Traditional irrigation systems are Photos top to bottom:
frequently installed by folks with turf Schizachyrium 'The Blues with Echinacea Color Coded 'The Price is White PP33,631
®
(continued on page 58) Eragrostis trichodes with Rudbeckia hirta
64 SUMMER 2023 • Free State News