Table of contents
- From A to F
- G to J
- L to R
- W to Z
Winter-hardy ornamental grasses that are suitable for the balcony are not only decorative, but can also serve as privacy screens and can be wonderfully combined with other plants. In addition, they do not take up any space in the apartment or basement, even in winter.
From A to F
beard grass(Andropogon gerardii 'Prairie Summer')
- Location: sunny, warm, sheltered
- Substrate: loose, well drained, dry with a pH between 5.8 - 7.2
- Size: up to 150 centimeters
- Foliage color: grey-blue, reddish from autumn
- Flower color: grey-brown
- Flowering period: August to October
- Winter hardiness: conditionally hardy in the balcony box, therefore use fleece and insulation for protection
A notice:
Beard grass is wonderfully suitable as a privacy screen and shade provider.
bearskin fescue(Festuca gautieri. Scoparia)
- Location: partially shaded, ideal as underplanting in balcony boxes
- Substrate: loose, moderate nutrient content, neutral pH
- Size: 10 to 20 centimeters high, 30 to 40 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: rich green
- Flower color: green to yellow
- Flowering period: June to August
- Hardiness: hardy, cushion-forming plant
mountain sedge(Carex montana)
- Location: sunny to semi-shady, protected from the wind
- Substrate: not tending towards compaction, permeable
- Size: up to 20 centimeters high, up to 30 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: green, turning brown in autumn
- Flower color: black-violet
- Flowering time: March to May
- Hardiness: conditionally hardy, needs protection
blue fescue(Festuca cinerea)
- Location: sunny
- Substrate: well-drained, poor soil
- Size: between 10 and 25 centimeters high, 20 to 30 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: green to blue-grey, evergreen
- Flower color: yellowish to brown
- Flowering period: June to July
- Hardiness: hardy without any problems, even without protection
Blue Ray Oats(Helictotrichon sempervirens)
- Location: sunny
- Substrate: well drained, loose, dry and moderately humic
- Size: depending on the exact species, 35 to 120 centimeters high, 50 to 60 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: blue-grey
- Flower color: yellowish
- Flowering period: July to August
- Winter hardiness: insensitive to frost, very hardy grass species
Broadleaf sedge(Carex siderosticha 'Island Brocade')
- Location: partially shaded
- Substrate: well-drained, loamy-sandy, fresh and humic
- Size: 15 to 30 centimeters high, 30 to 50 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: green-yellow striped
- Flower color: yellow-brown
- Flowering period: June to July
- Winter hardiness: Winter protection is advisable, especially in the case of frost
Fox Red Sedge(Carex buchananii)
- Location: sunny
- Substrate: rich in nutrients, loamy-sandy, well-drained but fresh to moist
- Size: 25 to 40 centimeters high, 30 to 40 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: reddish brown
- Flower color: reddish brown
- Flowering period: July to August
- Hardiness: hardy even without protection
Tip:
The fox red sedge is ideal for balcony boxes and tubs and is particularly easy to care for. Its red-brown color makes it a decorative contrast all year round.
G to J
Yellow-green garden sedge(Carex hachijoensis 'Evergold')
- Location: partially shaded
- Substrate: rich in humus and nutrients, fresh but well-drained and loose
- Size: 20 to 30 centimeters high, 30 to 40 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: dark green at the edges, light yellow in the middle stripe; evergreen
- Flower color: inconspicuous yellowish
- Flowering time: April to May
- Winter hardiness: needs winter protection in the balcony box
Striped garden moor grass(Molinia caerulea 'Variegata')
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Substrate: fresh to moist, poor in nutrients, humic, loose and well-drained
- Size: 30 to 60 centimeters high, 30 to 50 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: Green and yellow striped, slightly pink when sprouting
- Flower color: reddish brown
- Flowering time: long flowering time for grasses from around August to October
- Hardiness: very hardy even without protection
Job's teargrass (Coix lacryma jobi)
- Location: sunny to semi-shady and sheltered
- Substrate: loose, moderately nutritious, fresh and humic
- Size: up to 120 centimeters high, only 30 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: rich green
- Flower color: green - the following fruits turn black-violet
- Flowering period: July to August
- Winter hardiness: only partially frost hardy, needs appropriate protection
Special feature:
Extremely rare plant, used in traditional Chinese medicine.
japanese grass(Hakonechloa macra)
- Location: partially shaded
- Substrate: loose and well-drained, humic, fresh, moist
- Size: 30 to 60 centimeters high, 30 to 50 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: green
- Flower color: greenish
- Flowering period: August to October
- Hardiness: young plants should be fully protected in winter
Japanese blood grass(Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron')
- Location: sunny
- Substrate: fresh, loose, normal garden soil is sufficient
- Size: 30 to 40 centimeters high and wide
- Foliage color: green, brown-red to bright red tips
- Flower color: brownish red
- Flowering time: September to October
- Hardiness: good hardy
Special feature:
A decorative eye-catcher due to the red leaf tips
japanese sedge(Carex morrowii 'Variegata')
- Location: semi-shady to shady
- Substrate: loamy, humic, well-drained, fresh to moist
- Size: 30 to 40 centimeters high, 30 to 50 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: white edges, dark green center
- Flower color: brown-yellow
- Flowering period: May to July
- Hardiness: well hardy even without protection
L to R
Pennisetum grass 'Hameln'(Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln')
- Location: sunny
- Substrate: moderately dry to fresh, loose, high nutrient content
- Size: 40 to 60 centimeters high, 60 to 80 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: grey-green, decorative golden-yellow autumn colour
- Flower color: yellowish brown
- Flowering period: July to October
- Hardiness: good hardy, young plants benefit from a light shelter
love grass(Eragrostis curvula 'Totnes Burgundy')
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Substrate: well-drained, dry to moist; reacts sensitively to waterlogging
- Size: 80 to 90 centimeters high, 40 to 50 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: green in summer, red to burgundy in autumn
- Flower color: red to brown-red
- Flowering period: July to September
- Hardiness: moderately hardy, protection recommended
pampas grass(Cortaderia selloana)
- Location: sunny
- Substrate: fresh, loose and permeable, rich in nutrients
- Size: leaves 80-90 centimeters high, inflorescences up to 2.5 meters
- Foliage color: grey-green, evergreen
- Flower color: silvery-whitish
- Flowering time: September to October, inflorescences remain even over the winter
- Hardiness: hardy without any problems
- Special feature: due to the high inflorescences for the balcony but not suitable for balcony boxes,
riding grasses(Calamagrostis x acutiflora)
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Substrate: loamy-sandy, nutritious, permeable but fresh
- Size: 90 to 150 centimeters high, depending on the variety
- Foliage color: green
- Flower color: yellow-brown
- Flowering period: July to August
- Hardiness: young plants should be protected
giant feather grass(Stipa gigantea)
- Location: sunny
- Substrate: dry, well drained, barren
- Size: leaves only 30 to 40 centimeters high, inflorescences up to 180 centimeters, growth width 50 to 70 centimeters
- Foliage color: grey-green, evergreen
- Flower color: golden yellow
- Flowering period: June to August
- Hardiness: good hardy
W to Z
Forest Marbel(Luzula sylvatica)
- Location: semi-shady to shady
- Substrate: fresh and moist, well drained, low nutrient content
- Size: 20 to 40 centimeters high, 20 to 30 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: dark green, evergreen
- Flower color: brownish
- Flowering period: May to June
- Hardiness: good hardy
Delicate feather grass(Stipa tenuissima)
- Location: sunny
- Substrate: barren, dry but loose, neutral pH value, moderately tolerant of lime
- Size: 30 to 50 centimeters high, 25 to 30 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: green to light brown or beige
- Flower color: changes from green to silvery white
- Flowering period: June to July
- Winter hardiness: easily hardy even without protection
A notice:
Due to the small height and width, the ornamental grass is wonderfully suitable for a smaller balcony box or bucket. The soft, filigree inflorescences can also attract attention as a dried bouquet in the apartment.
Dwarf Chinese Reed(Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio')
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Substrate: rich in nutrients, loose, humic
- Size: Foliage up to a maximum of 90 centimeters, inflorescences up to 100 centimeters - without division up to 100 centimeters wide
- Foliage color: green, turning brown-grey in autumn
- Flower color: silvery white
- Flowering period: August to September
- Winter hardiness: good winter hardiness even without further protection
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