WUV'N ACRES - GRASS & GRAINS SECTION

GRASSES & GRAINS
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February 15, 2009

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES, GRAINS AND OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS:

AMARANTHUS - RED / BURGUNDY (Fuchsia) Amaranthus $2.50 for 250+ seeds. Amaranth is traditionally a leafy green plant with attractive seed heads in long mass groupings of seed heads. This one in particular is a brilliant fuchsia (think dark red) which seems to absolutely glow in the sunshine, and is simply amazing at sunset! The stems are fuchsia, the leaves and the veins, it's quite a bright one, not a dull and boring green. It is very easy to grow, and here in Northeastern Oklahoma, comes back without fail everywhere the seeds have fallen. Have no fear, don't want it there? Just yank it up. For edible purposes, simply harvest young greens 5-6 weeks after sowing. Growing 2-4' tall, it is very impressive planted in mass, or simply in a grouping surrounded by stones or landscaping rock. Makes a nice fresh cut flower or filler.

Though suggested to be in the full sun, many of our plants are in the partial sun and they do just wonderfully! Planting is so easy! Start indoors 2-4 weeks before the last frost in spring. Sow seeds in a good seed starting mix, not potting soil. Cover seeds very lightly with preferably sifted soil...not too much! Mist soil well. Begins best in a 70° environment.in 6-10 days.

ARUNDO / BAMBOO - GIANT REED Arundo donax Linnaeus. 16.00 per tuber with culms.

AVAILABLE ONLY DURING LATE APRIL THROUGH AUGUST

No shipment of this item to California, Virginia or Texas

North African Perennial Giant Grass. First let me mention that botanically, Arundo donax is not considered a bamboo, but rather a Giant Reed. For the fun of it, we consider it a bamboo and thus refer to it as such here in Oklahoma. Here in zone 7 it is a perennial. Easy to grow in zones 6-10 If you can dig a hole and stuff the plant in, you can grow this river reed! Rapid growth returns even after cutting to the ground each year. On average grows 20 foot tall. A super tall cane with SO many uses!

Gigantic 20' (foot) tall grass. Please note, seeds in the plumes of Arundo are rarely viable except in very warm regions such as California. Arundo is spread by underground rhizomes, not by seed. Save yourself some money and trouble and lots of empty waiting. Arundo Donax seeds will not sprout. It is important to either keep it contained in pots or planted where you are not worried about it moving. I made the mistake of thinking it would look lovely at the corner of our yard next to the chain link fence. Well, yes, it does, but it's not exactly easy to divide next to the fencing once a couple years have passed.

If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause and say "Here lived a great sweeper who did his job well." -----Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

BUCKWHEAT Fagopyrum Esculentum 1 tsp = approx. 130-150 seeds - $2.50. Here's a bit of trivia you won't want to forget! Did you know that buckwheat honey has eight times the antioxidant levels of clover honey? Don't believe me? Click here to read for yourself. Yep, not only is this pretty little plant beneficial to the soil when tilled under after it's lifecycle is completed, it attracts honeybees and has a multitude of uses. This little charmer is not just for farming, folks! Each year I plant a pot full and place the pot in an old apple basket. The result is a pretty little pot of plants the honey bees can't stay away from! Since hubby keeps honey bees, we now place extra baskets of Buckwheat near their hives. VERY easy to grow and improves soil quality to boot! I encourage you to research Buckwheat, you'd be surprised at the wonderful things it does and can do! Don't forget about Buckwheat Pancakes!
Seeds are available in seed package for $2.50 or half pound packages for $5.00 for those who wish to grow a nice crop of Buckwheat. 2-3 pounds will cover 1,000 square foot. Grow as an annual.

CLOVER - CRIMSON Trifolium incarnatum 50 seeds - $2.50. Also known as Italian Clover. Generally grows the average of 2 1/2 foot tall, topped by an erect tip in gorgeous scarlet red hues. Make a mass bed for the effect, plant in groups among your plants or just plant it in pots...there are numerous ways to grow it. In mass plant, you will find the area to look like a wave or red for weeks and weeks!

This winter annual does best in zones 6 and all zones warmer. but I have had no problem here in zone 6-7 Northeastern Oklahoma. I often plant this legume with Buckwheat, another tidy cover crop! It prefers moist soil and does not tolerate drought well. In other words, water it and care for it like any other plant. We wouldn't look too good without water, would we? Grows faster than other clovers and thus is a beneficial helper in keeping the weeds out!

A p.h. of 6.5 is most preferred for crimson clover, but don't fret if you don't know what this means. Basically, you need decent soil for it to do well. Tolerates a bit of shade but prefers the full sun. Simply plant 1/2-3/4" in a well tilled area and keep watered. Often planted in late summer or in the fall at least six weeks prior to the first fall frost in order to give it time to get established and set for the winter. In areas where the temperature does not get below -10°, it will return come spring for a beautiful display. After it's season is over with, simply till it under to aid in adding nitrogen to your soil! This is one "cannot lose" plant to grow!

GOLDENROD Solidago altissima $2.50 per package of 50+ seeds.

If you are already screaming "Weed!" then you have not done your homework, and should.

The Goldenrod is a very important plant in nature. In error, it is often confused with ragweed and blamed for allergy problems. Oh, but that is simply not the truth! It is the Ragweed which holds responsibility - in bloom at the same time as the Goldenrod.
A common wildflower throughout North America, there exist many Goldenrod varieties. This particular variety - altissima, can easily reach six foot tall. Blooming heavily in late summer and into the fall, the golden clusters exhibited by the Goldenrod cannot be beaten for intense color!

Tidbits which may be of interest:

The Praying Mantis lay their eggs on Goldenrod. When they hatch, dinner is already served by the larvae of the Gall Fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

Bees, moths, butterflies, wasps, spiders - it seems every creepy little thing imagineable is drawn to this plant.

There exists a Goldenrod Spider; Misumena vatia, which makes the plant it's home, disguising it's color to blend with the plant.

Alas, the ever-present population of birds approach, finding a virtual buffet of bugs on the Goldenrod!

As this is an extremely tall plant, it should not be considered in formal gardens, but more appropriate in a country setting where it can be allowed to grow and spread at will.

INDIAN WOOD OATS / WOOD-OATS Chasmanthium latifolium 50 floret clusters - $2.50. Zones 5-9. 24-36" tall. Indian Woodoats are one of my most favorite ornamental grasses, because other than being an attractive native plant in my garden, it provides a bounty of craft material! Of the Gramineae family, this ornamental grass is often dubbed Northern Sea Oats / Seaoats (which is actually Uniola paniculata, and by the way, they don't grow in the sea), Broadleaf uniola and also Spangle Grass. Though not botanically correct, the kids call this one Rattlesnake grass, as the seed heads resemble the tail of a snake. Similar to Quaking Grass. Originally named Uniola latifolia by Andre Michaux.

Growing on average (at least here in Oklahoma) about three feet tall, it's arching branches display many attractive seed heads known as spikelets, which change color with the season. Each seed segment is known as a floret, which when held up to the light, allows view of the seed within. Performs best in full sun with proper drainage, though I must say ours is in a shady area of the woods, receiving only the sunlight which penetrates the trees.

LIRIOPE or LILY TURF or MUSCARI Liriope muscari / Ophiopogon muscari 5 plants - $2.50. Also known as Lilyturf or Monkey Grass. Performs quite well in sun or shade, though it produces more flowers in the sun. You can't fail! This ornamental grass is so very easy to grow and just about the most durable thing growing around here! Even when it's snowing like crazy and ice is covering things, the Liriope stands firm, refusing to die. Pronounced Luh-ry-oh-pee, but you can put your own twist on it. ;-)

Does best in a PH of 4.5-6.0 in zones 6-10. Long, slender 10-18" grass forms 12-18" rounded mounds and make a nice statement. It is evergreen and quite a valuable asset to gardens. In late summer, pretty stalks of purple in various hues make an appearance. Following the flowers come the blackish berries which are the seeds of this lovely groundcover. Multiplies well and can be divided easily for friends or to expand your plantings.

This selection will be five divisions or plants, please read what I am calling a plant before you order. As Liriope grows in bunches, I will separate the bunch and send five sprouts / plants / divisions / whatever you want to call them. They will be trimmed for shipping purposes and thus will not have long arching foliage on them. They will, however, be freshly dug when you order. They are not sitting in pots ready to go. Just wanted to let you know. The plants, after trimming, will be 9" and under, ready to plant if your season is ready. Until otherwise posted, you may order as many bunches as you wish, but please note that orders over 2 (ten divisions) will require extra postage. Please contact me prior to ordering more than two sets. Thank you kindly.

PIPER SUNDANGRASS Sorghum bicolor var. sudanense $2.50 1 full teaspoon = hundreds of seeds. Formerly known as Sorghum sudanense. This poor grass has so many silly names and synonyms. Just a few: Andropogon drummondii, Sorghum bicolor var. sudanense, Sorghum vulgare var. drummondii. Common names range from Sudan-grass to Shattercane / Shatter cane. Often referred to as Sudan Grass and Sudangrass. If you are looking for something unusual that will grow quickly, this is it! Typically used as a forage, emergency forage or green manure, I prefer to use it as a block to hide hubby's junk piles out back. Reaches 6 to 8 foot tall. Pulls excess nitrogen from soil. For protection, consider it an annual crop, as it doesn't care for frost, after which you should not use as forage. Be wary, though, sorghum tends to attract those nasty little stink bugs! This order is for a full teaspoon of seeds, which is nothing to sneeze at, considering the seeds are not too tiny. This is hundreds upon hundreds of seeds! Beautiful colors are included! A creamy off white, deep burgundy, deep maroon, etc. Makes the perfect companion for our Colors in the Clouds giant sunflowers! The grass will hide the bare stalks of the flowers while the sunflower heads rise above the foliage. Very pretty! Looks stunning against a backdrop or side of the house.