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Winter Protection From: Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica rubra), 18 by 12 inches, is hardy to Zone 5 with winter protection from freezing winter winds. I solved the problem of exposure by placing the plants in front of a low wall. In the plan an uneven space with a 3-foot diameter is set aside for this grass. The reason for cultivating this grass is the color: A rich, blood-red that starts about midway on the grass blade and reaches to the tip. Japanese blood grass is fairly new to this country, but two sources in the Appendixes keep it in stock. It has never flowered for me: I think the season just isn't long enough.
Frost protection is as important as wind protection. Frost in winter is seldom a problem given that there are in excess of 60,000 hardy plants to choose from. Even the coldest areas can be planted up to suit most tastes. Frost at the wrong time of year, on the other hand, will kill plant growth. In valleys or ground hollows you may well get what is known as a "frost pocket." This is when the cold, frosty air sinks at the lowest part of the landscape and collects beneath walls and closely-planted hedges. Frost will also collect under a closely-planted hedge or solid wall. If you thin or remove trees or walls, you will let the cold air flow through rather than trapping it.
Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica rubra), 18 by 12 inches, is hardy to Zone 5 with winter protection from freezing winter winds. I solved the problem of exposure by placing the plants in front of a low wall. In the plan an uneven space with a 3-foot diameter is set aside for this grass. The reason for cultivating this grass is the color: A rich, blood-red that starts about midway on the grass blade and reaches to the tip. Japanese blood grass is fairly new to this country, but two sources in the Appendixes keep it in stock. It has never flowered for me: I think the season just isn't long enough.
Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus floridulis), 8 by 3 feet, sits next to eulalia grass in the plan as it's the shorter of the two. They are alike, except for stature. |
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