Recommendations for Ornamental Grass

I’m looking for a replacement for my Pennisetum Hameln, which I love, but has just cost me a £300 vet bill!!

One of the barbed grass seeds worked its way down my dogs ear canal resulting in a sedation, removal and large bill, so I want to dig it up and replace it. I’d like something similar, largish but without any nasty grass seeds. This is a photo of where it is situated (the grass at the back between the yellow Rudbeckia) this area gets the sun for about half the time but it is in our north facing back garden so never gets too hot and our soil is clay.

The Pennisetum Hameln really thrived there, and dragonfly larvae used it to climb out of the pond and emerge as I found loads of their dried casings in amongst the plant so something similar in structure would be ideal. Looking for recommendations, I’ve had a preliminary look at Knoll Gardens website but nothing is jumping out.

 

What about Seslaria Autumnalis? Or not a grass but similar-ish overall shape Libertia grandiflora (sometimes called chilensis), seedheads are attractive and it’s evergreen

 

Calamagrostis brachytricha has a similar habit but without the barbs. I was also going to suggest Sesleria autumnalis which is evergreen. I grow both in an area which gets morning sun in sandy soil but they will also grow in clay.

 

Like @Plantminded , my first thought was a Calamagrostis.
Looking at Knoll Gardens website, I came across this one.
Calamagrostis Waldenbuch – Knoll Gardens – Ornamental Grasses and Flowering Perennials

I've grown these and Miscanthus in the past and found they seem happy in various positions. As long as they get sun for at least part of the day they should be fine. My soil is on the clay side as well .
I can't comment as to the "barbs" though, it may not be suitable but I can't tell from the photos.

 

After further thought, I'm slightly worried about your dog though @CatDouch. Even sterile grass flowers like Calamagrostis have spikes but they are soft. I've taken this close up for you to judge! Perhaps an alternative plant without flower spikes might be a safer option.

 

Thanks for posting @CatDouch, (I will make a note, as I am trying to add more grasses to my garden) and I am very sorry about your dog. Your pond looks beautiful. Good wishes to you and your dog.

 

I thought of Carex eleta aurea seed heads are a different - impereta red baron would look well with the rudbeckia. Some grass don't quite / rarely get to seed like miscanthus strictus to big for you I'd assume but maybe Miscanthus little zebra ? they may go to seed where you live

Might be better of with something what looks like a grass but isn't like a Dierama - crocosmia - lirope maybe - tradscantia blue and gold / other variety's - kniphofia.

 

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

I’m wondering as @Perki suggested to go for something that looks like a grass but isn’t, as even the soft grass heads look to have seeds. I have a Miscanthus Strictus elsewhere in the garden and that has seed heads on at the moment, for the first time. The problem is my dog always races around this corner and brushes against the plant and I don’t want to risk another seed incident!

 

I have some Dierama, Angels Fishing Rods, growing in a similar situation. Not a grass but leaves look grassy, evergreen, attractive flowers, can be from white to almost black, bulbous perennial. I have Blackbird, dark plum, Guinevere, white tinged pink and an un-named lavender one.

One of the barbed grass seeds worked its way down my dogs ear canal resulting in a sedation, removal and large bill, so I want to dig it up and replace it. I’d like something similar, largish but without any nasty grass seeds. This is a photo of where it is situated (the grass at the back between the yellow Rudbeckia) this area gets the sun for about half the time but it is in our north facing back garden so never gets too hot and our soil is clay.

The Pennisetum Hameln really thrived there, and dragonfly larvae used it to climb out of the pond and emerge as I found loads of their dried casings in amongst the plant so something similar in structure would be ideal. Looking for recommendations, I’ve had a preliminary look at Knoll Gardens website but nothing is jumping out.
View attachment 227084 [/QUOTE]

 

I have a long haired cat who gets seeds in her fur, I got rid of most of my grasses but she goes into the long grass in other places such as by the path nearby so it was a waste of time really. At least you can control where your dog goes!

 

Since @Perki and @Goldenlily26 mentioned Dierama as an alternative plant to an ornamental grass I’ve been reading about them and I think they’d be ideal.

I’ve never heard of them before but they look beautiful so I’m excited to buy some now. Is it best to grow them from seed or corms? Would they grow quicker if I bought corms? I’m going to dig up my Pennisetum in spring and will be left with an empty space so I’m keen to fill it as soon possible.

 

It would definitely be quicker to plant bulbs. It will probably take a year or two for them to flower unless you buy them in flower.They seem to like a moist soil during the winter but not sodden. Mine grow to about 2 1/2 ft in leaf but the flower stems grow on to about 4ft tall, arching over and wafting in the wind, they are in full sun. The seeds do not seem to propagate so obviously do not have the right conditions which is fine by me. I remove any dead foliage each year and cut down the dead flower stems. Some people have trouble growing them but it would be worth trying one before investing in buying a lot. They do form quite a large clump with time although you could always dig out some of the bulbs to control them if they spread too much. Definitely not invasive.

 

Thanks for your recommendation and advice @Goldenlily26 they sound perfect for what I want

 

I have Dierama, definitely use plants or grow from seed, which is what I did. They are not easy to get going but once they do you will have them forever. My big ones I trim over with the hedge cutter at the end of February.

 

Looking at your photo, another alternative would be Iris siberica. It would like a north facing garden and a clay soil.