Grasses for a Shady Spot

We have a little border on the side of the path going away from the kitchen patio. It is in the shade of one of the Jacaranda trees but on the opposite side of the path. It gets early morning and late evening sun only.

We have had Pelargoniums in there for years and are a bit fed up with them and this year they only gave a good show in the Spring.

We have thought that grasses or such like would be nice there, soft to touch if you brush up against them walking past.

The border is very narrow, only about 35cms wide, so it can't be anything that would grow TOO big.

Any ideas on what to put there, different colours would be nice. Also, can my gingers and lemon grass go there?

Thanks for any suggestions as I may have to buy these plants in England when I'm back due to lack of selection here.

 

try this link LoL
http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/grasses-for-shade.html

 

Thanks, Dendro, that's excellent. The greater woodrush sounds nice. Want to find something purplish as well that would fit in if you can think of anything.

 

is that the luzula you're talking about? I quite like that too. Purplish? Well, I suppose there's that black thing, it's really purple, IMHO!! I mean the thing that's not really a grass, the ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens. Lilyturf. Do you know it? It's not very big.

Don't suppose you'd consider a blue one (NO!! not the music!! And not festuca glauca either!! I mean the elymus magellanicus? http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=elymus+magellanicus

Pretty certain it'd be ok for shade - don't know about dry - must check.

 

have a look at this site http://www.bluestem.ca/elymus-magellanicus.htm

Looks like with a bit of TLC, (which you're bound to give it! :D ) it would be ok.

Just had a thought - how about the millet that someone mentioned a while ago? http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54760/index.html

 

Thanks again. The first one is nice but perhaps a bit pale as it will be up against a white wall. Love the second one, though! Wonder if my outlet on the IoW will have this ... I've only got one shot ... unless B&Q does such! :D :D

 

actually, the blue is electric - doesn't show well in photos - but believe me!! I think the photo of it in Binny plants is better - try this
http://www.binnyplants.co.uk/plants.php?show=1948

As for the millet, we got it in our local little GC so you've got a good chance in IoW! :D

 

Mmmm, would have to see it in real life. Stil want that other though!