Red! Ruby grass & pomegranate bud
On a Mother’s Day weekend garden tour last year, I fell in love with ruby grass (Melinis nerviglumis ‘Pink Crystals’). High Country Gardens characterizes this beauty as a “1999 Plant Select® winner. A spectacular South African species, Pink Crystalsâ„¢ is a cold tender, Zone 8 perennial” that other regions can grow as an annual.
Only about a foot tall excluding its bloom, this grass is petite enough for the front of a border, particularly one that will be backlit in morning or evening, the better to appreciate its pink inflorescence. Unlike many grasses, it blooms in the spring, and it is drought tolerant to boot.
The downside? There’s always a downside, isn’t there? It’s reported to be invasive in some parts of the country, seeding out prolifically and crowding out native species. If you garden near a greenbelt, you might not want to risk it. Since I’m surrounded by lawns, I think it’s safe to say it won’t be escaping into the wild from my garden.
In the back garden, the pomegranate continues to flower, showing me that it didn’t mind the move last fall from the front garden. Back here, those shockingly orange-red flowers can blaze away without clashing with any pale pink.
The buds look like fleshy fruit, even as they’re opening to reveal the frilly, flouncy flower inside.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
That is a very pretty grass. I’ve been looking for some petite grasses for containers and since this one would be an annual for me I’ll have to check it out.
I bet it would be great in a container. Mexican feathergrass works well too. —Pam
Grasses add such a nice exotic touch to the yard, don’t they?
I usually think of them as a natural, meadowy touch. But certain ones look more exotic than others, don’t they? —Pam
What a gorgeous grass – really striking
I wonder if you can find it across the pond, Helen? —Pam
Those pink fluffy inflorescenses are certainly worthy of garden space. They would be an annual here. I haven’t seen them at a garden center in this part of the country. I loved the garden tour connected to this post. Fun to tour when it is raining cats and dogs here.
Yes, rainy weather is made for blog reading. I’m glad you enjoyed the tour, Lisa. —Pam
No wonder you fell in love with it, that ruby grass is gorgeous. How long does it flower? If it is invasive perhaps people could grow it in a bucket without a bottom or a big pot sunk into the ground. I have pomegranate envy! 🙂
I don’t know how long it flowers, YE. I’m still in the trial phase with it, but I will let you know. Can’t you grow pomegranates in your mild-winter climate? —Pam
The pomegranate is gorgeous, how large are the flowers? The grass is also very lovely,
Gail
The pomegranate flowers are 3 or 4 inches in diameter. And did I mention that they are hot red-orange? I had the tree out front initially, but the first spring bloom startled me with its intense color, so ill-suited to my mostly pink-and-silver front garden. Now that it’s in the back, with other hot-colored plants, I feel happy with it again. —Pam
The grass is so delicate looking. Does it make a nice cut flower, and do you think that when it’s dried it will hold that lovely pink color?
I don’t know yet, Catherine. Still in the experimental phase. I’ll post an update later this summer. —Pam
The pomegranates are blooming here in South Carolina too – do you suppose that means it is summer?
I think of them as spring bloomers here in Austin. And our weather today—cool with low humidity—confirms that it’s not summer quite yet. Yea! —Pam
Pam,
Your front yard garden is breath taking, just incredible! I got lost in the pictures as if I were there taking a walk. I love pomegranate blooms, such a vivid orange. I was just taking pictures of my neighbor’s yesterday for a surprise garden album I’m going make for her for Christmas this year. Every year her fruit rots on the bush after it gets about half way ripe and we can’t figure out why. It’s very frustrating because I’ve wanted to try and make some jelly from them. I’ve never made jelly before but I’m thinking Pomegranate jelly sounds delicious.
My pomegranate has yet to set fruit. I’ve only had it for a year, and I’ve already transplanted it once, but maybe it’ll fruit this year anyway. Fingers crossed. The garden album for your neighbor is a thoughtful and original gift idea. Thanks for your very kind comments about my garden, Randy. —Pam
The buds of pomegranates are so lovely. I am growing some as houseplant and they didnt flower yet.
Greetings,
Ewa
How interesting to grow a pomegranate as a houseplant. How big is it, Ewa? —Pam