Ruby grass 'Pink Crystals' & more
June 27, 2010
Ruby grass (Melinis nerviglumis ‘Pink Crystals’) is blooming, its pink-tinged inflorescence glowing almost white in the late-afternoon light.
At most times, it looks more like this: a pinkish burgundy that looks lovely paired with…
…purple coneflower…
…and the ripening red berries of ‘Black Pearl’ ornamental pepper. (For images of ‘Black Pearl’ berries in their more dramatic, blacker phase, click here.) All three do well in part sun.
Purple skullcap (Scutellaria drummondii), on the other hand, wants full sun and sharp-draining soil to thrive. Best to give them what they want. They have the final say, don’t they?
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I love the ruby grass. Great photos!
Love the Ruby crystals and the great thing about ruby grass is that it withstands a very cold winter, like the one we had last year. I have new plants coming up in the gravel and they will have the wonderful plumes of pink in the fall. I did manage to find some of the ornamental pepper but I am not 100% sure that it is the black pearl. The fruits are rather small but the foliage looks the same.
Ruby Crystals didn’t reseed as well for me this year as it did last. Perhaps the cold winter was to blame. Great idea to pair it with ‘Black Pearl’! Hmmm, you’ve got a bit of a Jack Sparrow them going there …
I had two die over the winter, but I replaced one and it’s blooming! My first. So pretty. Now I wish I had more. I love what you have yours paired with.
nice photos, that ‘Black Pearl’ looks very intresting!
Pam,
Awesome image of echinacea. The nonfocused second flower adds so much. Great job. Maybe garden photography classes by Pam?
Fougères VerdantSanctuary.blogspot.com
Melinus is new to me this year, and I have just one bloom spike so far. Saw a clump covered in blooms over the weekend and so hoping mine gets there this year. Your photo is so beautiful. The skullcap close up is a ringer for salvia.
Love that Ruby Grass. I will have to put it on my wish list.
Amazing how light can change the color so drastically.
Beautiful pictures of the ruby grass. Also love the picture of the drinking bees. I had no idea that they drank water.
I don’t think i’ve ever seen ruby grass, it looks so pretty. I can only imagine what it looks like when the sun hits it.
I have been away for a while and have just read through your past post’s. All you’re plants and projects are looking wonderful!
Jake
Oh, how I wish the Pink, Ruby etc. Crystals were hardy here. They just aren’t, and I haven’t seen them much as nurseries. People tend not to replant grasses as they are hard to dig out of the ground. I shall just have to admire yours.~~Dee