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Gardener's Garters Phalaris arundinacea

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
FAL-ah-ris a-run-din-ay-SEE-uh
Description

Ribbon Grass is a cool-season grass with showy white striped leaves that form an upright open habit.  Plant it in full sun to partial shade in fertile moist soils.  It tolerates both wet and try soil as well as coastal and drought conditions.  It can spreads aggressively by rhizomes but it is less aggressive in clay soil.  Use it as a ground cover or container plant.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Feesey', 'Picta', 'Strawberries & Cream'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#perennial#showy leaves#variegated leaves#accent plant#wetlands#high maintenance#grass#wet sites#aggressive#dry soils tolerant
 
Phalaris arundinacea
Striking variegated leaves. Shannon CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Planted along a walkway.
Planted along a walkway. Fosterx2 CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Phalaris arundinacea Strawberries & Cream
Phalaris arundinacea 'Strawberries & Cream' F. D. Richards CC-BY-SA 2.0
Leaves
Leaves Donna S. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Feesey', 'Picta', 'Strawberries & Cream'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#perennial#showy leaves#variegated leaves#accent plant#wetlands#high maintenance#grass#wet sites#aggressive#dry soils tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Phalaris
    Species:
    arundinaera
    Family:
    Poaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America and Eurasia
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Open
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    6-feet-12 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Caryopsis
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Pink
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Variegated
    White
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Riparian
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Pollution
    Wet Soil