A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Mystery Plants? I Saw Something....

A neighbor down the way has the most amazing small garden. Come summer it is unbelievable because in that tiny space she grows a vast array of things AND statuary! It is hard to imagine how she gets it all in.

But today when I went past, I noticed a tall plant I'd not seen before and haven't been able to identify.

It was about 6 feet tall and very very fluffy, long plumes straight up and in an off-white color, looking yellowish or with a yellow cast to it against the snow background.

Anybody have any guesses?


Merme

What type of leaf? Grassy? Could it be pampas grass?

That is what I was thinking, Tina.

It was all feathery looking and kinda smokey.

It didn't look like a pampas grass that I'm familiar with but perhaps I haven't seen enough variety of them.

And I was surprised it was so lush at this time of the year.

Do not pampas grasses die back in winter?

Do you know if there are types that could be sturdy this far north?

I was also thinking some kind of ornamental grass - I have several here that turn a very light color in winter and also have tall plumes. It adds winter interest so I don't cut them back until just before they start to leaf out again in spring.

My Pampas doesn't die back at all, it usually gets a bit ratty when we get a heavy wet snow.
Go ask the Lady who is growing it! I've done that dozens of times and never ran into a gardener who wasn't thrilled to be able to share some knowledge and do a little plant bragging....
Have you checked my Ornamental Grass Varities page?

I agree, ask. If you can't actually stop easily and ask, get the address and write. Gardeners love to share their knowledge and sometimes their plants as well.

I have never seen this homeowner at home/outside in all the years we've lived here but she's gotta be out there sometime with that startling garden of hers!

Today I am taking my camera with me when we go out and I will stop to get photos and hopefully her address as well. Our road doesn't post numbers on most homes but some have them, so there is a chance...



Merme

Hopefully if you use enough compliments & praise the neighbor will be happy to give you all the information you need about the grass.
keep us posted, for now I am curious.

Did you manage to get any pictures or contact the owner yet, Merme?

If it's what I'm thinking of, plants that grow along the edges of highways, then I might end up with some.

They seem to just grow wild - I grabbed a few fronds, stripped the dry stuff off (in fall) and sprinkled them into a sunny patch behind the fence.

Dunno' if I'll have any luck with that.