A sterile, uninteresting entrance to a home gives visitors a poor first impression. Don gave a boring entrance some style and class with strategically placed containers filled with grassy plants.

First, some tall, squarish terracotta pots were spray-painted silver, to complement the decor of the house. Next, summer grass (Digitaria sanguinalis) growing in the paving was removed. (Note: summer grass grows through the warmer months and produces little seed heads, which are great to feed to budgies, canaries and finches.) Finally, the silver pots were placed on either side of the front door, filled with potting mix and planted with grassy plants.

Grasses and grass-like plants for containers  

Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’)
Japanese blood grass is grown for its decorative foliage. The leaves emerge green at the base with tips flushed blood red. The vivid red colour increases in summer and is at its best in autumn.
A good accent plant. 150mm (6") pots cost about $12-$15.

Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’)
Not a grass but belonging to the lily family. Black mondo grass has black-purple leaves, and reaches a height of 25cm. Lilac flowers appear in summer.
150mm (6") pots cost around $10-$12.

New Zealand flax (Phormium ‘Surfer Boy’)
This low-growing flax has fine, curling and arching green leaves with reddish-brown margins. It is tolerant of dry and coastal conditions.
150mm (6") pots cost about $12.

Blue tussock grass (Poa labillardieri ‘Eskdale’)
A long-lived ornamental grass with blue foliage. An Australian native, it thrives in most soils and is drought and frost tolerant. It grows well in sun or shade. Trim older foliage once a year.
150mm (6") pots cost about $12-$15.

Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)
Blue fescue is grown for its fabulous, blue-grey foliage. It likes a sunny position and is drought hardy.
150mm (6") pots cost about $10-$12.

Sedge (Carex buchananii)
A clump forming sedge that is grown for its copper-bronze leaves. It likes well-drained, moist soil but copes very well in dry conditions.
150mm (6") pots cost about $12.

Further information

Grasses and grass-like plants are available through your local nursery.

We paid $20 each for the large terracotta pots and $11 each for the smaller pots. (Tip: terracotta pots can often be purchased cheaply in the seconds area of retail pot shops, and most nurseries have regular pot sales to clear old lines and damaged stock.)

Plasti-kote Hammer Finish Spray paint (Silver) costs $23.40 from hardware stores and paint shops.

Copyright CTC Productions 2003