Page 14 - Landscape-Issue134

FEATURE

Recommended grass species
for indigenous gardens
Aristida junciformis (Ngongoni grass)
is one of the major components of
KZN grasslands. Its tough resilient
nature and colour variations during
the year have made it a perennial
favourite with landscapers. Able to
grow in dry soils as well as in wet
areas and in heavy clay soils, it can
be used as a groundcover for many
applications. The grass flowers
between November and May in
impoverished soils.
Themeda triandra (Rooi grass) is
found in the cooler regions of the
country, blanketing the slopes of the
Drakensburg. Its coppery appearance
makes it an attractive garden plant.
The potential to replace poor veld
with this grass is now possible with
plugs. By planting plugs, a seed
bank is slowly returned and under
good management, the grass will re-
establish itself.
Melinis repens (Natal Red Top)
is a showy annual grass that Imperata cylindrica Setaria megaphylla
requires planting every year.
Melenis nerviglumis (Bristle-Leaved
Red Top) is a perennial bunch grass up to 25 cm long. Its golden flower spikes Mannikins, Finches and Weavers.
with similar flowering properties. In a are an attractive orange colour and the Oplismenus hirtellus (Basket grass) is a low
good season, the grass will produce a plant occurs naturally in grasslands, growing, creeping grass suited for moist
magnificent “Bristle Top” which starts off a woodlands, and along waterways, also areas of semi-shade and deep shade. It has
purple/red colour, turning pink and then colonising disturbed areas like road sides an attractive lush green colour and texture
eventually white when mature. The seed in high rainfall regions. The flower spikes and grows rapidly in all directions, forming
is viable but requires ideal conditions to comprise tiny clusters of golden yellow dense mats. It is not a lawn grass however,
get it to germinate. spikelets that make up the ‘bristles’. and cannot withstand human traffic. The
Imperata cylindrica (Cotton wool grass) Flowering takes place usually from grass can be grown by pulling out stems,
is common to the regions and adapted to October to May. In winter the plants are cutting these back lightly and planting
wet areas such as vleis and river banks. somewhat messy and scraggly. them in shallow furrows. Keep well-watered
It spreads from dense clumps during Setaria megaphylla (Giant bristle grass) and roots will soon develop.
periods of high rainfall and has the ability Shade tolerant, these large, tropical and
to stabilise soil, especially in high rainfall broad-textured grasses have become The author, Dr. Jonathan Foley, may be
areas. The grass is attractive with a pretty popular garden features on the east coast contacted for further plant suggestions. He
cotton wool appearance and can be used of KZN where they are found naturally in is a lecturer, landscape designer, writer and
to regenerate cover on disturbed sites. the coastal forest habitats. A fast growing, consultant.
Setaria sphaecelata (Golden bristle perennial, clump-forming grass, it attains Groundlevellandscapes5@gmail.com
grass) is a robust tufted perennial which a height of nearly 2m and is suitable for
grows to over one metre in height, with large gardens where it provides nesting Photos by Shobie Arnoldi and Muhammad
each flowering/seeding panicle reaching material and seeds for birds such as Bronze Adamjee.

Eragrostis capensis flower Harpochloa falx (Caterpillar grass)

12 Landscape SA • Issue 134 2024 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za