Baltimore Maryland Landscape Design
Creating Fine Landscapes for the Home
COMMON NAME Muhly Grass
BOTANICAL NAME Muhlenbergia capillaris
ZONE 6 – 9
SIZE 3-4’ HT & SP
FOLIAGE Round, clump-forming; Narrow, thin green foliage
FLOWER Billowing, soft pink inflorescence Aug – Oct.
Quite showy when in bloom.
GROWING CONDITIONS Full Sun – Light Shade
NOTES Deer Resistant
M. capillaris ‘White Cloud’ – an outstanding cultivar with billowing plumes of white inflorescence. Possibly even more showy than the pink form.
COMMON NAME Fig Tree
BOTANICAL NAME Ficus carica
ZONE 6 – 9 Maryland is on the northern cusp
Plants will show significant die back in cold winters
Best grown in Zones 8-10.
SIZE 10 – 20’ HT & SP
FOLIAGE Somewhat glossy, multi-lobed, large leaf. Has a tropical appearance.
FLOWER Insignificant
FRUIT Showy and edible.
GROWING CONDITIONS Full Sun to Part Shade, but will fruit best when a bit more sun. In Maryland, protect from winter winds. Frequently benefit from a wall at their back. Have seen successful specimens in….
NOTES According to the University of Maryland Extension office…..Celeste, Brown Turkey, Hardy Chicago, Brunswick, Marseilles, and Osborne are some of the most winter hardy cultivars which perform well in Maryland. All are seedless, producing their fruits parthenocarpically (without pollination or fertilization).
COMMON NAME Lady’s Mantle
BOTANICAL NAME Alchemilla mollis
ZONE 5 – 9
SIZE Perennial 18” HT & SP
FOLIAGE Ruffled foliage that is somewhat fuzzy (tomentose), which may be helpful when trying to discourage deer from nibbling. Sometimes appears to have a greyish green hue due to the fine hairs.
FLOWER Very small, yellow green flowers appear above the foliage in July/Aug. A soft, fluffy texture.
GROWING CONDITIONS Full Sun to Part Shade, but prefers Part Shade. Prefers moist soil.
NOTES Somewhat Deer Resistant. Easy to grow, and keeps coming back for years.
COMMON NAME Switchgrass
BOTANICAL NAME Panicum virgatum
ZONE 5 to 9 Native
SIZE 3 – 6’ HT, 2 – 3’ SP; Size can vary greatly depending upon the cultivar selected; strong upright habit.
FOLIAGE Medium green to metal blue. Tan straw in winter.
FLOWER Soft inflorescence mid-summer, white, tan or pink, floating above the foliage. ‘Heavy Metal’ is not quite as soft in appearance.
GROWING CONDITIONS Full Sun to Light Shade. Tolerant of Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Wet Soil, Black Walnut, Air Pollution. Frequently selected for Rain Gardens.
NOTES Deer Resistant. Rabbit Resistant.
Easy to grow.
Can be used as an effective screen for most of the year. Do allow foliage to remain all season, adding interest to the winter landscape.
Cut back to 12” HT in March.
FAVORITE CULTIVARS
Panicum v. ‘Cloud Nine’ – 6’ HT, fluffy white flowers
Panicum v. ‘Heavy Metal’ – 4-5’ HT, metallic blue foliage
Panicum v. ‘Shenandoah’ – 3’ HT, foliage begins to turn red in July, burgundy in fall, flowers have pink tinge
COMMON NAME Dame’s Rocket
BOTANICAL NAME Hesperis matronalis
ZONE 3 – 8
SIZE 1-3’ HT, 1-2’ SP
FOLIAGE Not much to speak of. Plant more attractive foliaged plants in front.
FLOWER April / May. Upright panicles emerge violet and fade to white. Showy, fragrant and good cut.
FRUIT Develop long, narrow seed pods that explode when ripe. Readily self-sows to create new plants. Allow fruit to develop and stalks to flop in order to encourage development of a nice colony.
GROWING CONDITIONS Full Sun to Part Shade. Deer Resistant. Requires minimal watering. Shallow rooted, therefore easy to move. Excellent plant for meadows, naturalized areas or cottage garden.
Native to Eurasia, but has naturalized in many areas of eastern North America. Considered an exotic invasive in the Midwest. In Maryland, we frequently observe colonies along the woods’ edge on country roads.
Not readily available from nurseries. Obtain plants from a friend.
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