Cyperis alternifolius, Umbrella Plant, Cyperaceae

Genus and species: Cyperis alternifolius
Common Name: Umbrella Plant
Family Name: Cyperaceae
Zone: 8-11

This aquatic plant has triangular stems terminating in lovely soft blooms. It also grows up to 5' tall! You can grow it in moist, regular garden soil, or in water 3" deep. It is tropical, however, not perennial.

Photos taken September 17, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Aquatic and Marginal Plants plus a few perennials

We will now delve into aquatic plants.

Cheers!
~Amaal Alsharkawi

Yucca filamentosa, Yucca or Adam's Needle, Agavaceae

Genus and species: Yucca filamentosa

Common Name: Yucca or Adam's Needle
Family Name: Agavaceae
Zone:4-9

This plant likes full sun but can tolerate part-shade. It likes well-drained soil. It grows to be about 2'-3' in height and width and is a clump full of glaucous evergreen foliage which threads at the edges. This plant also blooms white flowers on 3'-8' stems in July-August.

Photos taken September 17, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Sporobolus heterolepis, Prairie Dropseed, Poaceae

Genus and species: Sporobolus heterolepis
Common Name: Prairie Dropseed
Family Name: Poaceae
Zone: 2-9

This is a warm season grass that has fine, billowing foliage. It can be compared to beads on a wire. It grows 2'-3' tall and about 2' wide. It is very tough, drought-tolerant, and has great fall color!

Photo taken September 17, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Schizachyrium scoparium, Little Bluestem, Poaceae

Genus and species: Schizachyrium scoparium
Common Name: Little Bluestem
Family Name: Poaceae
Zone: 9

This grass is native to North America. It has a blue color and provides a nice fine texture to the garden with a somewhat prairie look. It grows 2'-3' in height, prefers full sun, and is quite attractive in the fall. In addition, it is drought tolerant.

Photos taken September 17, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Pleioblastus viridistriatus, Dwarf Variegated Bamboo, Poaceae

Genus and species: Pleioblastus viridistriatus
Common Name: Dwarf Variegated Bamboo
Family Name: Poaceae
Zone: 7-10

This grass is a variegated, clumping, compact bamboo that grows about 4'-5' tall. 

Photos taken September 17, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Pennisetum x advena, (Annual) Fountain Grass, Poaceae

Genus and species:
Pennisetum x advena
Common Name:
(Annual) Fountain Grass
Family Name: Poaceae
Zone: 9

Similar to Pennisetum alopecuroides, this plant blooms in foxtail like flowers, however a bit longer and with a pinkish tinge. The foliage is green and provides a soft look to the landscape.

Photos taken September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Pennisetum alopecuroides, Fountain Grass, Poaceae

Genus and species: Pennisetum alopecuroides
Common Name: Fountain Grass
Family Name: Poaceae

This plant is relatively small. The foliage is green and blooms white flower heads.

Photos taken September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Panicum virgatum, Switch Grass, Poaceae

Genus and species: Panicum virgatum
Common Name: Switch Grass
Family Name: Poaceae

This plant is a clumper! The foliage and flower head grow 4'-7' in height. The flowers look like beads on a wire, similar to Sporobolus heterolepis Prairie Dropseed, however Prairie Dropseed is much smaller than Switch Grass!!! If you want a red version of this plant, try the cultivar 'Shenadoah'.

Photos taken September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Miscanthus, Poaceae

Genus and species: Miscanthus sinensis
Common Name: Maiden Grass or Japanese Silver Grass
Family: Poaceae

This plant has fine foliage and a strong mid-vein that is white. The flowers provide a delicate look and add a glowing effect to the landscape during sunset.

Photos taken September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.
















Genus and species: Miscanthus x giganteus
Common Name: Giant Silver Grass
Family: Poaceae

Compared to Miscanthus sinensis, this grass is
larger and taller in height and browns at the bottom.


































Genus and species: Miscanthus sinensis 
Cultivar: 'Zebrinus'
Common Name: Maiden Grass or Japanese Silver Grass
Family: Poaceae

Photos of Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' taken November 2010 and September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Erianthus ravennae, Ravenna Grass, Poaceae

Genus and species: Erianthus ravennae
Common Name: Ravenna Grass
Family Name: Poaceae
Zone: 5

Native to the United States, this grass blooms in the mid-summer. Though it is quite large, it is tame.

Photos taken September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Chasmanthium latifolium, Northern Sea Oats, Poaceae

Genus and species:
Chasmanthium latifolium
Common Name: Northern Sea Oats
Family Name: Poaceae

This plant is native to the United States eastern seaboard. It is tolerant to shade and has pressed flower heads looking like a cluster of oats hanging on a thread.

Photos taken September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Carex species, Sedge, Cyperaceae

Genus and species: Carex species
Common Name: Sedge
Family Name: Cyperaceae

With a variety of species, this grass-like plant forms nice clumps which does well as a front-of the border plant in the garden. .

Photos taken September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' Feather Reed Grass Poaceae

Genus and species: Calamagrostis x acutiflora
Cultivar: 'Karl Foerster'
Common Name: Feather Reed Grass
Family Name: Poaceae

This is a cool season grass. The plant is quite upright with a very distinct flower head.

Photos taken September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Arundo donax 'Variegata' Variegated Giant Reed Grass Poaceae

Genus and species: Arundo donax
Cultivar: 'Variegata'
Common Name: Variegated Giant Reed Grass
Family Name: Poaceae

This grass starts out bright white and green in its youth and turns completely green with age. The nodes are close together and ladders up. The plant is well behaved in Southern Virginia, but more wild in more Southern climates. This plant is very sturdy and can be used to build with. It is also used to make reeds for musical instruments.


Photos taken September 7, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Ornamental Grasses & Grass-like Plants

Here's to a new realm of plants! Just keep in mind, real grasses are in the family poaceae while grass-like plants are of other families.

Cheers :)

~Amaal Alsharkawi

Verbena canadensis, Clump Verbena, Verbenaceae

Genus and species: Verbena canadensis
Common Name: Clump Verbena
Family Name: Verbenaceae

This plant is relatively a low grower. It has a creeping habit. The leaves are opposite and the stems are kind of square. The flowers cluster like Queen Anne's Lace, have five petals with a little notch in each one, and have no fragrance.

Photos taken August 31, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Solenostemon scutterleroides, Coleus, Lamiaceae

Genus and species: Solenostemon scutterleroides
Common Name: Coleus
Family Name: Lamiaceae

A very unique plant and one of a kind. It easy to identify in the landscape. The foliage is wildy variable in color, and the plant is easy to propagate; Take a cutting and place it in a cup of water under a light and watch it grow!

Photos taken August 31, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Rudbeckia hirta, Black-eyed Susan, Asteraceae

Genus and species: Rudbeckia hirta
Common Name: Black-eyed Susan
Family Name: Asteraceae

This flowers of this plant come in many different colors. The stems are very scaly and the leaves are quite hairy leaves. The only downside of this plant is that it is very badly susceptible to powdery mildew.

Photos taken August 31, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Petunia x hybrida, Petunia, Solanaceae

Genus and species: Petunia x hybrida
Common Name: Petunia
Family Name: Solanaceae

The flowers on this plant are sticky and fragrant. There are hundreds of cultivars of petunias, even one that is self cleaning--no more picking off dead sticky flowers!!!

Photos taken August 31, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Osteospermum species & hybrids, Osteospermum or Cape Daisy, Asteraceae

Genus and species: Osteospermum species & hybrids
Common Name: Osteospermum or Cape Daisy
Family Name: Asteraceae

A very beautiful plant for the landscape. The foliage is a bit leathery, similar to holly, and the flowers come in different colors--all having a beautiful purple center.

Photos taken August 31, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Musa & Ensete species & hybrids, Ornamental Banana, Muscaceae

Photos taken August 31, 2011 at Virginia Tech in the Hahn Horticulture Gardens.

Genus and species: Musa basjoo
Common Name: Hardy Banana

A relatively large tree, this plant overwinters well in deep soil and has green leaves.





















































Genus and species: Musa acuminata or Musa sumatrana
Common Name: Sumatran Banana

As an i.d. feature, the underside of the leaves are red.





















































Genus and species: Ensete ventricosum
Common Name: Red Abyssinian Banana

To identify from other bananas, this banana has a striking red vein in the leaves.