Ornamental grass - with decorative foliage - 17 cm pot - Height 50 cm

This Plant and Stories ornamental grass collection brings together three distinct botanical genera with complementary characteristics. The Festuca glauca 'Intense Blue' offers very dense and persistent steel-blue foliage, forming a compact and graphic clump. The Carex 'Evergold' brings golden variegated and arched foliage, bright even in winter thanks to its semi-persistent nature. The Stipa 'Pony Tails', for its part, produces fine, flexible green stems that sway at the slightest breath of wind and are adorned with airy silver spikes in summer.

Yes, the three ornamental grasses in this set are hardy and perfectly suited to French winters, including in regions with moderate frost. The Festuca glauca, the Carex 'Evergold' and the Stipa 'Pony Tails' withstand common negative temperatures in the ground without protection. In a pot or planter, their roots, which are more exposed to the air, may require a fleece cover or insulation of the container during severe cold. Their semi-evergreen foliage allows them to maintain an attractive visual presence even in winter, without the need to bring them indoors.

These ornamental grasses thrive in full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. This exposure is essential for the Festuca glauca to fully express its intense blue hue and for the Stipa to develop its wispy plumes abundantly. The Carex 'Evergold' tolerates light partial shade without completely losing its golden brilliance, making it the most versatile of the bunch. Avoid exposure to deep shade, which dulls the colors, elongates the stems, and weakens the clumps over time.

When planting in the ground, prepare well-drained soil by am'ending with sand or gravel if your soil is clayey and heavy, as these three grasses dislike'excess'moisture sitting around their roots. Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and plant them, spacing the plants'at least 30 to 40 cm apart along the edge to allow each clump to'reach its full size. For a patio planter, choose a container at least 30 cm in diameter for each plant and use a well-draining soil-and-gravel mix.

These ornamental grasses are known for their fast growth, meaning they will quickly fill their space and provide a dense decorative effect from the first season. The Stipa 'Pony Tails' is particularly vigorous and can reach 60 to 80 cm in height with its plumes in full summer bloom. The Festuca glauca forms a compact and dense clump that gradually expands without encroaching on its neighbors. The Carex 'Evergold' also grows quickly and can be divided every 3 to 4 years to rejuvenate the clump and multiply the plants.

These three grasses pair very well with a wide variety of plants to create graphic and natural borders. At the edge, they harmonize perfectly with perennials such as lavender, coneflowers, or sedums, which share their preference for full sun and well-drained soils. The blue of Festuca glauca contrasts beautifully with orange blooms (daylily, bronze heuchera), while the gold of Carex 'Evergold' enhances the dark hues of a burgundy heuchera.

These ornamental grasses should ideally be cut back'in late winter, between mid-February and early March, before the new shoots'appear. Cut the clumps back by two-thirds of their height with clean, sharp secateurs, or tie the clump into a bundle before cutting for a faster, neater job. This encourages fresh regrowth and prevents the center of the clump from'becoming smothered and dying. Remove dry, browning leaves throughout the seasons to maintain a tidy appearance, but avoid cutting back in autumn so that the foliage naturally protects the crown during the colder months.