A small mound of glossy, bright green foliage begins to grow in the spring; by August the mound is a couple of feet tall, cascading, and has long black foxtails emerging from it. Eventually the foxtails stand 10-18” above the leaves and make magnificent sight. As summer turns into the fall the leaves turn yellowish to apricot and eventually become straw color in winter. Such beauty does not come without strings attached; yes, much as I love it, I have to admit that ‘Moudry’ can be quite pushy as it is a prolific reseeder and must be watched. The seedling that develop during the spring after flowering are easy to pull out and the grass is so beautiful that it is well worth the effort. In addition to gracing the garden with their beauty, the black foxtails make exotic and unique additions to flower arrangements and bouquets.
Type: Perennial grass.
Bloom: Black foxtails from August to September.
Size: 18-26” H x 18-26” W.
Light: Full sun; some shade in the south.
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained.
Hardiness: Zones 7-9.
Care: Cut back foliage in late winter.
Pests and Diseases: None of importance.
Propagation: Seeds; division of clumps.
Companion plants: Black eyed Susan, goldenrod, asters, sedum such as ‘Autumn Joy’.
Karen Meyers