Buy gardener's garters Phalaris arundinacea var. 'picta'

Phalaris arundinacea var. picta

gardener's garters

A vigorous and robust perennial grass known for its striking foliage, Phalaris arundinacea var. picta features narrow leaves elegantly striped with white, pale, and dark green hues. While its pale green flower panicles are not the star of the show, the variegated blades provide visual appeal from spring through early summer. This grass spreads swiftly, forming expansive clumps, making it ideal for free-roaming sites or container cultivation, but bear in mind that it can be difficult to remove once it establishes and can be invasive. With that in mind, gardener’s garters serves as excellent ground cover, particularly along pond edges, where it aids in control.

How to care for Phalaris arundinacea var. picta:

Phalaris is tolerant of a wide range of soil moistures and thrives in boggy or aquatic conditions. Plant in full sun to partial shade in nutrient-rich, moist soil. To maintain its variegation, prune back all but the new young shoots in early summer to encourage vibrant growth.

In sunny or dry periods, sun-scorching may occur in mid-summer, but a straightforward trimming combined with deep watering will rejuvenate the foliage within weeks. Regular cutting back in late winter or early spring also helps control vigorous growth and promotes healthy, colourful stems.

Flowering period:

Eventual height:

Eventual spread:

1.5m

Position:

Full sun

Rate of growth:

Fast-growing

Soil:

Reliably damp or boggy

Hardiness:

Fully hardy

This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

CAUTION toxic if eaten/skin & eye irritant