Katie Guillebaud suggests what grass goes where

There is a tendency for many people to think of perennial grasses as all the same: tall, green companions to latesummer planting and good autumn features. This selection of favourites and their particular strengths proves how much more there is to enjoy.

Stipa gigantea Great for volume and scale—i used it to define corners of beds where there’s plenty of space and where it can be backlit by sun. Prefers a sunny site and free-draining soil

Hakonechloa macra A low grass with a more formal feel for the front of a border; prefers light shade. I used this at the north entrance to the house with ferns and white Astrantias

Miscanthus sinensis (Grosse Fontäne, Malepartus, Silver Feather) I planted these in large swathes in the field along the edge of the ditch/moat (which only has water in it in the winter), where they stand up well to the wind. Great planted en masse for movement and drama. Place them toward the back of a border to add volume to plantings and to accompany tall perennials such as Thalictrum rochebruneanum and Persicaria polymorpha

Deschampsia cespitosa Goldtau Creates a hazy mist of tiny golden flower panicles, a lovely foil for midheight perennials; gives a naturalistic look to plantings. Prefers moist soil and light shade (I used this in the swimmingpool area with Sedum Matrona and Sanguisorba Tanna)

Calamagrostis brachytricha Use as punctuation through the middle of borders; useful mid height and tolerates light shade; distinctive big, fluffy plumes contrast with other grasses

Calamagrostis Karl Foerster Plant in the middle of an island bed (or at the back of a conventional border) for height and to complement lateflowering tall perennials such as sanguisorba. Also works planted en masse, and would suit a more formal situation as the shape is fairly uniform and it comes into growth earlier than other tall grasses (such as Miscanthus or Panicum)