Pure Prairie Ornamental Grasses from Alberta can turn your flowerbed, garden, patio and deck containers into works of art. There are several different varieties of ornamental grass that you can use all year long to keep your garden uniquely beautiful. To learn more about William Moore Farms and the grasses, watch the videos by clicking on the "Product Videos" tab.

Why add ornamental grasses to your garden?

- They are beautiful, adding amazing colour, height and motion to your garden.
- Suitable for most zones in Canada and the US
- Ornamental Grasses are low maintenance and grow quickly for great summer, fall and winter colour.
- Environmentally friendly – drought tolerant.
- An excellent companion plant in beds, containers or as a focal point.
- Attracts birds in Summer, Fall and Winter.

Opportunity Package (Safflower, Oat Grass, and Canary Seed)

This is called the Opportunity Package because all of these plants are so very different from each other! Canary seed is an extremely delicate grass supporting cone shaped heads. Oat grass is very lush with open panicle style heads and the Safflower is a bold, strong stemmed flowering plant. An opportunity to try a little of everything!

Height - Oat Grass / Colour - Safflower & Canary Seed / Winter Interest - Safflower

Oat Grass (Avena sativa): This grass has thick Deep green foliage and interesting open panicle seed heads that resemble split bells. Oat grass is a hardy grass that can with stand frosty spring mornings. Oat Grass will attract birds to your gardens, and when the birds have eaten their feast the empty seed heads will glow in the late summer/ autumn light! Plant with dark coloured flowering companion plants such as Bee Balm that will reach heights of 1 ½ to 2 feet. Each Package will cover approximately 25 square feet. (2 ¼ square meters) Grows to 3 feet in height. (Left photo above)

Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis): Extremely fine stems support small variegated cone shaped seed heads over plenty of light green foliage. Very attractive and versatile grass, great for containers and landscaping that will last well into winter (three season gardening and enjoyment). Each package will cover approximately 15 square feet (1 square meter). Grows to 3 feet in height. (Centre photo above)

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius): While this is not technically a grass, Safflower is very ornamental. Multiple branches are covered with broad leaves and bright orange, red or yellow stringy looking flowers. Safflower is a strong stemmed plant that will stand through the winter; it has prickly leaves and is predator resistant. It makes a great companion plant to the neighbouring grasses in this package. Each package will cover approximately 30 square feet (2 ¼ square meters). Grows to 2 - 3 feet in height. (Right photo above)

CONTAINER PLANTING TIPS:
- Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/ 2“ deep. Press the soil firmly around the seeds to ensure a tight seed to soil contact. Keep moist until the grasses emerge.
- It is best to use one container dedicate to each grass. Annual grasses do not compete as well with companion plants in tight quarters unless you start the grasses and add the companion plants after the grasses are fairly large.
- To add variety, use companion containers of different colours and sizes. A grouping of containers with grasses and companion plantings looks very stylish. 
- The deeper the pots, the better, since the depth will help to promote a healthy root system to ensure stem strength. You will need at least 12” of soil or deeper.
- If you start your grasses indoors then try to get them outdoors as soon as possible as the wind action on the grasses strengthens the stems as they grow and they stand better. Containers in doors tend to grow very rapidly and have weak stems. 
- The diameter of the pots can be quite variable. If you can keep one container devoted to one grass you can keep them reasonably small, 12 to 14” in diameter. However, you can also devote one grass to a large diameter pot.
- You can even grow Sudan grass in pots, but you will need much more depth! If you have the soil depth to accommodate the plant, then Sudan grass can still do quite well in pots and grow upwards of 6 feet! You will require 3 to 4 feet of soil depth for Sudan grass. Sudan grass looks stunning in pots!

* Detailed planting instructions and information on each ornamental grass comes in each beautiful package.