DSC02416 640x480 Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens

whatever its called I like it very much

Black grass...Great with Bidens as well.

It looks like a grass but it is just pretending. If it likes you, it will give you clusters of small opalescent berries as well. It will look stunning with your Alberts gold - great choice Ml.

this is a great grass - love it - I have 2 of these

yes be a nice contrast :))))))))))))))))

I have just added this to my plant wishlist which I carry with me when we go round markets and nurseries and farmers' suppliers. I think it will be a red-letter day if we were to find anything as lovely as this, though.

Thank you, Meadow. I know Alberts Gold, but don't have any. Don't know Bidens, though; is it like cosmos?

bidens aristosa Gattina I will have a look through mt pics and see if I have one of them growing together.

Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens is a small rhizomatous perennial. I imagine they would survive a trip in a jiffy bag! Seeds are available as well. :0)

I gave the wrong name...Bidens ferulifolia is the one I ure.

Thanks, Pimpernel! I'm sure I'd manage to kill one just as easily as the other!
Do you think they'd survive in a shallow-soiled rockery in full sunshine? I'm sure they'd LOOK good, and would be a good colour foil for lots of other small plants.

Well Gattina The RHS Say

"Moist, well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acid soil"

While most of mine get those conditions (never knew about the acid) in pots....I have some planted in the alley way in les than 2 inches of the hardest, dryest dirt and they have been fine for two years...They have not flowered or vastly multiplied but they are still there and looking good.

Oh, B******s, acid soil again. Take it from me, P., Manchester soil is a lot more acid than the benighted dirt we have here. It's container time again, isn't it?

I just took a damp pic of mine in a pot ....nippy out there.