Ornamental Grasses/Sorghum

Thirteen varieties of ornamental grasses and sorghum were grown at the Horticulture Research Center (HRC) outside of Fort Collins, Colorado during the 2004 growing season. See below for photos and comments on each of the varieties. All of these varieties were direct seeded in the field on June 1st.

Photo – Plants	Photo – Close-up	Variety Name / Scientific Name	Comments
		Feathertop Pennisetum villosum	DS, grew very well, good filler for fresh or can dry (however when dried seed heads fall apart easily)
		Green Cat Eleusine coracana	DS, interesting, different type of inflorescence, grew well
Photo Not Available		Highlander Setaria italica	DS, striking color, unusual inflorescence, top heavy though, good if you’re looking for something pendulous
		Purple Majesty Pennisetum glaucum	DS, grew well, a good filler in fresh large bouquets, be sure to cut when immature otherwise will have seed problems
		Forest Bouquet – Oats Avena sativa	DS, did well, good for filler in fresh cuts and can also be dried
Photo Not Available		Japonica – Ornamental Corn Zea mays japonica	DS, did fairly well, striped foliage, good for dried crafts, in wreaths, or center pieces
	Photo Not Available	Colored Uprights – Sorghum Sorghum bicolor	DS, grew well, good as filler in fresh large bouquets and can be dried as well
		Red Broom Corn – Sorghum Sorghum bicolor	DS, grew well, good as filler in fresh large bouquets and can be dried as well
		Texas Black – Sorghum Sorghum bicolor	DS, grew well, good as filler in fresh large bouquets and can be dried as well, striking black heads
		White Popping – Sorghum Sorghum bicolor	DS, grew well, good as filler in fresh large bouquets and can be dried as well
		Black Eagle Wheat Triticum aestivum	DS, nice as fillers in fresh or dried arrangements, grew well
		Black Tip Wheat Triticum durum	DS, nice as fillers in fresh or dried arrangements, grew well
		Silver Tip Triticale Triticale sp.	DS, nice as fillers in fresh or dried arrangements, grew well