Stipa vs. Aristida

SING FOR AMBER WAVES OF SEEDED GRASS: STIPA VS. Aristida

 

By Cassy Aoyagi:  Both Stipa tenuissima and Aristide purpurea grasses provide vertical visual interest and tendrils that will wave in a breeze. In addition, both actually perform without much water.

Curious as to how Stipa earned its seat on the [wet-to-dry] exchange? A clue:  Stipa’s seeds place it in the same category as Pennisetum and Pampass grasses – invasives that are nothing but trouble!


formla_041Aristada Purpurea

Blondes do not always have more fun! This sweet grass, native to areas throughout California, has a lot of Stipa-like characteristics.  Unlike Stipia, Aristida purpurea does not increase fire danger, supports wildlife and will maintain its place. As an exchange, Aristida has some distinctive charms:

Provides the same height and texture. Aristida is a very light and airy textured grass that reaches the same height as Stipa, with a narrow and upright form.

Pops with PURPLE seed heads. What could be prettier! When in seed, Aristida purpurea takes on some of the “blonde” colored qualities as the Stipa, but the contrast of the purple seed heads is glorious. It won’t get as thick as a Stipa, but you can counter that by planting more clumps of it to make your point.

Attracts birds. Aristida sings!

Holds its looks in the long term. Very low water, Aristida purpurea grass will look its best during the warm seasons, but being a perennial, will hold its own year round.

Is hassle-free. It may enjoy your admiration, but it won’t require much attention – just a little cut back toward the end of summer.

Pair Aristada with companions and materials that will not overwhelm it and with colors that will contrast nicely against it, like, Festuca idahoensis,Carex tumilicolaCarex glauca or Artemisia ‘Canyon Grey’ or ‘Davids Choice‘.

 

Stipa Tenuissima, Mexican Feather Grass

Stipa tenuissima, local to areas all over the US has a blonde color and fine texture matched by no other grass, making it eye-catching and highly desirable from an aesthetic perspective. One aspect of that fine texture is the multiplicity of seeds that the grass produces. If not for the terribly invasive nature of its seeds, this grass would have a big thumbs up.  Unfortunately, Stipa, like other invasives:

Create fire danger. While they outperform natives during the good times, invasives tend to dry up when the going gets tough. The more invasives we have in our hills, the more we exacerbate the fire, flood, slide cycle.

Can’t stay put. By definition, an invasive is a wanderer that will quickly leave its spot in the garden to explore the rest of your landscape… and California hillsides.

Repel wildlife. Invasives often outperform the native foliage, leaving native species of wildlife bereft of sustenance and shelter.

 

January 2011 Newsletter

FormLA Newsletter

VALUED CUSTOMERS & FRIENDS+

We begin 2011 encouraged by the broad based interest and dedication we see to addressing the state’s ongoing water issues. Cassy delighted in the Letters to the Editor posted by the Los Angeles Times in follow-up to her interview with Patt Morrison, each illustrating the transformation in how California sees and manages its iconic public and private outdoor space. Naturally, we also cheered as Governor Brown mentioned water among his focus issues in his inaugural address and municipalities expanded and reinstituted sustainable landscaping grant programs. That said, true change becomes possible when neighbors begin talking to neighbors. We think we are nearly there, and we are confident through our work and with your help, we can protect and conserve this essential community resource.

Sincerely,

Cassy and Kirk Aoyagi

LATEST NEWS+

Lorraine’s Leading Landscape

Saving for a Rain[less] Day

Aristada v. Stipa

UPCOMING EVENTS+

Save 2011 Garden Tour Dates

WHAT TO EXPECT+

Protecting homes

Pruning for blooming

TEAM UPDATE+

Cara Barnard, Maintenance Manager

Landscape Industry Show Gadgets

UPCOMING EVENTS+

“Save the Date” for Spring Events

TEAM UPDATE+

With rave reviews from clients, Cara Barnard has been promoted to maintenance care manager. Read Cara’s Bio or Send Congratulations.

Teams attended the Landscape Industry Show to stay on the cutting edge of conservation related techniques and the latest gadgets.

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CONTACT FORMLA+

Cassy and Kirk Aoyagi, Principals: Cassy@formlainc.com

Mark Britten, Production Manager: Mark@formlainc.com

John Avakian, Bookkeeping: John@formlainc.com

Cara Barnard, Horticultural Care Technician: Cara@formlainc.com

USGBC FormLA on Facebook

 

 

LATEST NEWS+

Meet Santa Monica’s Leading Lady

Cisco Home La Brea Showroom Garden Profile:

Lorraine Sanchez sparked a sustainable landscaping revolution on her now vibrantly native Santa Monica street. See the garden that inspired her neighbors to follow her lead. More

Save for a Rain-Free Day

rain-free dayTips:The rare days when L.A. skies are gray present an opportunity to set aside a precious resource for a rain-free day. Rainwater harvesting systems, including rain barrels, above and below ground cisterns, onsite biological ponds and resevoirs are a hassle-free way to save the world… Or at least L.A. More

Plant Aristada Purpurea

Wet/Dry Exchange: Congratulations to wet-to-dry winners Anita Sheridan, Fleur Nooyen, Gary Trethaway, Leslie Hope, and Robert Enders! Each won a gift certificate to Theodore Payne Foundation for identifying Aristada purpurea as the waving ornamental grass that thrives without waves of water. Learn why this exchange works: More

Pick the Tree on a Budget
Prunus cerasifera Cercis occidentalis

Wet/Dry Quiz: Both small, deciduous Cercis occidentalis and Prunus cerasifera can squeeze their knock-out blooms and foliage into tight places, but money doesn’t grow on either tree. Identify which one will make the most of a tight water budgets to win this issue’s Wet to Dry Exchange Quiz. Win!

WHAT TO EXPECT+

The New Year is a time for list making. You are welcome to borrow from our list of to-dos!

We will be providing peace of mind for rainy season, perpetually:

  • Re-staking trees to ensure proper support
  • Adjusting irrigation quantity and timers
  • Making sure rain sensors work
  • Protecting homes from leaks by cleaning gutters
  • Monitoring run-off strategies and water catchment systems to protect slopes and homes

A hassle-free, beautiful spring garden results from our heavy lifting in winter. We are:

  • Ensuring proper growth and form of ornamental shrubs, conifers, deciduous trees, roses, ornamental fruits, natives and
  • Mediterranean plants to make room for spring growth with natural pruning methods
  • Cutting grasses to their bases
  • Evaluating empty spaces for planting new native plants
  • Providing special feeding to citrus and acid loving plants and spraying roses and ornamental fruits with ecofriendly dormant oil, organic amending with blood meal
info@formlainc.com • PO Box 441 Tujunga, CA 91043phone 818.353.7030 • 310.979.9002 • fax 818.353.6837 • www.formlainc.comView Past Newsletters