Hi! I have Ribbon Grass for trade.
It is a perennial grass that is hardy from Zone 4-9. Height is 2'-4'. The Ribbon Grass is just coming up now so you will probably get more roots than grass, but that is good, as it transplants best that way. I'll send you a clump about the size of a grapefruit. It will take a few years for it to really establish itself, but you will love it when it does - it adds a little elegance to your garden. If you look it up in the plant files, some say it is invasive, but I've never really had any trouble with it. In fact, I sometimes wish it would be more invasive. That being said - I do have it planted in my problem spots - clay soil, dry & wet areas & semi-shade, etc., so that may help keep it contained. It is a nice fill-in plant. I picked it up at a garage sale about 20 years ago (just a few springs) and its traveled with me to 4 different houses. LOL! The picture I've included isn't of my ribbon grass, but a pic I found on the internet. It is a very good representation of it though.
Ribbon Grass gets taller through the summer & stays green & white. In the winter it turns straw colored and wilts down. You can either cut in back in the late fall or leave it be. It grows in zone 5 in shade, semi-shade & sun. It is best to transplant it now, before it gets too hot. If you plant it after the weather heats up - it will live, but it will take most of the summer to really get going. It is a cool season grass, which I assume means it grows fastest in the spring. It dies back in the winter and will poke up in the spring through all the dried grass from the season before.
As said before, all the plant descriptions I've read say it can become invasive, but I have it planted in thick clay soil and in loamy moist soil - in the shade and in semi-shade - and it behaves well for me. Its easy to contain each spring if a few springs wander close by - just dig out what you don't want (and trade it LOL). It's never traveled for me more than the clump getting larger. Last year I planted a few springs of it in pots with my annuals and it looked great! Cheaper than spikes! I expected it would die over the winter in the pots, but it came back, I was so surprised! Above the freeze line??? Its a good plant for a fill-in area that you can't get anything else to grow in that needs some heighth. This year, I'm planting it in some pots all by itself!
I'd like some daylilies or the taller Tiger Lilies - I don't care what kind or the color - but reblooming Daylilies would be especially appreciated. I don't need sedum, coral bells/heuchera, laminum or ajuga though - I'm kinda up to my neck in those! I've been trading the ribbon grass for 2 years now and everyone seems very happy with it. Actually, if any of you are out there - could you let me know how its doing and your experience with it! The only place I've found that it doesn't do as well is dry semi-shade - however, it seems to enjoy moist semi-shade and has done well in a very dry sunny spot - go figure! Thanks so much!
