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In the 1800s , American pioneers driving wagon trains west across the Great Plains glimpse in the rolled , marvelous - grass prairie an echo of the ocean . green goddess evoke the movement of piss so well that a horizon - wide opinion of them can make us feel as if we are at sea . Grasses are n’t the only plants , however , that suggest water . Many others share this timbre , whether through cascading or fountain - like form , or through color that , when massed , brings to mind a river or pool , or even through an uncanny resemblance to undersea life like coral and seaweed .
Savvy , creative gardeners can employ such plants in their water - save gardens to produce an fantasy of watery teemingness . Choosing wry - conform plants to carry out this sleight of hand makes the illusion even more satisfying . Here are some tricks to keep up your sleeve .
photograph by : Pam Penick .
Make Waves with Grasses
Mass grasses to create a sense of washy movement , especially on breezy days . For humble ripples , try meadowy sedge ( Carexspp . ) or plains - native buffalograss ( Bouteloua dactyloides ) . To conjure the illusion of surge Wave , apply tall ornamental gage : cloud - like bamboo muhly ( Muhlenbergia dumosa ) , blushful honey Gunter Wilhelm Grass ( Eragrostis spectabilis ) , and cotton candy - colored Gulf muhly ( Muhlenbergia capillaris ) . Mexican feather grass ( Nassella tenuissima , pictured ) can also be used , but be careful — it has been view as invasive in California and is problematic in other country .
Turn On a Fountain of Arching leave
take plant with an arching or vase - influence form to introduce a fountain burden in a dry garden . plant singly , rather than en masse , fountain - shaped plant bring in power through contrast with other forms , like mounds , cones , or sprawl groundcovers . Try appropriately named natural spring grass ( Pennisetumspp . ) , prairie dropseed ( genus Sporobolus heterolepis ) , and over-embellished moor grass ( Moliniaspp . ) . Strappy yucca , phormiums , and Cordyline have “ spray ” forms too .
Spill a Waterfall of Foliage
Cascading plants make the illusion of a talk waterfall , particularly when planted atop walls , where their flowing wont can be point off to great vantage . prefer cringe ground cover like silver ponyfoot ( Dichondra argentea ) ; sprawling perennials like prostrate rosemary ; and grassy clumpers like spaghetti - leave Texas beargrass ( Nolina texana ) . Many succulent , too , call forth fall piddle : the unfaltering , moss - green drip of string - of - pearls ( Senecio rowleyanus ) ; the splosh force of upturned parting on drawing string - of - fishhooks ( Senecio radicans ) ; and the rivulets of bottlebrush - textured burro ’s tail sedum ( Sedum morganianum ) .
Conjure Water with Weeping Trees
With pendant limb , weeping tree diagram take to listen the water system - love weeping willow tree , which grows along current and ponds . What a trick , then , to apply that loll form to fool the intellect into imagining a nearby brook or syndicate in a teetotal garden ! Try weeping acacia ( Acacia pendula ) , a ironical - garden doppelgänger of the tears willow tree ; weep yaupon holly ( Ilex vomitoria‘Pendula ’ ) , whose stiffly draped , evergreen branches are bedecked with scarlet berry in wintertime ; and weeping mulberry ( Morusspp . ) , whose drape - alike branch sweep the ground .
Dip into Leafy Pools and Streams
Mat - forming or creeping groundcovers with silver or spicy - green foliage create the deception of a limpid pool and make dependable lawn alternative too . Try woolly stemodia ( Stemodia lanata ) , with silvery immature farewell ; lamb ’s ear ( Stachys byzantina ) , with pettable , fuzzy foliage ; and silver rug ( Dymondia margaretae ) , whose silvery white leave lie flat on the ground . For a meandering stream , select a long - blooming , small - to - medium - sized perennial with dismal or purple flower , and mass it by the lots in a twisting medal . adept candidate includeblue simulated indigo(Baptisia australis ) , ‘ May Night ’ salvia , and lavender .
Mimic Coral Reefs and Lily Ponds
mass in a rock candy garden , a coloured variety of succulents can imitate an under - the - ocean garden so convincingly that a clownfish might palpate at home . This is a trick that only those in hoarfrost - free climates can pull off in in - land garden , but elsewhere you could use container plants and bring them indoors for wintertime . Look for grapple - mold boat paddle plant ( Kalanchoe luciae ) ; frilly echeverias , massed to resemble coral ; many - armed squid and octopus agaves ; and blue chalksticks ( Senecio serpens ) for diffused - finger anemone . Or make an ever - blooming , waterless lily pond by institute a bowl - shaped container with a fistful of echeverias for the weewee lily , mulch with blue deoxyephedrine for the water .
Excerpt and photographs reissue with permission fromTHE body of water - SAVING GARDENby Pam Penick , right of first publication © 2016 , published by Ten Speed Press , an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC . exposure copyright © 2016 by Pam Penick .
