Promising range and introduction of ornamental grasses in the steppe zone

Relevance. In modern ornamental gardens and landscaping objects, the range of ornamental cereals is constantly expanding. They are planted in rockeries, rocky gardens, used for arranging mixborders, hedges, decorating the banks of reservoirs. 

The aim of our work was to develop and expand the range of ornamental grasses that are highly decorative, introductory resistance and promising for use in the regionʼs ornamental horticulture. 

Methods. We have carried out morph-biological studies. Introductory resistance to a complex of bioecological factors was assessed — the degree of damage by diseases and pests, winter hardiness and frost resistance, drought resistance. We took into account the decorative state. The assessment of prospects is given. 

Results. 17 cultivars of warm-season ornamental cereals belonging to Panicum L., Chasmanthium Link, Imperata Cirillo, and cold-season — Sesleria Scop., Calamagrostis Adans., Festuca L., Leymus Hochst., Phalaris L., Deschampsia (L.) P. Beauv were studied. The studied plants, according to the scale of introduction resistance, are assigned to the group of resistant plants. They differ in winter, frost and drought resistance, are not damaged by diseases and pests. They have preserved their natural habitus and vital form, the ability to undergo a full cycle of shoot development, the natural rhythms of ontogenesis, reproduce well vegetatively. They exhibit a stable decorative condition for a long time — from 64 to 180 days. They are assigned to the group of promising plants. According to the methods of use in gardening, the studied cereals belong to different groups (short, medium-sized and tall) and perform various role tasks. They can be recommended for use in landscaping the edge. 

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