Common meadow grasses with which you can decorate your site

A herb carpet swaying in the wind is increasingly attracting interest from gardeners and landscape designers. There are many meadow grasses, the names of which are found in the price lists of garden centers: delphinium, meadow geranium, sage, fescue, cornflowers, timothy ... We invite you to learn more about meadow plants.

Types of meadow grasses

Meadow grasses are those that grow wild mainly in meadows. In the bulk, these are perennial tall plants.

Types of meadow grasses:

• Herbaceous plants (forbs). Many of them have medicinal purposes and bloom beautifully. They occupy up to 60% of the herbage.
• Cereals. Monocots are excellent livestock feed. The family of cereals includes wheat, millet, oats. The meadows are dominated by bluegrass, timothy, meadow, and fescue.
• Sedge. They occupy space along the banks of rivers, and also grow in floodplain meadows.
• Legumes. Dicotyledonous plants suitable for human consumption.

Most of the meadow vegetation has a strong root system, forming a dense sod, under which the soil is barely visible. Plant roots sometimes go to a depth of 2.5 m.

Meadow grasses composition

Many plant species grow in the meadows. They take root next to each other and form groups.

The composition of meadow grasses directly depends on the type of meadow:

• On flooded meadows located in the floodplains of rivers and flooded during floods, thistle, meadowsweet, marsh marigold, meadow core, medicinal burnet, coronaria grow well.
• On fertile plain meadows, sage, meadow geranium, plantain, dandelion, coltsfoot, goatbeard, spreading bellflower, soft bedstraw are often found.
• On meadows with poor soil, wild thyme, meadow daisy, rough cornflower, wild carrots, crocuses, carnations, crowded bells, field barks grow.

Most meadow grasses grow in open areas, blown by the wind and drenched in the sun. They are very light-requiring and do not grow well in the shade. This must be taken into account when landing on the site.

Meadow grasses of the middle strip

The composition of meadows in different geographic zones is not the same. Meadow grasses grow in a climate that is comfortable for growth and maturation.

In central Russia, the most common are:

• Cereals: fox tail, sweet spikelet, bent grass, timothy grass, wild oats, comb, reed grass, canary grass, hedgehog, chaff, shaker, numerous species of fescue, bluegrass, campfire, wheatgrass.
• Sedge: fox sedge, prickly, reed species.
• Monocots: articulated rush, hellebore, speckled orchis, kokushnik, angular onion.
• Buttercup and spring flowers: adonis, swimsuit, delphinium, buttercup, istod, basil, clematis.
• Liliaceae: goose onions.
• Cabbage: rape, sverbyga, meadow core.
• Clove: dope, yaskolka, toritsa, stellate, different types of carnations.
• Buckwheat: sorrel, buckwheat.
• Rosaceae: burnet, cuff, cinquefoil.
• Legumes: gorse, clover, gorse, lyadvenets, medunka, sweet clover, pagan, astragalus.
• Umbrella: caraway seeds, cow parsnip, horticulture, barnacle, gill, cumin-leaved gircha, marsh angelica.
• Lamiaceae: sage, chernogolovka, motherwort, mint, tenacious, pine cone, theotokos grass.
• Norichnikovye: bear ear, veronica, eyebright, rattle.
• Bellflower: sprawling bell, rapunzel and other species.
• Gentian: centaury, spring gentian, bitter, field.
• Plantain: plantain is large, medium, lanceolate.
• Madder: bedstraw real, soft and other types.
• Valerian: Valerian officinalis.
• Teedlings: korostavnik, scabiosa pale yellow and pigeon.
• Composite colors: yarrow, chicory, wild rose, tartar, popovnik, cornflower, serpukha, goatloobdnik, dandelion, hawk, chamomile, tansy, elecampane, field thistle, field thistle, tansy, string, mother-and-stepmother.

Scientists estimate that there are about 500,000 varieties of meadow grasses.

Perennial meadow grass (flowering)

Almost all meadow grasses are perennial due to their hardiness and powerful root system. They do an excellent job with frost, drought and heat, are immune to pests, and reproduce on their own.

The continuous vegetation cover in meadows has a predominantly green background, which turns yellow by the middle of summer. To a greater or lesser extent, it is dotted with bright spots of yellow, white, red and purple flowers of perennial herbaceous plants.

Consider the most beautiful and popular types of meadow flowers.

Yellow meadow grasses

The yellow color of inflorescences predominates among meadow grasses. Examples:

• elecampane,
• sweet clover,
• goose onions,
• tansy,
• St. John's wort,
• Adonis,
• swimsuit,
• mother and stepmother,
• rape,
• dandelion.

This is just a small part of the huge list of yellow meadow grasses. Many of them are suitable for on-site cultivation.

The meadow garden is an excellent option for summer residents who do not have the time or desire to spend a lot of time on the plot with a shovel and a watering can in their hands. It does not require maintenance. You can enjoy the blooming splendor without resorting to watering, weeding and feeding. The garden will bloom no matter what summer is, dry or rainy.

Goose bow

A low-growing bulbous plant about 15 cm high. The goose onion is also called the yellow snowdrop. It has flat, narrow and long leaves. Inflorescences are umbellate, bright yellow. The outer side of the tepals is reddish. The plant usually blooms in April. Flowering is accompanied by a delicate honey scent.

Medicinal melilot

One of the best honey plants and siderates. Melilot is grown for livestock feed, used for the manufacture of medicines. During flowering, the bushy plant is densely covered with loose clusters with yellow flowers. The height of the bush can reach 1.5 m. Melilot blooms for more than a month, from May to June, sometimes in July and August. Has a strong coumarin scent.

Spring adonis

People call this perennial meadow plant adonis. It received such a nickname for the bright fiery yellow flowers that rise above the feathery greenery. They are quite large, up to 8 cm in diameter. Spring adonis blooms in April-May, and its height reaches 40 cm.

Kaluzhnitsa

He loves damp meadows and flooded places. For its love of water, the plant was nicknamed the paddling pool. The marigold has a thick, branched stem and smooth, rounded leaves. Flowers are yellow, rather large, most often solitary. Flowering occurs at the end of April and lasts 2-3 weeks. The average plant height is 20–40 cm.

White meadow grasses

Many wildflowers come in several color options. For example, there are white sweet clover, white sweetweed, white geranium and delphinium.

Meadow grasses with white flowers are perfect for growing in the garden:

• Pharmaceutical camomile. A perennial flowering plant has medicinal properties. The flowering period lasts from May to October. The flowers are characteristic white-yellow, they smell pleasantly of fresh apples.
• Yarrow. A plant with small white flowers, collected in inflorescences-baskets. The leaves have numerous segments, which is why the name "yarrow" appeared. It is used for medicinal purposes. Blooms all summer, from June to September.

Pink, red, blue and purple meadow grasses

Meadow flowers often have a long flowering period. Bright pink, blue and red inflorescences attract butterflies to the garden.

To create an atmosphere of natural nature, use:

• Cornflower blue. One- or biennial meadow plant about 50 cm high. It has a straight stem and lanceolate notched leaves. The flowers are beautiful, blue and purple-purple. Blooms in the summer months, June-July.
• Gentian. Perennial plant with bell-shaped flowers in the color of the sea. They form a racemose inflorescence. Leaves of gentian are thin and short, linear. The flowering period is July-August.
• Field poppy. A branchy plant up to 80 cm high. The leaves are feathery, the flowers are red, purple or pink, 4–6 cm in diameter, growing on long legs. Poppy blooms in early summer and lasts for about a month.
• Delphinium. A tall, almost two-meter plant with white, pink, purple or blue flowers, collected in panicles. A characteristic feature is the presence of a spur. The delphinium blooms from early summer to autumn.
• Meadow geranium. Medium growing plant 30–80 cm high. It has 3–7 separate lower and lanceolate upper leaves. The flowers are large, numerous, lilac or bluish-purple. Meadow geranium blooms from mid-June to mid-July.

To create spectacular color spots, flowering meadow grasses are planted in clumps or massifs. Green cereals can serve as a winning background.

Cereal meadow grasses

The share of cereal grasses accounts for a significant area of ​​the meadow. They are essential for feeding. Many types of these plants are used for landscaping the territory.

The most common and valuable types of cereal grasses:

• timothy grass;
• meadow fescue;
• high ryegrass;
• wheatgrass;
• awnless bonfire;
• wheatgrass rootless.

Curtains of cereal plants can become a decorative element of the garden. They, as structural plants, will be a good support for flowers with an unstable stem - tall reed grass, millet.

In recent years, gardens are gaining popularity, entirely consisting of cereal grasses. They rustle and rustle, pleasing not only the eye, but also the ears.

Timothy grass

Timofeyevka deserves special attention. This bright representative of the Zlakovs is found throughout Europe, grows in America and Africa.

The people call timothy "stick", "field", "sivun". It is used to create ordinary lawns and also as forage. The grass is harvested for hay and silage.

Timothy leaves are elongated, hard, 0.5–0.9 cm wide and 40 cm high. The edges of the leaves hang down. They form a rosette, from which a cylindrical inflorescence - a sultan - is shown in May. Flowering lasts 4-7 days. The culture is propagated by seeds. Sowing is carried out in early spring.

Meadow fescue grass

Another favorite of ordinary lawns. Meadow fescue is a rather tall perennial herb. It can exist in one place for 8-15 years. The stems of the plant reach a height of 120 cm. The leaves are flat, narrow-linear, 0.3–0.5 cm wide. It blooms in mid-summer, throwing out panicles 6–20 cm long.

Fescue grass tolerates cutting well, is used to create borders, zoning, as a cover between fruit trees. It is often diluted with other lawn grasses: meadow bluegrass, timothy grass, annual ryegrass.

Green meadow grass

The green grass from the meadow is used as animal feed. It is suitable for creating soft green lawns. Grasses, some herbaceous plants and legumes are called green.

For landscaping, they mainly sow:

• bluegrass;
• fescue;
• wheatgrass;
• timothy;
• wheatgrass;
• field grass;
• alfalfa;
• ryegrass;
• clover;
• mint.

The lawn is periodically mowed or cut with a lawn mower. The first "haircut" is done when the height of the grass reaches 15 cm. After that the plants stop growing for 2 weeks. The procedure is repeated as needed until mid-August.

Stunted meadow grass

Steppe low-growing grass can be used to create dwarf and Moorish lawns. These are the so-called lazy lawns. They do not require a haircut and delight with a decorative look throughout the summer.

The undersized species include:

• chamomile;
• poppy;
• daisy;
• goose onions;
• linen;
• bells;
• pasture ryegrass;
• meadow bluegrass;
• slender bent;
• thyme;
• white clover.

In garden design, low-growing plants are often combined with tall ones. The latter are planted in the background.

Useful meadow herbs

Almost all herbaceous plants growing in meadows have one or another medicinal properties. Some are useful for digestion, others have anti-inflammatory, disinfecting, hemostatic, analgesic, choleretic, diuretic or other effects.

The following meadow herbs are used in official medicine:

• chamomile;
• oregano;
• St. John's wort;
• thyme;
• blooming Sally;
• marshmallow;
• valerian;
• mother-and-stepmother;
• celandine;
• echinacea;
• sweet clover;
• elecampane.

Having planted medicinal plants on the site, you can not only enjoy the beauty and wondrous aroma, but also improve your health.

Fragrant meadow grass

The flowering meadow filled with a thick aroma evokes a feeling of tranquility and immerses you in the world of childhood. Inhaling the smell of herbs is pleasant and useful.

The most fragrant are meadow grasses:

• oregano;
• thyme;
• Valerian officinalis;
• sweet clover;
• chamomile medicinal;
• tansy;
• mint;
• sage.

The main problem of a meadow garden is the difficulty of loosening and weeding.

Wild-growing meadow grasses (weeds)

Many meadow grasses are quite aggressive and can harm crops. You should not plant everything that you like in the meadow on the site.

Avoid the following plants:

• creeping wheatgrass;
• field thistle;
• dandelion;
• mayweed;
• wild oats;
• common rape;
• horsetail;
• fingered pig;
• field bindweed;
• common Mary;
• hairy millet;
• amaranth (beetroot);
• thymus;
• bird and bindweed mountaineer;
• field mustard.

Meadow plants are so familiar that almost no one pays attention to them. But in vain. They can compete with cultural colors. The undoubted advantages of wild-growing herbs are unpretentiousness, disease resistance, medicinal properties. Most of them grow in Russia in meadows, fields, along roads. Finding material for planting is not difficult. With proper zoning, you will get a beautiful, fragrant design for your garden for free.