planting ornamental grass seeds

[francegarden]

I picked (stole) a head of an ornamental grass from the garden of a chateau, but have been unable to identify it.
I am planning to try and grow it from the seeds, but am not sure what to do.
Should I put them in a propagator now - leave them outside - or plant them in the spring?

[Ladygardener]

Tig grows a lot of seeds, including grasses I think, she may be along to help later FG.

[Dutchy]

I would sow half in a pot and leave outside, somehow that works for me. Providing it is hardy.
Do you know if it is?
You can always do the rest as Tig might advise.

[Tig]

It does depend on the type of ornamental grass seed you have 'rescued' FG Can you describe the doner plant - thick leaved, thin leaved, size & shape of 'flower' from which the seed came?

I have sown lots of types of ornamental grasses - most are easy to grow and do require some warmth to germinate.
I've sown indoors Feb to March, or outside March to May dependent on type.

They are nearly all surface sown, with a very fine covering, some just need gently rubbing in to get them in contact with the moist compost.

See if you can spot it on this site

www.potandgrass.co.uk/ecom-catshow/Pennisetum.html

x Tig

[francegarden]

Tig.
I 'rescued' it at a garden in the grounds of the Chateau of Chaumont, which has the most wonderful display of hundreds of different kinds of grasses, unfortunately not labelled.
This one has upright very pale, fluffy, fragile-looking flower heads, standing about a foot above long thinnish leaves, which were a wonderful golden, russet sort of colour, but - I think - had been green earlier in the summer.
I have looked in a number of books I have on grasses, but have not found anything similar, although I wonder if it is a pennesetum.
I shall look in more detail on the very useful-looking site you have posted.
Hope the description is helpful. Anyway, the best thing is just try and see if I have any success.
Many thanks.

[beanie]

Hi, F.G. may be worth looking up Pennisetum Hamlyn. I've got it and your description is similar. Not supposedly fully hardy but I've had mine for about 5yrs without a problem