Melica: 6 ideas for pairing them

In a naturalistic border

Melica is a standout in a naturalistic or rustic garden, blending seamlessly into lush scenes. Non-invasive, it is particularly interesting in borders where it easily punctuates the planting. It brings lightness and brightness to a large, somewhat wild border alongside other summer-flowering perennials.

The Melica ciliata with its silky cream-white flower spikes will accompany floriferous and fluid perennials such as cosmos, asters, and the Aster divaricatus ‘Beth Chatto’ for example, which pairs very well with all other border plants, in partial shade or full sun, along with some giant asters like Aster laevis.

The Melica altissima ‘Atropurpurea’, or tall melic, is equally useful for enhancing a large border, providing more structure.

You can pair them with tall perennials, Buenos Aires verbenas, eryngiums, and large foxgloves, which their moving silhouette will soften. They also help lighten the flowering of heavier perennials with more defined flowers, such as echinaceas or Oriental poppies.

Lighten the scene with gauras with their delicate blooms.

In the centre, Melica ciliata, surrounded by eryngiums, Aster divaricatus ‘Beth Chatto’, Oriental poppies, and purple echinaceas.

At the edge of the path

With their small size, Melica make excellent borders to edge a pathway. In line along a path, they bring dynamism to the garden, remaining compact and not spreading. They form small, soft, colourful tufts that add a lot of natural charm. The Melica uniflora var. albida works wonders as a border in a shaded path. This particularly graceful variety, generally not exceeding 50 cm in height, with its flowering reminiscent of a rain of rice, is invaluable for this type of arrangement.

You can mix it with other grasses like Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Cassian, with hardy geraniums, and with Persicarias (Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Rosea’) for a wild effect. Also accompany it with heucheras with lime green foliage (the Heuchera ‘Blondie in Lime’), with pulmonarias, or with Epimedium alpinum which tolerates dry shade.

Melica uniflora var. albida, Epimedium alpinum, Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Rosea’ and Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Cassian’

In a flowering meadow

Melica are easy to incorporate into a naturalistic meadow that is not too dry, adding a vibrant lightness. Choose a precious ciliate melic for enlivening sunny and slightly arid areas of the garden. It has a good tendency to self-seed in somewhat challenging spots, without ever being invasive.

Its silky spikelets will contrast beautifully with the large flat inflorescences of Achillea millefolium and the large field daisies. They will soften the prickly flowers of thistles, such as Echinops ritro and Teasel, for example. You can mix it with easy annual flowers like nigella, cosmos, California poppies, or robust and adaptable perennials, such as Linum perenne, hollyhocks, or Veronicastrums.

Melica ciliata, cosmos, teasels, Achillea millefolium, and hollyhocks

In a grass garden

In a large naturalistic garden, you can dedicate an area to grasses! Structuring yet light, luminous, and poetic, grasses easily combine with one another. Melica integrates very well with other grasses of similar height, whether shorter or taller. Pair them with other grasses that are often spectacular all year round with decorative spikes, such as Miscanthus, Pennisetums (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Goldstrich’ and Pennisetum macrourum), which flower very similarly to Melica ciliata. Stipa tenuifolia or Stipa barbata, which form very flexible, arching tufts of medium height, are also good companions.

When planted in masses, they create a magical and intensely graphic scene. Integrate Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldschleier’ for a more ample format.

Add height to this very natural tableau with majestic tufts of Pampas grass.

Melica, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’, Cortaderia, Stipa tenuissima, and Pennisetum macrourum

In a gravel garden

Like many grasses, some species of Melica thrive in this type of medium. Ciliate melica finds its place more easily in the minimalist decor of a dry or gravel garden than its counterparts, enjoying rocky and sunny spaces, even dry ones. To accompany it on a sea of pebbles or white gravel, consider other grasses, such as Stipa arundinacea or Stipa capillata, Carex comans, or even the fountain grass that withstands drought very well. A trio with a low grass like Festuca glauca ‘Golden Toupee’, a small succulent perennial and groundcover like Sedum reflexum ‘Angelina’, offers a very bright contrast of colours and shapes.

To structure this type of decor, focus on perennial plants with upright flowers like ‘Eryngium planum ‘Blue Hobbit’ or Perovskia.

Melica ciliata, Carex comans ‘Milk Chocolate’, Sedum reflexum ‘Angelina’, Stipa capillata, Perovskia