Introduction of perennial ornamental grasses from the family Poaceae in Latvia

Ornamental grasses have gained increasing prominence in urban landscaping, offering a cost-effective solution by reducing irrigation and maintenance expenses for municipalities.
In Central Europe, their widespread adoption dates back to the mid-1970s, coinciding with the development of ecologically based plantings.
Despite the broad applicability of ornamental grasses, they were rarely used in parks and gardens in Latvia during the last century.
At this time, the primary introduction center for ornamental grasses was the Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia (BGUL). The aim of the work is to present collected evidence and analyze historical evidence on the introduction of perennial ornamental grasses from the family Poaceae in Latvia.
From 1966, the BGUL has hosted 94 taxa from the Poaceae family, with 41 taxa not previously represented in assortments of Latvian nurseries.
Biological characteristics of the 33 taxa were studied from 1995 to 2021. Between 2019 and 2023, the adaptation stage of 28 introducers was evaluated, along with their history of introduction.
Among the assessed taxa, 13 were well-adapted, another 12 were marked as average, and two taxa were identified as very well-adapted: Calamagrostis brachytricha Steud and Phalaris arundinacea var. picta L. P. arundinacea var. picta L. was initially introduced in 1817 and consistently listed in nursery catalogs published in Latvia, eventually exhibiting instances of escape from cultivation as early as the 1950s.
It has been observed in seminatural habitats over the last century and has recently entered the phase of naturalization in Latvia’s territory.
The results indicate that introduced ornamental grasses categorized as average-adapted perennials are particularly suitable for use in greenery in Latvia.

EHC2024: International Symposium on the History of Horticulture in Europe

I. Nāburga

adaptation, escapers from gardening, introduction history, naturalization, risk assessment

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1438.49