Ornamental grasses are true champions of the garden, offering beauty and versatility in equal measure. These adaptable plants come in various sizes and shapes, from towering varieties that create dramatic backdrops to shorter types perfect for bordering paths or filling containers. What makes them especially appealing is their ability to thrive in various conditions, with options suitable for both sunny spots and partially shaded areas.
One of the great advantages of ornamental grasses is their low-maintenance nature coupled with their year-round appeal. They provide texture, movement, and color throughout the seasons, even adding interest to winter landscapes. Whether you're looking to create a focal point, fill in gaps in your garden beds, or solve landscaping challenges like erosion control, ornamental grasses are up to the task!
Let's explore 16 types of ornamental grass that can enhance your garden's beauty and functionality, no matter what your landscaping goals may be.
Need some inspiration for incorporating ornamental grasses into your landscape? Our guide, "Landscape Design with Ornamental Grasses: Top 5 Ways," offers fresh ideas and expert tips.
Best Tall Ornamental Grasses
When it comes to making a statement in your garden, tall ornamental grasses are hard to beat. These impressive plants can serve as living privacy screens, create backdrops, or stand alone.
Here are some of the best tall ornamental grasses that can add some drama to your landscape:
Morning Light Maiden Grass
(Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light')
This elegant grass adds a touch of shimmer to any garden:
- Forms dense clumps of slender green blades with creamy white margins
- Creates a silvery appearance that catches the light beautifully
- Reddish inflorescences persist through winter for year-round interest
- Grows 5 ft. tall and 3-4 ft. wide, with plumes reaching 6 ft.
- Thrives in full sun to partial sun
- Zones 5-9
Foerster's Feather Reed Grass
(Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')
For a stunning vertical accent that stays narrow, this grass is a top choice:
- Feathery stalks change from reddish-brown in spring to golden in fall
- Tolerates wet soils as well as drier conditions
- Reaches 6 feet tall with bloom stalks, foliage 2 feet tall and wide
- Prefers full sun and tolerates heat
- Zones 4-9
Little Zebra Dwarf Japanese Silver Grass
(Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Zebra')
This compact grass offers a big impact with distinctive foliage:
- Arching blades with ivory to yellow highlights
- Produces silver-white plumes in late summer
- Perfect for borders, containers, or near water features
- Grows 3-4 feet tall and wide
- Adapts to full sun or partial shade
- Zones 5-9
Porcupine Grass
(Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus')
For a bold, upright presence, consider this dramatic grass:
- Dark green leaves with striking horizontal golden bands
- Produces reddish-bronze plumes in summer
- More upright form than other Miscanthus varieties
- Reaches impressive heights of 8 feet tall, 3 feet wide
- Thrives in full sun
- Zones 4-9
With their striking forms and low-maintenance nature, these tall grasses add movement, texture, and year-round appeal to your garden without demanding much of your time or effort.
Short Grass Varieties
Short ornamental grasses are the perfect solution if you're looking to add interest to your garden without overwhelming smaller spaces.
Consider these ttypes:
Elijah Blue Fescue
(Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue')
This eye-catching grass adds a cool touch to gardens:
- Clumping grass with striking icy blue coloration
- Buff-colored plumes provide beautiful contrast
- Ideal for edging borders or as a groundcover
- Drought-tolerant once established
- Grows quickly to 8-12 inches tall and wide
- Thrives in full sun
- Zones 4-11
All Gold Japanese Forest Grass
(Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold')
For shady spots that need a pop of color, try this graceful grass:
- Bright golden-yellow foliage creates a bamboo-like effect
- Excellent for mixed borders, containers, and mass plantings
- Gently spreads by rhizomes
- Reaches 18 inches tall and wide
- Prefers filtered sun to partial shade
- Zones 4-9
Dwarf Mondo Grass
(Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nanus')
For a lush, grass-like groundcover, this compact plant is ideal:
- Forms dense, dark green clumps of grass-like foliage
- Excellent as an edging plant or between rocks
- Creates striking mass plantings
- Grows slowly to just 4-6 inches tall and wide
- Adaptable to filtered sun, full sun, or partial sun
- Zones 6-11
These short ornamental grasses prove that good things really do come in small packages! Whether you're looking to add texture to a rock garden, create a border, or fill in gaps in your flower beds, these compact varieties offer versatility and charm.
Colorful Ornamental Grasses
Colorful ornamental grasses can add beautiful hues to your garden throughout the seasons. These eye-catching varieties bring a splash of color that ranges from soft pinks to deep purples and blues, creating visual interest that evolves as the year progresses.
Here are four colorful ornamental grasses that can transform your landscape:
Regal Mist® Pink Muhly Grass
(Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Lenca')
This extraordinary grass offers a stunning display:
- Glossy green foliage with airy pink-red flowers
- Spectacular when backlit by the sun
- Excellent as a single specimen or in mass plantings
- Fast-growing, reaching 4 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide
- Thrives in full sun and is very heat tolerant.
- Zones 6-9
Karley Rose Fountain Grass
(Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose')
For a long-lasting, graceful display, consider this variety:
- Features smoky rose-purple flower spikes
- Forms a tufted mound of deep green, arching foliage
- Longer bloom season and greater cold tolerance than other varieties
- Grows 3 to 4 ft. tall and wide
- Prefers full sun
- Zones 5-10
Purple Fountain Grass
(Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum')
This popular grass adds rich color to landscapes:
- Forms dense clumps of purplish-maroon blades topped with rose-red plumes
- Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance
- Beautiful as a specimen or in groups
- Grows 2 to 4 ft. tall and 2 to 3 ft. wide
- Thrives in full sun
- Zones 8-11
Blue Heaven Little Bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium 'MinnblueA')
For a grass that changes color with the seasons, try this variety:
- Narrow, upright foliage emerges blue and develops pink and burgundy hues
- Turns rich copper in fall with tan seed heads persisting
- Great for bird-friendly landscapes
- Quickly reaches 3 to 4 ft. tall and 2 to 3 ft. wide
- Prefers full sun
- Zones 3-10
Low Maintenance Ornamental Grasses
Low-maintenance ornamental grasses are perfect for gardeners who want to add beauty to their landscapes without spending hours on upkeep.
Here are four ornamental types of grass that can bring effortless charm to your garden:
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass
(Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition')
This native grass offers year-round interest with minimal care:
- Features blue-green foliage and striking golden summer flowers
- Long-lasting blonde seed heads provide winter interest
- Tolerant of various soil types
- Grows to 3 ft. tall and wide
- Thrives in full sun to partial sun
- Zones 4-9
EverColor® Everoro Variegated Sedge
(Carex oshimensis 'Everoro')
For easy-care, colorful groundcover, this sedge is a top choice:
- Deep gold-striped foliage provides year-round beauty
- Forms a low, dense mound perfect for massing
- Excellent for containers and landscapes
- Grows 12-15 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide
- Adaptable to various light conditions from full shade to partial sun
- Zones 5-9
Ice Dance Japanese Sedge
(Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance')
This sedge brightens shady areas with minimal fuss:
- Bright green leaves with creamy white margins
- Spreads gently to form a dense, non-invasive groundcover
- Ideal for woodland gardens and shady borders
- Reaches 1 ft. tall, spreading slowly
- Prefers filtered sun to partial shade
- Zones 5-9
Lime Tuff™ Mat Rush
(Lomandra confertifolia subsp. rubiginosa 'Lomlon')
For a tough, versatile grass that thrives on neglect, try this variety:
- Compact clump of narrow, lime green leaves
- Small yellow flower spikes in summer
- Salt spray tolerant and drought-resistant
- Fast-growing, reaching 2-3 ft. tall and wide
- Does well in full sun to partial sun
- Zones 8-11
These low-maintenance ornamental grasses show that you don't need to spend hours in the garden to have a beautiful landscape. With their resilience and adaptability, these grasses will thrive in various conditions while adding texture, color, and movement to your outdoor space.
Ornamental Grass Plant Care
Ornamental grasses are known for their resilience and low-maintenance nature, but a little care goes a long way in keeping them healthy and vibrant. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these easy-to-follow tips will help your ornamental grasses thrive:
- Choose Wisely: Select grasses that are well-suited to your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. This will ensure that your green companions will feel right at home in your garden.
- Sun and Soil Savvy: Most ornamental grasses love soaking up the sun, but some prefer partial shade. Some grasses prefer drier soils, while others are adapted to wet soils. Make sure to pick the right grass for your soil type.
- Water Wisdom: In their first growing season, give your new grasses plenty of deep watering to establish strong roots. Once settled, most types prefer to be on the drier side.
- Spring Cleaning: Treat your grasses to an annual "haircut" by trimming back last year's growth in early spring. This encourages lush new growth and keeps them looking tidy.
- Divide and Conquer: Every few years, your grasses might need some breathing room. Divide them in early spring to prevent overcrowding and promote healthy growth.
- Pest Patrol: While generally tough, watch for issues like rust or leaf spot. A little vigilance can prevent small problems from becoming big headaches.
Remember, one of the best things about ornamental grasses is their easy-going nature. They're perfect for gardeners who want to spend more time enjoying their outdoor space and less time maintaining it!
Commonly Asked Questions About Ornamental Grasses
Are ornamental grasses difficult to maintain?
Not at all! Ornamental grasses are generally low-maintenance plants. They typically require minimal care beyond occasional watering, annual pruning in early spring, and dividing every few years if they become overcrowded. Their easy-going nature makes them perfect for both novice and experienced gardeners.
Can I grow ornamental grasses in shady areas?
While many ornamental grasses prefer full sun, some varieties thrive in partial shade. For example, All Gold Japanese Forest Grass and Ice Dance Japanese Sedge are excellent choices for areas that receive a mix of partial sun and partial shade in your garden. Always check the specific light requirements for the grass variety you're considering.
How often should I water my ornamental grasses?
Watering needs vary depending on the grass type and its stage of growth. Most established ornamental grasses are drought-tolerant and prefer drier soil. However, during their first growing season, they'll need regular, deep watering to establish a strong root system.
Do ornamental grasses stay green all year?
It depends on the variety and your climate. Some grasses, like Dwarf Mondo Grass, are evergreen in many zones. Others, such as Purple Fountain Grass, may die back in colder climates but return in spring. Many grasses, even when dormant, provide winter interest with their dried foliage and seed heads.
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