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Ornamental Grass


I confess that I have been very slow to adopt ornamental grass in my gardens. Perhaps it is because one of the first plants a friend suggested was Lyme grass – a vicious spreading thing that went from an attractive clump of blue leaves to an eight foot thug over the first fall and subsequent spring. I’ve since learned that this grass is best used as an erosion or ground cover type plant and is not to be let loose in the perennial garden. I also have used Miscanthus species in clumps around my farm pond and as I write these words in the fall, their silvery seed pods are waving in the breeze and are quite attractive in this semi-wild setting. This sugar grass is yet another spreader though and I would not allow it into a good perennial garden.

There are excellent varieties for the perennial garden and the articles in this section will lead you to some of the best. For example, Japanese blood grass is an excellent plant and while most people consider it tender, I grow it successfully in zone 4. Note that this plant can be quite invasive in Southern gardens The secret is to plant it where it will be quite dry all winter. Excessive moisture in the soil (or clay soils) will kill it in cold climates.

Grass Plant List


Here's the list of ornamental grasses commonly found in garden centers. It is by no means all inclusive - it is a starter list. :-) As I write articles about each of these grasses, the name will go active as a link.

Acorus calamus

Alopecurus pratensis

Big Bluestem (Adropogon gerardii) has great height, bronze foliage in the fall but no flowers to speak of. Here's how you can start and grow it successfully.

Adropogon scoparius

Arrhenatherum e bulbosum

Arundo donax or Giant Reed is an imposing plant at 18 feet tall.

Bamboo

Bouteloua gracilis

Briza media

Calamagrostis x acutiflora

Carex is an excellent plant for the damp garden but hot and sunny will do it in.

Chasmanthium

Deschampsia

Festuca and one charmer is Ornamental Blue Fescue Here are some varieties to look for as well as growing and propagating tips.

Hakonechloa is a lovely grass for sun or shade. Easily grown if happy. Here's how to grow it as well as say it. :-)

Video on Hakonechloa: Perennial Plant of the Year 2009





Japanese Blood Grass is a reddish grass that is excellent for containers as well as general perennial borders. Here are a few tips on overwintering it. Juncus

Luzula

Millium Miscanthus is a large and attractive family of plants that are readily available in most garden centers.

Molinia or Purple Moor Grass is a smaller grass with some good cultivars available.

Pampas Grass is a big bold plant for the South that is lusted after in the North.

Panicum or Switch Grass has several excellent varieties easily available and grown. Pennisetum

Phalaris

Phormium

Phragmites Saccharum or Northern Pampas Grass is a big bold grass that many garden shops sell to replace the Southern version. Read why this might not be a good idea and how to grow this grass properly.
Sorghastrum

Spartina

Sporobolus

Stipa

Typha

There's a short article about taller ornamental grasses here.



Questions and Answers


Folks, I do my best to answer as many questions as I can every week (I get hundreds) but unfortunately no way I can get to them all. If you fill out the form, I'll do my best but I can't make promises.

Can I move my Bunny Grass and what is it?


Got An Ornamental Grass Question?

If you have a question about ornamental grass growing, then feel free to ask it using this form.

Please note that the advice is by nature a general one - I can't help you with every problem (although I do try) but I may be able to point you to resources that will help you.


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What Other Visitors Have Asked about Ornamental Grass

Click below to see questions from other visitors to this page...

Floppy, sloppy-looking blue lyme grasses  Last summer while having our yard redone, the landscaper planted 3 very pretty blue lyme grass plants. This summer they are not standing up but are falling ...

How do I help my Purple Fountain Grass survive the winter?  I live in VA in Zone 7. I just planted a whole lot of purple fountain grass. Is it possible for this plant to survive over the winter in my area? If ...

Broken Purple Fountain Grass  We were planting and one of our fountain grasses broke off right at the soil line. Should I return it or can it be saved? Thanks, Anna.

Doug says as ...

Is purple fountain grass a perennial or annual??  Is Purple Fountain Grass a perennial or annual in Southern Kansas? I'm in zone 6. I planted some last spring and they grew into large beautiful plants....






miscanthus sacchariflorus

Miscanthus sacchariflorus

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ornamental grass