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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.
black eyed susan rudbeckia
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.

black eyed susan rudbeckia
Arundo donax or Giant Reed is an imposing plant at 18 feet tall.


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


black eyed susan rudbeckia
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





black eyed susan rudbeckia
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

black eyed susan rudbeckia
Miscanthus is a large and attractive family of plants that are readily available in most garden centers.


black eyed susan rudbeckia
Molinia or Purple Moor Grass is a smaller grass with some good cultivars available.


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


black eyed susan rudbeckia
Panicum or Switch Grass has several excellent varieties easily available and grown.


black eyed susan rudbeckia
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.

black eyed susan rudbeckia
There's a short article about taller ornamental grasses here.



black eyed susan rudbeckia
Can I move my Bunny Grass and what is it?

I'm now taking some semi-retirement time, so questions about perennials are now only being answered here. (Click Here)


You may find yours already answered so do check out the lists below




What Other Visitors Have Asked about Ornamental Grass

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

Pampas grass - not turning green this year  My Pampas grass is mostly brown and it's June. I live in Oregon. What do I do to green it up? Thank you,


Doug says that a brown plant that's ...

pampas grass pruning  I have just pruned the pampas grass and cut it back quite a bit. In the center I just pulled out handfuls of "mush" and many stalks, as they were like ...

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 ...

Variegated Arundo donax  I live in Zone 6 ( Ohio) I have gotten different information concerning this plant. Does it grow similar to other grasses ( clumping) or is this a running ...

Cutting Back Ornamental Grass  I live in Gatinea Quebec Canada. What winter month am I supposed to cut foliage back to the ground? It is a perennial and purchased at Loblaws. We live ...

Ornamental Grasses for Minneapoils, MN  Good morning,

We are attempting to add green to our courtyards at our loft complex in Minneapolis, MN. The couryards receive partial sunlight, and ...

Pampas grass hardiness  Newbie gardener here.
I recently purchased several packets of these seeds from my local store. My plan was to winter sow the seeds and plant them in the ...

Overwintering Blood grass  I had to put my blood grass in a pot up high because the @#$ groundhog ate it down to the ground in the spring. I have a small amount that grew well during ...

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

If you want to ask a question about the plant lists, click here








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