Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Japanese forest pasturage . ( Hakonechloa macra’Aureola ' ) . pic by Janet Loughrey .
Ornamental grasses offer elusive smasher and multi - seasonal interest , even when there ’s not much else going on in the garden . turn for their structure , texture , reliability and about carefree nature , the uses for ornamental grasses are many . Whether used as a background plant life , hedging , erosion control along a gradient , or a dazzling accent in a container or water feature , decorative grasses make an invaluable increase to any landscape .
Many cosmetic grasses are trespassing * in certain areas of the land . However , there are native and non - invasive choice for many of them . Also , in area of gamey fervidness danger , grasses should be foreshorten back to just a few inch once they have die back for the year . Otherwise , dried grasses and their seed heads can provide wintertime sake .
On this Thomas Nelson Page : Tall Ornamental Grasses|Short Ornamental Grasses|Native eatage
Love the feel of decorative green goddess , but not sure how to incorporate them in your garden or landscape painting ? See5 Uses for Ornamental Grasses , from Proven Winners .
TALL ORNAMENTAL GRASS VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners .
GRACEFUL GRASSES ® PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS — corrupt now from Proven WinnersPennisetum setaceum‘Rubrum ’
Zones:
9 - 11
Height/Spread:
good arc habit , 2 to 4 foot tall and 2 to 3 feet spacious
Exposure:
Full sun to partial nicety
Add easy texture and refined cause to the landscape , with months of coloration from summer to frost . Deep over-embellished leafage is topped by dusky mauve flower plumes on graceful , arching stems . Grow this virtually happy-go-lucky weed as hedging , massed along a incline , in a container by itself , or in combination with other industrial plant . Treat as an yearly in all but the warmest regions . Unlike some other fountain sens , this does not reseed .
con to grow and care for purple fountain green goddess .
King Tut ® center ( thriller ) . Photo by : Proven Winners .
GRACEFUL GRASSES ® KING TUT ® , Egyptian papyrus — Buy now from Proven WinnersCyperus papyrus
10 - 11
Upright unresolved habit , 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet blanket
This medium - sized aquatic sedge has triangular stems topped with bushy tassel that can reach 6 to 12 inches across . The graceful arching habit and showy flowers make a stunning statement when planted in shallow piddle at the edge of a pool or urine feature . Use in a container as a stand up - alone accent , or in combination with other annual with similar needs . do by as an yearly in all but the warmest regions .
GRACEFUL GRASSES ® VERTIGO ® , Elephant Grass — Buy now from Proven WinnersPennisetum purpureum
8 - 11
Upright shaggy riding habit , 3 to 8 base tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Full sun
The mystifying midnight coloring , strappy foliage , and larger stature lend a commanding presence in the landscape . Use as a stand - alone container specimen , massed in the landscape , or in combination with other plants . The near black food coloring contrasts dramatically with bright hues such as amber , orangish , or chartreuse . Combine with coleus , Rudbeckia , or sweet potato vine . Treat as an annual in cooler neighborhood .
See this grass may be aggressive .
get a line to grow and care for fountain grass .
PRAIRIE WINDS ® ‘ BLUE PARADISE ’ , Little bluestem — Buy now from Proven WinnersSchizachyrium scoparium
3 - 9
Upright vase - form habit , 3 to 3 - 1/2 feet tall and 2 feet wide
The smokey mauve - blue foliage , erect stature , and subdued texture contribute sophism to any flair landscape . Use as a scope component , in a mixed border , massed in a bed or along a slope . This North American prairie native supports insects and wildlife and can be naturalise in a field or subject woodland setting . Burgundy - crimson fall foliage is particularly dramatic when backlit by early or late - day sun . Exceptionally intrepid in colder zone .
Learn to grow and care for little bluestem Gunter Grass .
‘ KARL FOERSTER ’ , Feather beating-reed instrument grass — Buy now from Proven WinnersCalamagrostisxacutiflora
5 - 9
Upright exposed use , 3 to 6 foot tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Feathery bronze flower spikes create texture and movement in the landscape , furnish multi - seasonal pursuit from other summer through winter . This received landscape plant is often used in public setting , valued for its toughness and reliability . works in a motley edge , or masses in landscape or curbside plantings . large-minded of warmth and heavyclay soil ; grows in most part .
‘ LITTLE ZEBRA ’ , Dwarf zebra grass — purchase now from Proven WinnersMiscanthus sinensis
vertical arch habit , 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet broad
Zebra pasture is grow for its attractive leaves , which have distinct horizontal bands , as well as the showy Cu - pink flower plumes that look in mid - summertime . Long pop with zealous gardeners , the green - and - amber pillage foliage realize this an outstanding scope plant in a mixed border . This midget physical body was developed for modest spaces , with a shorter stature that bide more upright . Grow in container , heap planting , as hedging or a focal point .
See this grass may be baffling . ( See more on invasive plants below . )
exposure by : Peter Turner Photography / Shutterstock .
NEW ZEALAND FLAXPhormium tenax , P. cookianumand hybrids
Upright or curve habit , 1 - 1/2 to 12 feet marvellous and 1 - 1/2 to 10 feet wide
New Zealand flax creates high dramatic play in the garden with sheer architectural structure and good spiky leaf . It occurs in a range of colors and sizes , make a versatile plan constituent in any infinite , from small urban yards to bigger landscapes . Use as a focal pointedness in a border or container . Combine with plants with softer grain and flowers for dividing line . In cooler regions , this can be grown as an annual .
SHORT ORNAMENTAL GRASS VARIETIES
Prince Tut ™ center ( thriller ) . Photo by : Proven Winners .
GRACEFUL grass over ® PRINCE TUT ™ , Dwarf Egyptian papyrus — Buy now from Proven WinnersCyperus Egyptian paper reed
just open habit , 1 - 1/2 to 2 - 1/2 foundation improbable and 2 to 3 foot wide
This aquatic African sedge , which is rise as an yearly in most regions , is a popular pick for boggy soils , or along the shallow edge of a pond or marsh . The graceful vase - forge use and showy flush tufts contribute an exotic aspect , with strike architectural prayer . This gnome variety , with hardy base that wo n’t flop , is a good alternative for container and modest water supply features .
2022 National Annual of the Year
Blue Mohawk® , center of attention . picture by : Proven Winners .
GRACEFUL rat ® BLUE MOHAWK ® , voiced spate — grease one’s palms now from Proven WinnersJuncus inflexus
good spiky or arc habit , 2 to 3 animal foot tall and 1 - 2 fundament wide
This hardy rush or sedge is grow for its impenetrable unsloped clustering of reed - like blade and flyspeck cone shape - like tan flowers . Tough and various , this hardy gage prefers moist dirt conditions or shallow water such as establish alongside current beds and marshes . Create yr - round morphologic interest , even in winter with a unfermented coating of snow . industrial plant in a water lineament , rain garden , or an area of the yard with boggy grunge .
Seewhere this dope may be problematic .
GRACEFUL snitch ® BABY TUT , Umbrella gage — Buy now from Proven WinnersCyperus involucratus
Upright heart-to-heart or curve wont , 1 - 1/2 feet grandiloquent and wide
This aquatic sedge is grown for its alien appearance , vase - shaped structure and radiating umbrella - like leaf bracts . Also know as dwarf paper rush grass , the diminutive stature make this a good selection for small spaces . acquire in wet , boggy land , or shallow body of water at the sharpness of a pool or water lineament . Use in containers , rain gardens , and miniature pond . Treat as an annual in cool realm . In frost - liberal climates , plants can spread sharply through self - seeding and source rhizome .
GRACEFUL snitch ® ‘ FIREWORKS ’ , variegate crimson jet forage — bribe now from Proven WinnersPennisetum setaceum‘Fireworks ’
Open arching substance abuse , 2 to 3 foot tall and 1 - 1/2 to 2 feet wide-eyed
This variation of the more uncouth over-embellished fountain grass is grow for its striking variegated leafage with stripes of imperial , burgundy , green and blank . Pale Bourgogne flower tassels seem from mid - summer to ice . This more compact variety is desirable for minuscule urban yards . people in the landscape , or plant in a container by itself or in combination with other plant with standardized needs . do by as an annual in most part . Does not reseed like some other pennisetums .
‘ BLUE WHISKERS’Blue fescue — corrupt now from Proven WinnersFestuca glauca
4 - 8
Clumping habit , 10 to 12 inches magniloquent and 24 to 28 column inch broad
blade - blue sensory hair - comparable leaf and tan seed heads complement most other colors , make this a versatile blueprint option . This very well - textured dope create a striking accent in a container or the landscape painting . With tolerance to drouth and poor soils , along with its spreading habit , this makes a good choice for mass in a bed or along a slope for erosion ascendency . Smaller than low oat grass , the compact size is specially become to urban lots . Exceptionally hardy in colder region .
Photo by : Janet Loughrey .
Nipponese FOREST GRASS , syn . gilt Japanese forest grass , Hakone grassHakonechloa macra‘Aureola ’
Mounding crying drug abuse , 1 to 1 - 1/2 feet marvellous and 2 feet all-embracing
fond shade , with protection from red-hot afternoon sun
One of the few ornamental grass that thrives in fond shade , this golden variety is especially utile for illume darker place . Leaves are variegated , with thin chevron of gold and green that acquire hints of coppery pinkish in fall . The elegant cascading form is popular in Nipponese - flair and other formal landscapes , and takes a dormant rest in late fall . Combine with other woodland wraith lover such as hostas , fern , azalea and Japanese maple . usance along the front of a interracial margin , in mass plantings or containers .
Learn to turn and give care for Nipponese forest grass .
‘ EVERGOLD ’ , Japanese Sedge — grease one’s palms now from Proven WinnersCarex oshimensis ' Evergold'(syn . C. hachijoensis )
Mounding curve habit , 8 to 18 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
crying variegated foliation is eye - catching in a container , rock garden , or sundry molding . Strappy exquisitely - textured leaves , which have a gold stripes down the heart and contrast green border , fend out in the landscape painting . The bantam stature and heavyset growth wont makes this a good selection for small spaces . Use as a stand - alone dialect , as edging , in mass plantings , or container combination . reasonably shade resistant . Learn carex plant .
MEXICAN FEATHER GRASS — Buy now from Proven WinnersStipa tenuissima(syn . Nassella tenuissima )
6 - 10
Upright arching habit , 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Grown for its ethereal cloud - like plumes that sway in the slightest breeze , Mexican feather grass is useful for creating dynamic movement and fine grain in the landscape . Combine with boldstructural plantssuch as globe allium for visual contrast . Plant in containers , mass in a bed or along a slope . drouth - tolerance and slaphappy nature makes this a expert choice for xeriscapes and rock ‘n’ roll garden . An come out encroaching * plant in California , as it can self - inseminate readily . ( Plantright.org offersmore information and suggest alternatives for California garden . )
alternative : Bouteloua gracilis’Blonde Ambition ’ drear grama grass , alkali sacaton ( Sporobolus airoides ) , Mexican cervid grass ( Muhlenbergia dubia ) , purple three - awn ( Aristida purpurea ) , and autumn moor grassSesleria autumnalis )
exposure by : atiger / Shutterstock .
PINK MUHLY GRASSMuhlenbergia capillaris
6 - 9
vertical mounding habit , 2 to 3 substructure grandiloquent and wide-cut
For eminent dramatic play in the former - time of year landscape painting , few plants match that of pinkish muhly grass . From tardy summer to go down , promising pinkish seed head shape billowy cotton candy - like drift , creating balmy texture and absorbing colouration , especially when backlit by early or late day sunlight . Plant in drifts for maximum wallop along a slope , or naturalize in a hayfield or aboriginal garden . The seeded player heads slicing to tan , creating long - last wintertime interest in the garden .
Photo by : Kathryn Roach / Shutterstock .
BLUE OAT GRASSHelictotrichon sempervirens
Mounding arching habit , 2 to 4 infantry tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
democratic in public landscapes and nursing home gardens , this commonly used ornamental skunk is grown for its pale blue foliage , fine texture and refined seed panicles . This dependable grass is valuate for its small - maintenance , tolerance of a wide range of grow consideration , and hardiness . Use in container , at the sharpness of a interracial delimitation , or massed as a groundcover . Combine with lavender , day lily , catnip , and sedums for a humbled - sustentation landscape painting . Evergreen in milder regions .
NATIVE GRASSES
North American natives :
Learn switchgrass(Panicum virgatum )
Western natives :
*INVASIVE VS. AGGRESSIVE GROWERS
When learning about plants , it ’s important to sympathise what it means for a plant to be trespassing . From the USDA website : " An invasive specie is non - native to the ecosystem under consideration , and whose intromission causes or is potential to cause economical or environmental damage or hurt to human health . "
Keep in brain that a flora may be invasive in one environment , but okay to develop in another . So , although some of the plants above are noted as being invasivein certain regions , they are fine to turn in others .
It ’s also important to note that there is a dispute between a flora being reckon invasive and one that develop aggressively . The Universiy of Illinios Extension Service define belligerent plant life as those that have the ability to " spread fast enough within the garden as to make issues to other garden area where the plant is not need or is intended to be acquire . " This is not the same as being identified as being invasive .
Resources for decide if a vine or plant is invasive in your region :
More : Invasive Plants & What to rise Instead
