26 Different Types of Ornamental Grass with Pictures and Basic Care Information
26 Different Types of Ornamental Grass with Pictures and Basic Care Information
Whether you have a large yard, a small patch of land to call a garden, or just a balcony to hang some container plants, you can find more than one ornamental grass variety to suit your needs. Despite being called ‘grass’, they are no less attractive than any flowering border and ground cover plants. The added advantage is that these are often much less fussy about their growing conditions than most flowering plants. Here is a list of the best tall and short ornamental grasses with images to make it easier for you to identify them:
Popular Kinds of Colorful Ornamental Grasses with Their Varieties
Perennial Tall Ornamental Grasses
These are often planted to provide some privacy in one’s garden and home.
1. Pampas Grass(Cortaderia selloana)With foot-long feathery inflorescence, pampas is probably the best option if you are looking to plant something to provide you a little privacy. It can tolerate drought conditions but does well with weekly watering during hot summers. Some similar-looking species are highly invasive, so check with the nursery to make sure you are getting C. selloana or its cultivars. Height: 3-12 feet
2. ‘Prairie Fire’ red switchgrassAs the name implies, its foliage turns a deep shade of red or purple by early summer, turning lighter over the weeks till its pale yellow by the end of fall. Produces tiny green feathery flowers in late summer that work well as cut flowers too. Low-maintenance plants can grow in almost any soil type. Drought-tolerant, but does well with weekly watering. Height: 4-6 feet
Width: 2-3 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 4-9
Varieties: None
3. Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea)Clump-forming plants with long slender blades that provide a wispy appearance, it grows well in moist, fertile soils. Needs weekly watering, and more frequently during hot summers. It helps during the flowering season if the plant is protected from the hot afternoon sun. Height: 4-6 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
USDAZone: 5-8
Varieties: M. caerulea ‘Moorhexe’, Variegated Purple Moor Grass, M. caerulea ‘Sky Racer’
4. Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’)With its dramatic green and yellow variegated foliage, this award-winning tall maiden grass cultivar can grow in various kinds of moist and well-drained soil. The foliage takes on a golden-green appearance in fall. It produces purple or pinkish flowers in summer. It can be planted along with ‘morning light’ maiden grass, which lookssimilar, sans the variegated patterns. Height: 4-7 feet
Width: 3-5 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 4-9
Varieties: None
5. Flame grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘purpurascens’)Yet another tall maiden grass variety, this one is highly sought-after for its ‘flaming’ purple-red foliage in summer and fall. It also produces attractive coral-pink plumes in late summer, on tall stems towering over the foliage. Can grow in almost any well-drained soil with regular watering.
Height: 5-6 feet
Width: Up to 3 feet
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
USDAZone: 4-9
Varieties: None
6. Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’)An attractive cultivar of the native weed species called fountain grass, this colorful ornamental grass is completely non-invasive. Usually a perennial, it can be grown as an annual grass in cold northern areas. Needing little care once established, this one is perfect for people who do not get much time to tend to their garden but still want it to look well maintained.
Height: 3-5 feet
Width: 2-4 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 8-11
Varieties: None
7. Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)Also known as wood oats, it boasts of bushy dark green foliage with unique seed-heads that look like oat heads, earning it the common name. The seed-heads turn a striking shade of rusty brown in winter. It is a good option for rock gardens and can tolerate full sun. Needs weekly watering to keep the soil moist. Can be planted with iris, trutleheads, and coneflowers.
Height: 2-5 feet
Width: Up to 3 feet
Sunlight: Partial sun
USDAZone: 3-9
Varieties: Northern Sea Oats ‘River Mist’
8. ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’)A clump-forming ornamental grass, the foliage usually grows up to 2 feet with the flower stalks towering over them at heights of 5-6 feet in spring. Produces straw-colored seed-heads, but the seeds are sterile. Fast-growing grass, it can be a good option if you are after some privacy in your lawn. Makes ideal companion plants for asters, shrub roses, and Russian sage. Height: 2-6 feet
Width: 2-3 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 4-9
Varieties: None
9. Prairie Cord Grass (Spartina pectinata)Also known as the freshwater cordgrass, this one is basically a native wild grass variety that is slowly getting introduced to ornamental gardening. Extremely hardy in both wet and drought conditions, it needs little care and produces tall, straight foliage with tiny purple flowers growing in summer. Can spread in vast areas quickly unless controlled. Height: 3-8 feet
Width: 3-4 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 3-7
Varieties: ‘Red River Germplasm’ Prairie Cord Grass
10. Himalaya Fairy Grass (Miscanthus nepalensis)Also known as Nepal fairy grass, it is native to Southeast Asia and India, growing best in areas with cold winters. It can grow in any type of moist, well-drained soil, and boasts of attractive bushy evergreen or deciduous foliage. Grass blades can turn brownish or bronze in winter. Produces yellowish flower spikes in summer. Height: 4-5 feet
Width: 2-4 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 8-9
Varieties: None
Short or Dwarf Ornamental Grass Varieties for Sun and Shade
Apart from being popular for low-growing borders and hedges, these are also quite common as easy-to-grow houseplants.
1. Lilyturf (Liriope muscari)
Also known as the big blue lilyturf, it is actually an evergreen grass-like flowering plant that can be planted like any ornamental grass in your garden. Tolerant to full sun and drought conditions, it produces pink to lavender, fragrant flower spikes in spring.
Height: 1-2 feet
Width: up to 1 feet
Sunlight: Partial to full shade
USDAZone: 5-9
Varieties: Variegated Liriope, L. spicata ‘Silver Dragon’
2. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)
As the name suggests, it grows attractive dark bluish-green grass blades that turn green unless it gets a lot of sunlight. Bluish flower spikes appear in summer, gradually turning bright yellow. Established plants have low care and watering needs. Looks good with red and yellow-flowered ground covers.
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: Up to 2 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 4-8
Varieties: Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’
3. Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)
This is another lily turf species that has made its name as an ornamental grass despite not actually belonging in the grass family. The bushy evergreen foliage, the appearance of purple flower spikes in summer, followed by beautiful dark blue berries all make it valuable as a groundcover, border, or container plant. Needs little care once established.
Height: 0.75-1.5 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Sunlight: Full to partial sun
USDAZone: 6-11
Varieties: Variegated Mondo Grass, ‘Silver Dragon’ Mondo Grass
4. Pink Muhly or Cotton Candy Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Also known as hairawn muhly, this is a perennial, semi-evergreen ornamental grass with fluffy pink/purple flowers and a sedge-like appearance. Best suited for well-drained soils, including rocky soils, it needs regular watering only while growing. Fast-growing and quite drought-tolerant once established.
5. Blue Dune Lyme Grass (Leymus arenarius ‘Blue Dune’)
With its gorgeous silver-gray foliage, this one is ideal for borders and ground covers when combined with maroon-leafed plants like ninebark or vivid flowers like bush rose, and Crane’ s-bill. Produces brown or straw-colored flower spikes in summer. The fast-growing perennial grass is tolerant of salty soils, drought, as well as heat, but grows best in cold conditions.
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: Up to 3 feet
Sunlight: Full to partial sun
USDAZone: 4-9
Varieties: None
6. Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrical ‘Red Baron’)
The grass species Imperata cylindrical or cogongrass is a highly invasive weed in both the US and Europe. But Japanese blood grass is a striking non-invasive cultivar that grows in tight clumps with vivid red leaf blades that add character to your garden. Tolerates dry, hot seasons, but does best with weekly watering. Make sure you want a lot of red in your garden before choosing this ornamental grass.
Height: 1-2 feet
Width: up to 2 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 5-9
Varieties: None
7. Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens)
A clump-forming, gracefully arching evergreen grass with straw-colored flower spikes appearing in summer. Draught-tolerant and can survive with irregular watering and little care. It looks like blue fescue but grows taller on average. With its blue foliage and yellowish flowers, it looks best with maroon, pink, and purple flowers like barberry, lavender, ajuga, and yucca.
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: Up to 3 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 3-9
Varieties: ‘Sapphire Fountain’ Blue Oat Grass
8. Hare’s-Tail Grass (Lagurus ovatus)
Also called the bunny’s tail grass, the name comes from the feathery cream to white flower spikes that make excellent cut flowers too. It is an extremely hardy annual grass variety that can grow in all soil types from sandy to moist, well-drained soils. It has excellent drought tolerance and can be grown in almost any hardiness zone, outside of its range.
Height: 1-2 feet
Width: Up to 2 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 8-11
Varieties:
9. ‘Little Kitten’ Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Kitten’)
It can grow in various types of soil, from light sandy to heavy clay and loam soils. Extremely tolerant of drought, heat, and shaded conditions once established. Each thin grass blade has a narrow white border that lends a silvery color to the neat fountain-shaped foliage. The leaves turn golden or bronze in winter. Silvery pink-white flowers appear in late summer.
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 5-9
Varieties: None
10. Prairie Dropseed
A striking low-growing ornamental grass, growing compact mounds of delicate bushy foliage that looks pretty when swaying with the wind. Clusters of tiny yellowish or brown mildly fragrant flowers appear in spring. The foliage turns a vivid shade of bronze or gold in the fall. Deer-resistant perennial grass variety, it can tolerate dry conditions, as well as snow, staying erect and attractive even during winter.
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: Up to 3 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 3-9
Varieties: Dwarf Prairie Dropseed
11. Little Bluestem
Capable of growing in both acid and alkaline soils, this fast-growing perennial grass is a good option for beginners. The erect blue-green foliage turns a pretty rust shade in winter. Can survive in partial shade but too little sunlight, and too much water can make the foliage droop.
Height: Up to 3 feet
Width: 1.5-2 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 3-9
Varieties: ‘Carousel’ Little Bluestem, ‘The Blues’ Little Bluestem
A cool-season grass grows attractive variegated grey-golden foliage that has a tint of pink or purple in fall. Average care and watering needs. An excellent choice for borders, groundcover, and rock gardens.
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: Up to 2 feet
Sunlight: Filtered sun to light shade
USDAZone: 4-9
Varieties: None
13. Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima)
The first thing to keep in mind about this one is that despite its popularity as a gardening grass, it is highly invasive. So, make sure to plant it only if you can control its growth. Can grow in almost any type of soil, needing little care. Draught-tolerant once established.
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: Up to 2 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
USDAZone: 7-11
Varieties: ‘Pony Tails’ Mexican Feather Grass
14. Japanese Forest Grass
A semi-evergreen perennial ornamental grass variety, it grows thick tufted foliage with relatively broad leaf blades. Grows best in moist soils, needing no special care once established. A good option for waterside gardens. It does well in containers as well.
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: Up to 3 feet
Sunlight: Full sun to shade
USDAZone:
Varieties: Japanese Forest Grass ‘All Gold’, ‘Aureola’, ‘Albo Striata’
15. New Zealand Hair Sedge (Carex comans ‘Frosted Curls’)
Short mound-forming grass with thin wispy olive green blades with silver tips with the foliage turning bronze-brown in winter. Looks best as borders to rock gardens or along water edges. It does well with weekly or more frequent watering to keep the soil moist. Best when planted along with iris and hosta plants.
Height: 1-2 feet
Width: Up to 2 feet
Sunlight: Full sun to full shade
USDAZone: 6-10
Varieties: None
16. Variegated Japanese Sedge (Carex morrowii ‘Variegata’)
One of the popular Japanese sage varieties with variegated foliage, it grows best in fertile wet soil with regular watering to keep the soil moist. Can stay evergreen in humid regions of Southern US, but not in the colder Northern areas. Suitable as a companion plant to dogwoods, bee balms, and forsythia.
Height: 1-2 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Sunlight: Full sun to full shade
USDAZone: 5-9
Varieties: None
The care requirements usually vary depending on what grass you have, but there are a few common factors. Most of these turn brown or bronze in winter, and while it renders a striking appearance, you need to cut these dry stems back to about 2 inches at the end of winter to allow new growth next season. Evergreen grasses just need trimming once every 1-2 years to keep them in shape. Most of these also need to be divided, or they may start dying in the middle.
Check with the nursery to make sure you are not getting some weedy species, as there are some popular ornamental grasses can be more or less invasive.