Ornamental Grasses

Culture

True grasses full sunDrought tolerantLittle supplemental fertilizationPest freeLow maintenanceCut back in late winter, early springInflorescences can be used as cut flowers or dried

Arundo donax Giant Reed, Poaceae, Z6 Descriptive Charateristics/Culture:

15’ tall, gray-green leaves, spread by rhizomes, invasive in damp, sunny places

Pink inflorescence, drying to silver

Turns brown at freezing Landscape Use:

Specimen or background

Arundo donax ‘Variegata’

Acorus gramineus Dwarf Sweet Flag, Araceae, Z 5 Descriptive Characteristics/Culture:

Less than 12”tall, leaves are narrow and sedge-like, partial shade, wet areas

Grown mainly for foliage

Landscape Uses: Slow-growing groundcover, wet

boggy areas

Acorus gramineus ‘Variegatus’

Calamagrostis x acutiflora Feather Reed Grass, Poaceae, Z4 Descriptive Characteristics/Culture:

4-6 feet tall, deep green foliage, cool season grower, clump forming and upright

Flowers are loosely feathers, slightly purple, turning light when mature

Landscape Uses: Specimen, or vertical accent,

screen

Carex morrowii Kan suge, Cyperaceae, Z5

Descriptive Characteristics/Culture: 12” tall, narrow sedge leaves,

clumping, spreads by rhizomes, non-invasive

Landscape Uses: Groundcover, container

Carex morrowii ‘’Old Gold’

Cortaderia selloana Pampas Grass, Poaceae, Z 7-9

Descriptive Characteristics/Culture: 3-10 ft. Arching, leaves 3/4”

wide, sharp leaves can irritate skin,

Flowers Sept.-Oct. Landscape Uses:

Specimen, limited by size

Festuca ovina glauca Blue fescue, Poaceae, Z 4

Descriptive Characteristics/Culture: Six to ten inches, blue-gray

foliage, waxy in appearance, cool season, not tolerant of summer heat

Landscape Uses: Color accent, container,

groundcover masses‘Elijah Blue’

Hakonechloa macra Hakone Grass, Poaceae, Z 4 Descriptive Characteristics/Culture:

1-3 feet, rich green, arching graceful stems, similar to bamboo in appearance, warm season, spread by rhizomes and stolons, requires substantial shade in warm climates

Landscape Uses: Groundcover, accent, container

Cvs. ‘Aureola’, more sun drought tolerant

Miscanthus sinensis Miscanthus, Poaceae, Z 5 Descriptive Characteristics/Culture:

4-7 feet tall depending on cv., sharp green leaves with white stripe down center, makes nice clumps, may re-seed and become invasive in warm wet areas, warm season

Flowers in reddish racemes turning silver-white in fall

Landscape Uses: Screen, specimen, accent

Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis

‘Adagio’Flowers held above foliage, to 5 feet, smaller cultivar

‘Gracillimus’Fine texture, gracefully rounded, flowers very attractive, to 7

feet, golden yellow in fall

‘Morning Light’Edges of leaves white

November Sunset’Leaves narrow, flowers red

Miscanthus sinensis

‘Strictus’ (Porcupine Grass) Leaves wide with yellow horizontal stripes

Yaku JimaName given to dwarf varieties

Muhlenbergia capillaris Pink Muhly, Poaceae, Z 7 Descriptive Characteristics/Culture:

To 2 feet tall, thread-like leaves, weeping habit

Purple flowers resemble baby’s breath

Landscape Uses: Naturalizing, accent, container,

groundcover mass

Panicum virgatum Switch grass, Poaceae, Z 4 Descriptive Characteristics/Culture:

4-8 feet tall, dark green leaves, upright growth, similar to cut corn, warm season, year round interest

Flowers very airy

Landscape Uses: Vertical accent, specimen, screen

Cultivars Heavy Metal - Blue Switch Grass Clound Nine- Tall Switch Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides Fountain grass, Poaceae, Z 6 Descriptive Characteristics/Culture:

2-3 feet tall, narrow leaves less than 1/2” diameter, green in summer turning golden yellow

Flowers, racemes resembling foxtails, dark purple to creamy white depending on cv., may be invasive

Landscape Uses: Accent, groundcover

Cultivars Hameln-Creamy white flowers Little Bunny - Dwarf

Phalaris arundinacea Ribbon Grass, Poaceae, Z 4 Descriptive Characteristics:

To 5 feet tall, green upright foliage, 1 inch wide, cool season, dormant in summer, prefers some shade, may be invasive

Remove inflorescence, doesn’t add to appearance

Landscape Uses: Accents, groundcovers, containers

Cultivars Feesey- Strawberries and Cream Picta- White variegation