Growing and Care Guides for
Popular types of Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental Grass Growing Guides

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height	Plant Characteristics and Notes	USDA Zones	Growing Requirements Benefits
American Dune Grass	Leymus racemosus 'Glaucus'	2-3 ft.	American Dune Grass is a valuable plant for the prevention of the wind eroding your soil due to its rhizomatous spreading habit	4-9
Big Bluestem	Andropogon gerardii	4-7 ft.	Big Bluestem forms large clumps of stiff silvery green to blue foliage, turning to a copper color in fall	4-10
Black Mondo Grass	Ophiopogon planiscapus	6-12"	Black Mondo Grass grows as neat, slowly spreading, 4" tufts of ¼" wide, sweetly fragrant, straplike leaves. New foliage emerges dark green in spring then changes to dark purplish-black by summer.Loose spikes of small, light pink or white, bell shaped flowers appear in mid summer.	5-9
Blue Clumping Wheatgrass	Elymus magellanicus	1-2 ft.	Blue Clumping Wheatgrass is a clump forming plant with bright metallic blue foliage, producing taller stems of small blue flowers in early summer	5-9
Blue Fescue	Festuca glauca	8-12"	Blue Fescue is a durable plant that grows in clumping mounds of fine blue foliage. They tend to die out in the center after a couple years and will need to be divided	4-9
Blue Oat Grass	Helictotrichon sempervirens	2-3 ft.	Blue Oat Grass is an easily maintained and durable, clump forming plant with coarse, silver blue foliage	4-8
Blue Sedge	Carex flacca	6-18"	Blue Sedge produces slow spreading clumps of fine blue foliage. Great as a ground cover plantor for growing in a container.	4-9
Bronze Sedge	Carex comans 'Bronze Form'	1-2 ft.	Bronze Sedge forms dense tufts of fine bladed bronze colored foliage. It is a good ornamental grass for growing in containers	7-9
Corkscrew Rush	Juncus effusus 'Spiralis'	1-2 ft.	The Corkscrew Rush is a slow growing rush known for its wild, corkscrewing foliage. It is easily grown in wet soils, including up to four inches of standing water	4-9
Curly Top Sedge	Carex buchananii	1-2 ft.	Curly Top Sedge is a very versatile grass, due to its ability to tolerate most growing conditions. Stiff bronze red foliage	6-9
Dwarf Fountain Grass	Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'	12-24"	Dwarf Fountain Grassis the earliest cultivar of true Fountain Grass. It will grow in any type of soil as long as it drains. Pinkish white flower bristles on 30"stems	5-9
Feather Reed Grass	Calamagrostis acutiflora	5-7 ft.	Feather Reed Grass is fairly drought resistant and tolerates a wide range of garden soils. It is deer resistant plant	4-9
Flame Grass	Miscanthus purpurascens	4-5 ft.	Flame Grass is an easy to grow, clumping grass. The coloration of its red foliage intensifies as the summer progresses, turning into a flaming reddish orange in the fall.	4-9
Fountain grass	Pennisetum alopecuroides	2-3 ft.	Fountain grass slowly grows in a compact clump that will stay as wide as it grows tall. Arching spikes of 12" purplish-cream flower bristles throughout the summer	6-9
Giant Feather Grass	Stipa gigantea	3-4 ft.	Giant Feather Grass forms a large, loose clump of greyish-green foliage. Seven foot arching stems of tan flower spikes persist through the summer months. Needs well drained soil	6-9
Giant Reed Grass	Arundo donax 'Versicolor'	5-12 ft.	Giant Reed Grass produces large green stalks with white stripes. It is good for background plantings	7-10
Giant Silver Grass	Miscanthus 'Giganteus'	8-12 ft.	Giant Silver Grass grows into a massive upright clump that performs equally well as a background planting or as a specimen in the center of your yard	4-9
Golden Foxtail Grass	Alopecurus pratensis 'Aureovariegatus'	12-18"	Soft yellowish green with a golden stripe. This ornamental grass is NOT related to Foxtail barley grass!	4-9
Golden Japanese Forest Grass	Hakonechloa macra	2 ft.	Forest Grass is a slowing plant with gracefully arching, green and gold bamboo like foliage	4-9
Gold Fountain Grass	Carex dolichostachya	1-2 ft.	Gold Fountain Grass produces mounds of slender green grass-like leaves with borders tinged in gold. Prefers rich organic soils	6-9
Japanese Sedge Grass	Carex morrowii 'Variegata'	1 ft.	Japanese Sedge Grass is a semi-evergreen vigorous grower that will grow in full shade and even tolerates full sun in cool climates. This sedge is great for growing in container.	5-9
Korean Feather Reed Grass	Calamagrostis brachytricha	2-3 ft.	This Feather Reed is a slow spreading, clump forming, narrow foliaged grass that produces plumes of pink flowers in late summer	4-9
Lime-green Sedge	Carex comans 'Frosted Curls'	1 ft.	Frosted Curls produces compact clumps of fine silvery green foliage with curly ends. It is deer resistant plant and will tolerate wet conditions	7-9
Little Bluestem Grass	Schizachyrium scoparium	2-4 ft.	Little Bluestem Grass forms dense clumps of fine textured foliage. The flower stem will grow to 30" tall before displaying its burgundy flower spray. Little Bluestem is a larval host for many species of butterflies and provides nesting material and seed for birds.	3-8
Maiden Grass	Miscanthus sinensis	5-6 ft.	Maiden grass forms a nice rounded clump of fine textured foliage and a graceful, rounded form. Plumes of flowers on 7 foot stalks in the Fall	5-9
Mexican Feather Grass	Stipa tenuissima	1-2 ft.	Mexican Feather Grass forms compact clumps of fine, thread-like foliage. Produces a a profusion of feather-like, yellowish green flower panicles all summer. Deer resistant	7-10
Mondo Grass	Ophiopogon japonicus	6-10"	Mondo grass slowly forms tight, 24" matted clumps of 8"-12" long, 1/8" wide, bright green, grass-like foliage. Spikes of small, lavender or light purple flowers appear in the late summer	6-9
Moon Grass	Molinia arundinacea	2-3 ft.	Moon Grass forms large upright, compact clumps of dark green foliage that turns gold in the Fall. Showy seven foot spikes of translucent maroon flowers at mid-summer	4-8
Moor Grass	Molinia caerulea	12-18"	Moor grass is slow to get established, bit its compact foliage makes it a perfect ground cover plant for wet, acidic soil. Suitable for growing in a planter.	5-8
Orange New Zealand Sedge	Carex testacea	1-2 ft.	The fine orangeish-brown foliage of the Orange New Zealand Sedge is unpopular with some gardeners who think it makes the plant look dead. Deer resistant	7-9
Palm Sedge	Carex muskingumensis	2-3 ft.	Palm Sedge has an interesting whorling habit to its growth. The tips of the light green foliage branch to resemble tiny Palm trees. Deer resistant	4-9
Pampas Grass	Cortaderia selloana	8-10 ft.	Pampas Grass is an impressive, fast growing plant due to its size and durability as well as its large plumes of showy white to pink flowers (Cortaderia selloana 'Rosea'). Once it becomes well established, it is very drought tolerant and nearly indestructible plant.	7-10
Purple Fountain Grass	Pennisetum setaceum	12-18"	Purple Fountain Grass forms tufts of short, rigid stems topped by long, bronze colored blades of grass. 12" purplish pink flower spikes. Often grown as an annual	9-10
Quaking Grass	Briza media	1-2 ft.	Quaking Grasses are relatively disease and pest free. It produces tiny purple, orchid-like flowers	5-8
Ravenna Grass	Saccharum ravennae	9-12 ft.	Ravenna Grass is often called Hardy Pampas Grass because of their similarities. It forms a large clump of ¾ wide greyish green blades. Pinkish flower spikes may reach 12 ft. Avoid fertilizing and excess watering to keep the plant compact	6-9
Ribbon Grass	Phalaris arundinacea	3 ft.	Ribbon grass can quickly become invasive if it is not controlled or grown in a a container. It can be planted directly in your pond or added to your bog garden. Variegated green and white foliage	4-9
Snowy Woodrush	Luzula nivea	1-2 ft.	Snowy Woodrush forms loose clumps of dark green foliage and masses of white flowers in spring and early summer. It is useful as a ground cover.	5-9
Spangle Grass	Chasmanthium latifolium	3 ft.	Spangle Grass is a clump forming plant that produces gracefully nodding clusters of unique flat seed heads. Nice Fall color	5-9
Sweetgrass	Hierochloe odorata	1-2 ft.	Sweetgrass has a very distinct scent and is easy to grow, but can become invasive so it should be grown in a container. The grass blades are sometimes braided and used as incense	2-6
Switch Grass	Panicum virgatum	5 ft.	There are many cultivars of Switch Grass offering a variety of foliage colors and variations but their care is the same. Switch Grass is a larval host for some butterflies and provides seed for ground feeding birds.	5-9
Tufted Hair Grass	Deschampsia cespitosa	2-3 ft.	Tufted Hair Grass is a semi evergreen plant that has a wide range of cultivars in colors from creamy white to green and bronze	4-9
Umbrella Grass	Cyperus Alternifolius	3-4 ft.	Umbrella Grass is a native of the swamps of Madagascar. It is a close relative of the Papyrus Plant. Thrives in wet areas	9-10
Woodrush	Luzula sylvatica	1-2 ft.	Woodrush is an easy to grow and durable, slow growing grass-like plant that will even survive in dry shade. Variegated varieties are available	4-9
Yellow Sedge	Carex flava	18-30"	Although it is not commonly grown as ornamental, Yellow Sedge is durable and adaptable. It has yellow striped foliage, and produces seed for the birds winter feeding.	4-8
Zebra Grass	Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'	5-7 ft.	Zebra Grass grows as an upright clump of coarse, gold speckled leaves. Fairly drought tolerant and grows in a wide range of soil types but does best in rich, moist soil	5-9