Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental Grass Types

Uses:

Garden Borders & Edges
Add Vertical Interest
Groundcover
Container Gardens

Features:

Drought & Heat Tolerant
Deer & Rabbit Resistant
Low Maintenance & Adaptable
No Fertilizer or Pesticide Needed

Sunlight:

Mostly Full Sun
Sunlight Conditions Depend on Type

Benefits:

Prevents Erosion
Habitat for Wildlife
Adds Movement in the Wind
Four-Season Interest

Ornamental Grass Care

Ornamental grasses are a great addition to any landscape. The plants are low maintenance and provide year-round interest. Several types are available, ranging in size, color, and shape. Short sedge grass works well as a groundcover or in flower pots, whereas tall maiden grass provides height to a landscape and can be used as a privacy screen. There is an ornamental grass for every application and several colors to choose from including pink, red, blue, and purple.

Why Buy Ornamental Grass Online?

When xeriscaping, you can add plenty of interest with varied textures and heights by including a few ornamental grasses in your landscape. We’re always tempted to think first about flower color, but less about interesting foliage. Placing a few ornamental grasses in a xeric landscape or container can add nearly as much impact as a pop of purple with less watering and maintenance.

Choose an ornamental grass that is native to your area, or a similar climate or condition, in place of a shrub or perennial flower. One of our favorite features of grasses is that they can grow tall and move in the wind. In containers, they often add height or contrast to draping and flowering annuals. Warm-season grasses seed out and provide winter interest, even if the foliage browns. If you choose one that’s not native to your area make sure it can at least survive with less water or other conditions that differ.

About Ornamental Grasses

Genus

Carex, Calamagrostis, Pennisetum, Miscanthus, Hakonechloa, Schizachyrium, and many others

Species

2000+

Family

Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae

Common Names:

Sedge, Rush, Reed Grass, Maiden Grass, Egyptian Papyrus, Fountain Grass, Bluestem, Switch Grass, Fescue, Lilyturf

Native To:

Worldwide

Plant Type:

Ornamental Grasses

Foliage Type:

Herbaceous

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

3 - 10

Flower Color:

Tan, Green, Yellow, Pink, Silver

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring, Summer

Growth Habit:

Clumping, Spreading

Attracts:

Butterflies, Small Mammals, Songbirds

Tolerates

Drought, Heat, Humidity, Poor soil

Resists:

Deer, Disease, Pests

How To Use Ornamental Grasses In The Garden

These graceful plants supply interesting textures all year and ask for little more than a trim in late winter. Many transition through alluring color phases, moving from soft greens to rich golds, delivering a dynamic presence as the seasons progress. Their sturdy nature and deep roots deter pests and thrive through dry spells, easing up on maintenance duties. Plus, ornamental grasses can create welcoming habitat for birds and beneficial insects.

Place taller varieties as natural partitions for privacy, or let them flow en masse to simulate a gentle meadow effect. Employ their slender, vertical lines to visually connect different areas of a garden, or nestle shorter kinds near stones and companion perennials for a pleasing tapestry. Used as groundcover, grasses can stabilize soil and reduce erosion. In small spaces, pots offer a simple way to adorn patios and doorways with soft arches and feathery seed heads.

Types of Ornamental Grasses

Type	Scientific Name	Native	Foliage	Flowers	Uses	Features
Big Bluestem	Andropogon gerardii	Central & Eastern North America	Blue-green turning maroon-tan in fall (4-8 ft)	Purplish-red “turkey-foot” spikes	Prairie/restoration, screens, large accents	Drought & deer resistant; wildlife/host plant; winter color
Little Bluestem	Schizachyrium scoparium	Most of U.S. & N. Mexico	Blue-green clumps, copper-red in fall/winter	Purplish-bronze racemes	Dry meadows, rain & rock gardens, naturalizing	High drought tolerance; fluffy winter seed; skipper host; bird seed
Switchgrass	Panicum virgatum	North American Tallgrass Prairie	Medium-green aging to yellow-orange (3-6 ft)	Airy pink-tinged panicles	Naturalize, rain gardens, erosion control, prairie	Handles wet or dry; bird cover/seed; strong winter interest
Maiden (Chinese Silver) Grass	Miscanthus sinensis	Eastern Asia	Arching green or variegated leaves, gold-tan in fall (4-9 ft)	Pink-to-red feathery plumes	Specimens, meadows, dried bouquets	Showy plumes, winter presence, heat/ drought tolerant
Fountain Grass	Pennisetum alopecuroides	East Asia	Deep green blades, bronze-gold fall (2-4 ft)	Bottle-brush purple-tan spikes	Borders, massing, large pots	Soft motion, deer & drought resistant, three-season color
Papyrus (Paper Reed)	Cyperus papyrus	Tropical Africa & Nile basin	Tall triangular stems with umbrella-like tufts, evergreen (4-9 ft)	Green-brown clusters on ray tips	Water gardens, ponds, dramatic containers	Thrives in standing water; bold texture; historic utility
Japanese Forest Grass	Hakonechloa macra	Central Japan	Bright-green or gold/variegated, red-pinkish in fall (1-1.5 ft)	Fine yellow-green sprays	Shade groundcover, path/rock edge, containers	Shade-loving, deer tolerant, bamboo-like form, subtle fall color
Creeping Liriope	Liriope spicata	China & Vietnam	Narrow evergreen blades, spreads by rhizomes (9-15 in)	Pale lavender-white spikes	Groundcover, slope/erosion, under trees	Evergreen, tough, drought/rabbit/deer resistant
Big Blue Liriope	Liriope muscari	China, Taiwan, Japan	Strap-like evergreen tufts (12-18 in)	Showy violet-purple wands	Edging, small groundcover, pots	Heat/humidity tolerant; winter berries; slower spread than L. spicata
Sedge	Carex spp.	Worldwide; many N. American natives	Fine to broad blades, many in shades of green, blue, bronze or variegated	Small green/brown spikelets	Shade or sun groundcovers, rain gardens, bioswales, lawn alternative	Deer-resistant; thrive in wet or dry soils; excellent erosion control; host > 30 butterfly species

Ornamental Grass Care

Ornamental grasses should be planted in well-draining soil, as they prefer not to sit in waterlogged conditions. While they are drought-tolerant once established, regular watering during the first growing season helps develop a strong root system. These grasses thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Fertilization is generally unnecessary; however, if growth appears sluggish, a light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring can be beneficial.

Pruning ornamental grasses involves cutting back the foliage to a few inches above the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. In colder climates, leaving the foliage intact over winter provides insulation and visual interest; prune in early spring instead. When growing in containers, select a pot with adequate drainage and choose a compact variety suitable for confined spaces. Regular watering is essential for container-grown grasses, as they dry out faster than those in the ground.

Learn More About Ornamental Grass Care

Ornamental Grass Companion Plants

Pair ornamental grasses with perennials and shrubs that thrive in similar conditions—full sun and well-drained soil. These grasses add height and texture while enhancing fall foliage. Great companion plants include butterfly bush, false cypress, Japanese maples, coral bells, phlox, coneflower, and alyssum. For a cohesive look, choose color combinations that set the desired mood or theme. Perfect for garden beds or patio planters!