Lawn and Garden

468x60 Animated



Home / Books / Perennials / Gingers / Herbs / Vines / Woodies / Zone Map

Ornamental Grasses


We recommend...

Order now!
Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses : Sedges, Rushes, Restios, Cat-Tails, and Selected Bamboos
; by Rick Darke

List Price: $49.95
Our Price: $34.97
You Save: $14.98 (30%)
Hardcover - 325 pages (March 1999)
Timber Pr; ISBN: 0881924644 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.90 x 11.38 x 8.87

... browse our bookstore for more books ... or scroll down for more Grasses!


Move to page of grasses starting with:

A / B / C / E / M / P / S / T / V


THE FORMAT FOR THE LISTINGS IS AS FOLLOWS:

Botanical name : PLANT FAMILY, (Common Name(s)). Description blah, blah, blah. USDA Plant Hardiness Zones.


Ornamental grasses add flair to a garden full of flowers, or can be used as specimen plants in many cases. The beauty of grass flowers swaying in an autumn breeze cannot be simulated with other plants. The only care that most grasses require is to be cut down in the dormant season. Included in this section are true grasses (members of the Poaceae family), and grass look-alikes. Grasses may be broadly divided into two groups: warm season and cool season grasses, indicating their primary growth period. Warm season grasses should be divided after last spring frost, but well before the first fall frosts. Cool season grasses may be divided from fall to spring, in cool weather.


( Picture link at end of description )

Andropogon Gerardii : POACEAE, (Big Bluestem). Native grass with tall stems, tinged with blue. The flowers are forked like a turkey's foot. Hardy perennial grass to 7' tall. Warm season grass.

Arundo donax 'Variegata' : POACEAE, (Variegated Giant Reed). If you want a truly majestic specimen grass, this is it! No mere mortal, this god of grasses soars up to 15' in a single season. Spreads slowly by very thick rhizomes. The new growth is particularly bright in variegation, having broad stripes of cream which fade later in the season to pale green. Warm season grass. Zones 7-10. ( Image / JPEG / 540x376 pixels / 52KB )

Briza media : POACEAE, (Perennial Quaking Grass). 18" perennial with open panicles of dangling seedheads. Zones 4-8.

Carex cherokeensis : CYPERACEAE, (Cherokee Sedge). Eighteen-inch tall sedge, for moist soils in sun or shade. Ornamental seed heads and fresh green leaves. Southeastern U.S.; Zones 6-9.

Carex glaucescens, (Blue Sedge). Native to 3' with interesting, dangling flowers and slightly glaucous leaves. Not invasive here; prefers moist soil. Southeastern U.S.; Zones 6-10.

Chasmanthium latifolium : POACEAE, (River Oats). Shade-loving 4' grass with open panicles of flattened "oats" dangling from the stem tips in summer. Graceful, hardy, native ornamental. Warm season.

Cymbopogon citratus : POACEAE, (Lemon Grass). This scented grass never flowers here, is a clump former, and is never a problem! The form is quite pleasing, being very rounded and graceful. Grown, of course, for its deliciously scented lemon leaves. Zones 8b-10; has been hardy here most years (to at least 17°F).

Eleocharis dulcis 'Variegata' : CYPERACEAE, (Variegated Chinese Water Chestnut). You could grow your own Chinese food, but you won't want to disturb these plants with their pretty stripe of yellow on each narrow leaf blade. Give moisture in sun or partial shade. Height 15". Zones 8-11.

Elymus arenarius : POACEAE, (Blue Lyme Grass). Coarse grass with steel blue 2' blades and an open habit. Hardy, rhizomatous, cool season grass, which does not flower here.

Equisetum hyemale : EQUISETACEAE, (Common Horsetail, Scouring Rush). Primitive creature, with siliceous stems sometimes used in polishing or scouring. Reedlike plants have hollow stems which make great bud vases in the bog garden. Invasive as all get-out, so erect a good barrier to its underground travels; or grow in sealed containers, or just let it go and let your neighbors worry about it! To 3' tall. Eastern N. Amer. Zones 3-9.

Equisetum scirpoides, (Dwarf Horsetail, Dwarf Scouring Rush). 6" horsetail. Very cute. N. Amer. Zones 3-9.

Eragrostis curvula : POACEAE, (Weeping Love Grass). Two foot grass with a one-foot panicle of fine-textured flowers. South Africa. Zones 7-11.

Eragrostis trichodes 'Bend', (Bend Sand Love Grass). Graceful two-foot grass with very open panicles of tiny flowers, massed to perfection, like a horde of mosquitoes hovering above the 8" narrow leaves. Clump-forming cool season grass.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Arabesque', (Arabesque Eulalia Grass). This cultivar is supposed to be a compact selection, but our plants are very large and vigorous, with broad leaves. Height 6-8'. All Miscanthus species are warm season grasses.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio' : POACEAE, (Adagio Miscanthus). Compact (3'), with green foliage and a thin silver stripe down the center midrib.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Condensatus' (Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus). Bold grass, with silver striped leaves and purplish late summer bloom. Height 6-8'. Zones 5-9.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus', (Maiden Grass). Large, graceful, hardy grass with fine textured leaves, showy fall plumes, and an unassailable constitution. Excellent specimen which probably should be as widely planted as Pampas Grass, and one day could be (with your help, of course!). ( Image / JPEG / 255x274 pixels / 20KB )

Miscanthus sinensis 'Kirk's Dwarf Zebra'. Shorter (3-4') form of Zebra Grass. Less pronounced zebra stripes than 'Zebrinus'.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Sarabande'. Big, fine textured grass with silvery foliage.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder', (Silver Feather). Broad leaves and large, bright white fall plumes. Very attractive and quite vigorous, forming broad clumps. Height 7' or more in flower.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus' ('Zebrinus Strictus'), (Porcupine Grass) has a more upright habit than Zebra Grass, less inclined to sprawl. Height to 6'; hardy.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'. Lengthwise cream stripes on 5' plants of rounded form. Prefers some shade, as leaves burn a bit in hot sun. ( Image / JPEG / 360x356 pixels / 46KB )

Miscanthus sinensis 'Yaku Jima'. Dwarf form of Miscanthus 'Gracillimus'. Height is about 2' or less. Very fine-textured, low-growing grass suitable for borders and edging. Hardy.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Yakushima'. Larger than 'Yaku Jima'. Height to 4'. Hardy.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus', (Zebra Grass). Horizontal bands of cream on broad leaves. Rounded form. Cut back by 1/2 in midsummer to prevent sprawling. Can grow to 7'; hardy.

Molinia caerulea arundinacea 'Altissima' : POACEAE, (Tall Purple Moor Grass). Foliage in clumps to 3' tall, with narrow, vertical flower spikes 3-4' above the foliage in midsummer. Give plenty of moisture. Slow to flower until well established. Warm season grass. Eurasia. Zones 5-9.

Panicum virgatum : POACEAE, (Switch Grass). Seed grown. Native with open panicles of purple in the late summer and fall. Grows 5-6' tall, with a bluish cast during summer, and reddish fall color. Warm season grass. Zones 4-9.

Panicum virgatum 'Strictum'. (Upright Switch Grass). Beautiful, free flowering switch grass. Strong stems carry large, open panicles during summer. Height 5-7'.

Paspalum glaccifolium : POACEAE, (Glaucous Paspalum Grass). Upright grass to 4 feet tall with ½-inch wide leaves. Nativity and hardiness uncertain, but at least Zones 7-9.

Pennisetum alopecuroides : POACEAE, (Fountain Grass). 4-5' plume maker, hardy, with green leaves and flowers. One of the most graceful of grasses. All Pennisetum species are warm season grasses. Asia. Zones 4-9.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Cassain'. Semi-dwarf cultivar with good fall color.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Viridescens' ( P.a. 'Moudry'), (Black Fountain Grass) has black plumes, held stiffly upright. Summer bloom. Strong growing hardy ornamental grass.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Weserbergland' is the best of the Fountain Grasses for length and intensity of bloom, plant habit, and general utility. Height 3-4' (shorter than P. alopecuroides), with rather narrow leaves. Hardy.

Pennisetum caudatum, (White Fountain Grass). Similar to P. alopecuroides, except has whitish flowers instead of greenish. Zones 6-9.

Pennisetum villosum, (Feathertop) has white, feathery, horizontal flowers above 18" plants. Somewhat tender. We've lost some plants at 4°F. Zones 8-11.

Phalaris arundinacea 'Fleesey's Form' ('Feesey's Form') : POACEAE, (Fleesey's Variegated Ribbon Grass). The beautiful lengthwise variegation of this grass is enhanced, especially in spring, by a pink flush. Phalaris species are cool season grasses. Zones 4-9.

Phalaris arundinacea 'Lutea-Picta', (Yellow Ribbon Grass). Leaves striped lengthwise with light green, enhanced by a bit of yellow. Zones 4-9.

Phalaris arundinacea 'Picta', (Ribbon Grass) sports beautiful lengthwise variegation. Grows to 2', spreading modestly underground, usually not invasive here. Hardy. Zones 4-9.

Schizachyrium (Andropogon) scoparium : POACEAE, (Little Bluestem). Native with bluish foliage in summer, turning bronze in winter. Very upright to 4'. Hardy clump-forming warm season grass. Zones 3-10.

Sorghastrum nutans : POACEAE, (Indian Grass). Hardy native grass, to 6' tall, with slender spikes in summer and a clumping habit. Flowers in late summer, with bronzy fall and winter color. Warm season grass. Zones 3-9.

Spartina pectinata 'Aurea-Marginata' : POACEAE, (Variegated Cord Grass) has pinstripes of yellow on vertical leaves to 3', arched near the tips. Doesn't flower here. Rhizomatous grass preferring moist soil, but tolerating dry quite well. Eastern U.S.; Zones 4-9.

Sporobolus heterolepis : POACEAE, (Prairie Dropseed). Native with restrained habit, fine textured foliage, and a rounded form to 12" tall. Valuable for its texture. Warm season grass. Zones 4-9.

Tofieldia Okuboi : LILIACEAE, (False Asphodel). Small tufted perennial, with many grasslike leaves. Height 4-6". For partial shade and moist to wet, acid soils.

Vetiveria zizanoides : POACEAE, (Vetiver) is naturalized in some parts of South Louisiana. Very upright growth to 8' or so. Useful herb for basketry, with its sandalwood-fragrant roots. Zones 8-11. Warm season grass.


icon
Home / Books / Perennials / Gingers / Herbs / Vines / Woodies / Zone Map

Copyright © 2000 Southern Perennials and Herbs. All rights reserved. This page last updated Tuesday, February 22, 2000 2:44:34 PM CST.

Comments to: Southern Perennials & Herbs