Ornamental Grass
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About Ornamental Grasses:
Getting the most from Ornamental Grasses
Few plants can match ornamental grasses for ease of cultivation, glowing beauty when back-lit by late afternoon sunlight, and their graceful movement in the wind. Like conifers and other evergreens, ornamental grasses also provide interest in the fall and winter landscape and can enhance the subtle sound your garden makes on quiet days.
When the flowers of summer are only a memory, you'll find delight looking out on frosted grass spikes as they catch the early light of a cold winter's day.
Ornamental grasses are at their best when combined with other flowering perennials and grasses. Avoid the lonely specimen. Be brave and experiment. Grasses should be mixed with other grasses to contrast size, shape, and foliage color.
- A few clumps of Helictotrichon (Blue Avena grass) combine beautifully around the base of Miscanthus 'Silberfeder'.
- Plant several graceful Nasella (Silky Thread grass) to move with the breeze next to statue-like Agave havardiana.
- Festuca 'Siskiyou Blue' contrasts color and texture when planted into a carpet of Artemisia 'Seafoam'.
- Grasses provide drama in the garden when massed in groups of threes and fives.
Selecting the right Ornamental Grasses for your Garden
Ornamental grasses range from a few inches to several yards high and their variations in width are just as great. They can be very "drought tolerant" or need damp locations in order to thrive. Ornamental grasses usually prefer full sun but may tolerate some light shade in hot dry climates. They come in a wide spectrum of colors with some varieties having a reputation for great fall color.
The key is picking a variety of grass that matches the conditions and needs in your landscape. Our plant finder can help you find just the right plants for your garden's conditions.
Maintaining Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are durable and easy-to-grow.
- Leave them standing over the winter for ornamental interest.
- Cut them back hard in mid-spring and scratch-out the middle of the clump to remove dead stems and leaf blades. This makes room for the new shoots to push through.
- Divide big clumps every three or four years to re-invigorate the plant.
- Grasses love nitrogen so top-dress with ample compost and Yum Yum Mix fertilizer in the fall.
Ornamental Grasses FAQ
Q: Where can I learn more about growing ornamental grasses?
A: We highly recommend Michael King and Piet Oudolf's book "Gardening with Grasses". It includes chapters on versatile grasses, plants to combine with grasses and grass borders.
Q: Do birds like ornamental grasses?
A: Birds enjoy the seeds produced by some ornamental grasses, such as Andropogon, Festuca, and Miscanthus varieties.
Q: What is the advantage of using native grasses in my landscape?
- Native grasses have evolved to grow reliably in less than ideal conditions without significant care once they’re well established.
- Native ornamental grasses are resistant to common pests and provide food (foliage, fruit or seeds) and cover for songbirds and beneficial insects.
- Native grasses thrive in the soils and climatic conditions of the local area. But make sure your landscape contains similar conditions. For example, a plant living in a wetland or riparian area would not be suitable for a xeric location and vice versa.
Types of Ornamental Grasses:
- Miscanthus
- Calamagrostis
- Muhlenbergia
- Pancium
- Schizachyrium
- Festuca
- Sporobolus
- Other Ornamental Grasses
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