Complete Gardening
Ornamental grasses offer texture, color, and movement to garden borders. These versatile plants sway gracefully in the wind, adding an element of life and energy to any landscape. With various heights, colors, and textures, these grasses can be used to complement other plants or stand alone as focal points. Whether you’re looking for something tall and striking or short and subtle, there’s an ornamental grass that will suit your needs.
1. Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora)
Known for its graceful vertical presence, Feather Reed Grass is a garden favorite. It features tall, slender stalks that sway elegantly in the breeze, providing a dynamic element to borders.
Its golden hue adds warmth and contrast, making it an ideal choice for pairing with perennial flowers.
Easy to care for, this grass thrives in a variety of soil types and requires minimal maintenance. Perfect for adding height and texture, Feather Reed Grass is a versatile addition to any garden.
2. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Switchgrass offers a unique texture with its airy, open plumes and bluish-green foliage. This ornamental grass is not only beautiful but also environmentally beneficial, supporting wildlife and reducing soil erosion.
Its adaptability to different soil conditions and drought tolerance make it a reliable choice for gardeners seeking sustainability.
Switchgrass’s elegant appearance and ecological benefits make it a standout option for those looking to enhance their garden’s aesthetic and functionality.
3. Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra)
Japanese Forest Grass captivates with its cascading mounds of vibrant green leaves, often striped with gold. This ornamental grass thrives in shaded areas, providing texture and color where other plants may struggle.
Its slow-growing nature allows for easy maintenance, and it pairs beautifully with ferns and hostas.
The gentle rustling of its leaves in the breeze adds a soothing, natural soundscape to the garden, making it a serene addition to shaded borders.
4. Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens)
With its striking blue-gray tufts, Blue Oat Grass offers a cooling contrast to warmer garden tones. Its elegant, arching shape adds a graceful element to mixed borders or garden pathways.
This hardy grass thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, making it a low-maintenance choice for busy gardeners.
Ideal for coastal gardens, Blue Oat Grass brings a touch of Mediterranean flair, enhancing both modern and traditional landscapes with its unique color and form.
5. Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
Fountain Grass is admired for its fluffy, bottlebrush-like plumes that sway gently in the breeze. These feathery tufts catch the light beautifully, adding a sense of movement and elegance to garden borders.
Its lush, arching foliage provides a soft backdrop for flowering plants, creating depth and texture.
Thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, Fountain Grass is a versatile choice for various garden styles, from cottage to contemporary.
6. Miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis)
Miscanthus, known for its tall, feathery plumes, brings drama and height to garden borders. Its arching leaves create a sense of movement, transforming static spaces into lively landscapes.
This grass flourishes in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, offering visual interest throughout the seasons with its changing colors.
Miscanthus is especially striking when planted en masse, creating a unified look that draws the eye and enhances any garden design.
7. Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Pink Muhly Grass dazzles with its airy clouds of pinkish-red flowers, creating a striking visual effect in garden borders. This ornamental grass is celebrated for its dramatic color and ethereal texture.
It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, requiring minimal maintenance while offering maximum impact.
The vibrant plumes catch the sunlight beautifully, adding a splash of color and whimsy that captivates both casual observers and garden enthusiasts alike.
8. Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Northern Sea Oats stand out with their distinctive, flat seed heads that rustle gently in the wind. This ornamental grass thrives in partial shade, making it ideal for woodland gardens.
Its arching stems and fine texture provide a delicate contrast to bolder plants, creating a balanced composition.
The seed heads turn a beautiful bronze in the fall, adding seasonal interest and texture to the garden, while also serving as a food source for birds.
9. Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus)
Giant Miscanthus towers above other plants with its impressive height and feathery plumes. This ornamental grass brings a sense of grandeur and movement to expansive garden spaces.
Ideal for creating privacy screens, its dense growth and striking appearance make it a standout feature in any landscape.
Giant Miscanthus thrives in full sun and a variety of soil types, providing a low-maintenance option for dramatic garden design.
10. Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’)
Zebra Grass is easily recognized by its unique horizontal stripes across its leaves, adding an exotic flair to garden designs. Its tall, elegant plumes provide height and movement, creating a dynamic landscape.
This hardy grass thrives in full sun and various soil conditions, offering a low-maintenance option for gardeners seeking visual interest.
The striped leaves add a playful touch, making Zebra Grass a delightful focal point in mixed borders or as a stand-alone specimen.
11. Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’)
Maiden Grass captivates with its fine-textured, arching leaves and feathery plumes. This ornamental grass adds softness and elegance to any garden setting.
Thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, it is a versatile choice for a range of garden styles.
The plumes change from silvery-white to a rich bronze in the fall, providing seasonal color and interest while complementing a variety of plants and flowers.
12. Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silberfeder’)
Silver Grass adds a touch of elegance with its shimmering, silver plumes that catch the light beautifully. This ornamental grass is a great choice for adding movement and shine to garden borders.
Ideal for full sun locations, it thrives in well-drained soil and requires minimal maintenance.
The lush green foliage provides a vibrant backdrop, making Silver Grass an eye-catching addition to mixed borders or as a standalone feature in the landscape.
13. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Little Bluestem brings a prairie feel to gardens with its slender stems and changing foliage colors. This ornamental grass thrives in full sun, offering a spectrum of colors from blue-green to copper-orange in the fall.
Ideal for low-maintenance landscapes, it requires minimal care while providing habitat for wildlife.
Little Bluestem’s upright form and seasonal beauty make it a versatile choice for borders and naturalistic garden settings.
14. Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’)
Purple Fountain Grass is a dramatic showstopper with its burgundy plumes and lush, arching foliage. This ornamental grass adds a bold splash of color and texture to garden borders.
It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a popular choice for adding contrast in both traditional and modern landscapes.
The striking plumes sway gently, creating a dynamic visual effect that enhances garden aesthetics throughout the season.
15. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)
Blue Fescue offers a compact form and striking color, making it ideal for edging and rock gardens. Its silvery-blue foliage provides year-round interest and contrast in various garden settings.
This ornamental grass thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, requiring minimal care to maintain its distinctive appearance.
Blue Fescue’s delicate flower spikes add a subtle touch, enhancing the texture and depth of borders or as a complement to bolder plantings.
16. Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa)
Tufted Hairgrass captivates with its airy, delicate flower heads that shimmer in the sunlight. This ornamental grass thrives in moist soil, adding texture and movement to garden borders.
Ideal for naturalistic or meadow-inspired gardens, it provides a soft backdrop for more colorful perennials.
The lush clumps of green leaves create a rich, textured foundation, making Tufted Hairgrass a versatile and charming addition to various landscape designs.
17. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Lemongrass is more than just a culinary herb; it’s a garden delight. Thriving in sunny spots, its tall, slender green stalks create a visual rhythm, swaying gently with the breeze. Not only does it add elegance, but its light, citrusy aroma acts as a natural air freshener.
Its origin traces back to Southeast Asia, where it’s cherished in various cuisines. In the garden, its drought-tolerant nature makes it a resilient choice, perfect for low-maintenance landscapes. Whether in borders or containers, Lemongrass brings both beauty and a touch of exotic flavor to any outdoor space.