Ornamental Grass

Gardening Guide

Ornamental Grass

Adagio Maiden Grass

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’
Smaller growing form with an arching, clumping growth habit. Plumes of creamy-white flowers above the foliage beginning late summer and lasting into fall. A great specimen plant or planted in masses. Fast growing perennial.

4' tall x 4-5' wide

Full sun

Zone 5 / Hardy to -10ºF

Blue Fescue

Festuca ovina glauca
Forms a neat, compact mound of foliage that is a striking silver-blue in color. Great effect in mass plantings or as a low border. Good splash of color for container plantings. Fast growing perennial.

12" tall x 12" wide

Part shade

Zone 3 / Hardy to -30ºF

Fiber Optic Grass

Isolepis (Scirpus) sp.
Nice tufted plant that has bright green foliage and small, white tips at end of each blade which look like fibre optics. Grows really well in constantly moist soil. A nice addition to container plantings. An annual ornamental grass. Fast growing.

10-14" tall x 10-14" wide

Full sun to part shade

Zone 8 / Hardy to 20ºF

Fireworks Fountain Grass

Pennisetum setaceum ‘Fireworks’ PP18504
A rapid grower and prolific blooming selection with plenty of color. Red tipped leaves are green and white striped. Purple foxtail plumes above the foliage in summer. Great in beds and borders or in containers. Heat and humidity tolerant. Fast growing annual ornamental grass.

2-3' tall x 2-3' wide

Full sun

Zone 9 / Hardy to 30ºF

Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’
Very popular grass noted for its compact habit and profuse, showy white flowers that rise above the thin leaf blades beginning midsummer. Can be used as a border plant or in containers. Great in mass plantings. Fast growing perennial.

2-3' tall x 2-3' wide

Full sun

Zone 5 / Hardy to -10ºF

Inland Sea Oats

Chasmanthium latifolium
Clump-forming ornamental grass with flat, drooping tan-colored seed heads that hang from arching stems. Nice effect in mass plantings. Year round interest. Good beneath large shade trees or in naturalized settings. Fast growing perennial.

2-4' H x 2-3' W

Full sun to part shade

Zone 4 / Hardy to -20ºF

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass

Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
Upright clumping ornamental grass with pinkish flowers maturing to gold, rising above the foliage. Striking vertical accent for the landscape when planted alone or in groups. Fast growing perennial.

4-5' tall x 2-3' wide

Full sun

Zone 3 / Hardy to -30ºF

Little Zebra Grass

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Zebra’ PP13008
A compact selection that features 3-4′ tall clumps of green leaves with contrasting, yellow horizontal bands along the blades. Reddish plumes appear in August above the foliage and persist into winter. Fast growing perennial.

4' tall x 3-4' wide

Full sun

Zone 5 / Hardy to -10ºF

Breeze™ Lomandra

Lomandra longifolia ‘LM300’ PP15420
A tough evergreen, easy-care grass-like plant for mass plantings, dry borders and containers. A great versatile and drought-tolerant substitute for Liriope. Extremely heat and drought tolerant.

3' tall x 3' wide

Full sun to part shade

Zone 8 / Hardy to 20ºF

Maiden Grass

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’
Easily grown grass that has fine, arching foliage. Creamy white flowers bloom in fall and then deepen to a reddish color as the weather cools. Year round interest. Nice in groups or in foundation plantings. Fast growing perennial.

4-5' tall x 3-4' wide

Full sun

Zone 4 / Hardy to -20ºF