Long may they wave! Big on textures, colors, varieties and styles, ornamental grasses bring bold personality to landscapes large and small. And just when other plants begin to lose their summer appeal, grasses get going, unfurling their foliage and sending up creamy plumes, adding mystique to late-year seasons.
Flame Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Purpurascens’) – At maturity, height is 3½ to 4½ feet ; spread is 2 feet. Bloomtime is late summer.
Structure and Texture
But make no mistake: while ornamental grasses may step to the center stage in fall and winter landscapes – they remain supporting actors through spring and summer, delivering interesting lines that add structure and texture all year long.
From tall to short and North American to Western natives, there are roughly 18 types of ornamental grasses. So, the challenge in including them in the landscape may be deciding which ones to select. Among the most common is Maiden Grass, also called Chinese silver grass and popular for its narrow habit, arching foliage and silver plumes.
Bandwidth Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) – At maturity, height and width is 2½ to 3 feet. Produces dried seed heads and fall color.
Landscape Applications
Making the decision about which grasses to include – like Carousel Little Bluestem, Morning Light Maiden Grass or Blackhawks Big Bluestem – depends on landscape needs, because these versatile perennials can be used in a myriad of ways. Ornamental grasses serve as specimen plants and privacy walls or screens.
They’re great plants along the foundations of homes and businesses. Use them to soften hardscapes such as lamp posts and alongside boulders around the perimeter of water features. Use ornamental grasses to fill blank spots from fading summer plants and shrubs, and as accents in the back or center of perennial beds. They’re great along sidewalks and add height to two-way border gardens. And they are perfect in containers as either thriller or filler.
Carousel Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Carousel’) – At maturity, height is 1½ to 2½ feet; spread is 2 to 2½ feet. Blue-green foliage turns pink in midsummer, then copper in fall.
Pollinator Gardens
Be sure to include ornamental grasses in pollinator garden designs. Their dense foliage provides habitat, food and shelter for birds and small mammals.
Dried seed panicles are good food sources and make great housing material for creatures that craft nests. And the seed heads, along with brightly colored ornamental grasses that contain nectar, are food sources for pollinators like bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.
Chameleon Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium Chameleon) – At maturity, height and spread is 1½ to 2 feet. Color is variegated green and white, red, pink and light purple in fall.
Cutting Gardens
Planting a cutting garden? Foliage from ornamental grasses like Chameleon Little Bluestem with its red hues, offers texture and visual interest in floral arrangements and in seasonal holiday decorations.
Use them to also craft decorative arrangements in any season. Simply bundle grasses of the same or different varieties together, wrap them with floral wire and place them with cut flowers in a vase.
Blackhawks Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’) – At maturity, height is 5 feet; spread is 2 feet. Foliage color is so dark purple it appears black.
Soil Stabilization
Besides being exceptionally low maintenance, ornamental grasses like Blackhawks Big Bluestem have dense and dramatic root systems that provide soil stabilization, prevent erosion and help enforce weed control. They are workhorses of the garden, contributing to improved soil health. On top of that, they play nice with other perennials and shrubs by blending in with varied colors and styles that complement that of their neighbors.
Ornamental grasses are resilient, with most tolerating a variety of environmental conditions and thriving just as well in urban settings as in suburban and rural landscapes. While ornamental grasses prefer soil with low pH and drains well, soil type is generally not a big issue. They perform well in clay, gravel, sand and alkalinity. For this reason, you’ll find them in public parks, median strips and in ravines, prairies and forest preserves.
Morning Light Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’) – At maturity, height is 4 to 6 feet; spread is 3 to 4 feet. Bloom time for variegated foliage is early fall.
Environmental Challenges
Like Blue Heaven Little Bluestem, many ornamental grasses are salt tolerant. This makes them a great choice for landscapes that are susceptible to sprays from winter roadside salts. Morning Light Maiden Grass and the like also are drought tolerant. Once established, they don’t require extra moisture beyond average rainfall and normal hand waterings during the growing season.
The best time to plant ornamental grass is in early fall or early spring, before winter frost and summer heat, respectively. Look at the perennial’s plant tag for light recommendations. However, while most ornamental grasses require full sun, some can tolerate shade.
Blue Heaven Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Blue Heaven’) – At maturity, height is 3½ to 4½ feet; spread is 2½ to 3 feet. Bloomtime is late summer to early fall.
Low Maintenance
Dig a hole as deep as the plant’s root ball and twice as wide. The top of the root ball should be 1 to 2 inches above the ground. Loosen the soil around the roots and, once in the ground, add a layer of mulch to help retain soil moisture and protect tender roots until the plant is established.
Look to the plant’s tag for pruning recommendations, too. When to prune depends on the type of ornamental grass you have. Again, general guidance is to wear sturdy gloves as many grasses have sharp edges. Trim cool season grasses like oat grass in late winter or early spring and prune about two-thirds of the plant. Cut back warm-season grasses like maiden grass to ground level in fall or by mid- to late-spring.
Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) – At maturity, height is 2 to 3 feet; spread is 2 feet. Foliage is green and yellow in fall.
No matter the style or variety of ornamental grass you select, you can be rest assured that it will deliver the drama, excitement and color that keeps interest in the landscape going from fall through winter – when it then begins its life cycle all over again.
Learn More About Loma Vista Nursery’s Landscape Plants
Loma Vista Nursery grows a variety of ornamental grasses, trees, shrubs and perennial plants for Midwest independent garden centers, landscape contractors and wholesale distributors. Our staff members – all experts in the field – love helping people learn about plants and the healthy varieties we grow.
For help with orders and plant-related questions, send an email to sales@lomavistanursery.com or call (785) 229-7200. Review Loma Vista Nursery’s plant catalog for information and visit our website to learn about our values and best practices as a Midwest plant grower.
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