Ornamental Grasses Chart
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The following chart identifies some of the more useful types
of ornamental grasses. For each type, the genus, species, and variety (where applicable)
appear at the top left, the common name appears at the top right, and a brief description
appears below.
Key to Exposure Codes:
S - Sun
Sh - Shade
LSh - Light Shade
PSh - Partial Shade
| Acorus
graminus "Ogon" |
Golden Jap. Sweet
Flag |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| N/A |
N/A |
10" |
N/A |
PSh |
Similar to above with gold-yellow variegation.
Acorus
graminus "Variegatus"
|
Variegated
Japanese Sweet Flag
|
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Yellow-green
spathes |
N/A |
8-10" |
N/A |
PSh |
White & Green Variegation. Requires moist soil in part
shade. More sun ok if wet. Slow spreading. Best @ water's edge.
| Arundo
donax |
Giant Reed Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Silver |
Aug |
18-20' |
N/A |
Sun |
Bamboo-like appearance, works well as screen, or near water.
Blue-green leaves. May bloom in fall.
| Calamagrostis
acutiflora "stricta" |
Stiff Feather Reed
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Red-bronze to
buff |
May-June |
2' |
4-5' |
Sun |
More open, airy plumes than K. Foerster; Golden fall color.
Striking vertical accent. Bloom holds well into fall.
Calamagrostis
acutiflora (x) "Karl Foerster"
|
Feather Reed Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| golden spikes |
May-June |
18-24" |
3-4' |
Sun |
Strong vertical line; plumes turn silvery by fall. Good
winter silhouette
Calamagrostis
arundomacea "Overdam"
|
Variegated Feather
Reed Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| golden spikes |
May-June |
12-18" |
3' |
S-LSh |
Foliage variegated; green & white. Semi-dwarf.
| Calamagrostis
brachytricha |
Korean Feather
Reed Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Purple to Beige |
Sep-Nov |
2' |
3-4' |
S-LSh |
| Carex
dolichostachya var. glabberima "Gold Fountains" |
Sedge, Golden |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| n.s. |
May |
12" |
N/A |
PSh-Sh |
Weeping, narrow blades, green/gold edge
| Carex elata
"Bowles Golden" |
Sedge, Golden
Variegated |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| n.s. |
May |
2-3' |
N/A |
PSh-Sh |
Yellow leaf blade;thin green margin. Turns chartreuse by
summer. Very showy, great @ water's edge, stunning with blue hosta.
| Carex
morrowii "Ice Dance" |
Sedge, Silver
Variegated |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| n.s. |
May |
12" |
N/A |
PSh-Sh |
Spreading form, wider leaves. Green & white variegation.
| Carex nigra |
Sedge, Black
Flowering |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Thick black
spikes |
June |
6-9" |
(barely above
foliage) |
PSh-Sh |
Soft gray-green foliage, white underside. Spreads slowly.
Semi-evergreen
| Chasmanthium
latifolium |
Northern Sea Oats |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Oat-like
seedheads |
Late July |
2-3' |
4' |
S-Sh |
Lighter green in sun. Best exposure is part-shade, but grows
in full sun to moderate shade. Drooping clusters of flat seed-heads green in summer,
turning golden.
| Cortaderia
selloana "Patagonia" |
Patagonia Pampas
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Fluffy, Cream |
Late Summer |
5-6' |
6-7' |
Sun |
Bluish foliage; fat creamy white plumes; reputed to be most
cold-hardy (Zone 6)
| Cortaderia
selloana "pumila" |
Dwarf Pampas Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Fluffy, Cream |
N/A |
4-5' |
5-6' |
Sun |
Bold, Tropical effect. (Zone 7)
| Cortaderia
selloana |
Pampas Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| White, Feathery |
Late Summer |
8'+ |
9-12' |
Sun |
Impressive, attractive, but not reliably winter hardy. Plant
in protected location. (Zone 8)
| Deschampsia
caespitosa |
Tufted Hair Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Delicate, Airy |
Late June |
18" |
36" |
PSh |
Semi-evergreen. Greens up quickly in spring. May go domant
late summer. Used in the 'rough' at Pebble Beach GC.
| Erianthus
ravennae |
Plume Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Silvery |
Late Summer |
4-6' |
8-14' |
Sun |
Hardy, easy to grow. Imposing, large grass. Taller; more open
than Pampas.
| Festuca
glauca "Elijah Blue" |
Blue Fescue |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Wispy |
June |
8-10" |
12" |
Sun |
Spiky neat mound of blue-gray foliage. Can be used for
edging, massing, ground cover. Needs well drained soil.
| Hakonechloa
macra "Aureola" |
Golden Hakone
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| n.s. |
summer |
1-2' |
N/A |
PSh |
Elegant, choice accent. Horizonantal, weeping form. Great
with hosta. Likes moist, rich, well-drained soil.
| Helichtotrichon
sempervirens "Sapphire" |
Blue Oat Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Insignificant |
Mid-summer |
2' |
2-1/2' |
Sun |
Glaucous blue color. Thicker leaves, more substance than
festuca. Attractive, distinctive foliage.
| Imperata
cylindrica "Red Baron" |
Japanese Blood
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| none |
none |
1-2' |
N/A |
Sun |
great for massing, color intensifies in fall. Spreads slowly.
| Miscanthus
floridulus (Syn. giganteus) |
Giant Chinese
Silver Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Reddish turning
White |
Oct |
10-14' |
12-15' |
Sun |
Excellent, fast growing screen. Clumps cut to ground in
spring reach 10' by June.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Adagio" |
Adagio Silver
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Pink, turning
White |
Aug-Sep |
3-4' |
4' |
Sun |
Narrow, silvery gray foliage. Sturdy, arching form.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Autumn Light" |
|
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| N/A |
Sep |
6-8' |
8' |
Sun |
Dark green foliage. Broader leaf than gracillimus. Good
yellow fall color. Robust grower.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Cabaret" |
|
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Copper-Gold |
Sep-Oct |
6' |
7' |
S-LSh |
Broad green leaves, wide cream stripes; Upright growth. One
of the best new grasses.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Cosmopolitan" |
|
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Silver |
Sep |
6-8' |
7-9' |
S-LSh |
Very broad green leaves, White margins. Upright, non-floppy
habit. (Improved form of 'variegatus')
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Dixieland" |
Dwarf Variegated
Miscanthus |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| N/A |
N/A |
3-4' |
N/A |
S-LSh |
Similar to Variegated Miscanthus, but much shorter.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Goliath" |
Goliath Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Pink turning
Silver |
Aug-Sep |
6-7' |
10-12' |
Sun |
Wide, bright green leaves. Large, lush grass for fast screen,
bold accent.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Gracillimus" |
Maiden Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Red |
Sep-Oct |
6-7' |
7' |
Sun |
Slender, arching dark green foliage. Elegant vase-shape. Fine
texture, showy flowers.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Graziella" |
Graziella Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Rose-Silvery
White |
July-Aug |
4-5' |
6-7' |
Sun |
More upright than gracillimus, Early bloom; flowers well
above foliage. Orange fall color.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Little Nicky" |
Dwarf Zebra Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| White |
July-Aug |
3-4' |
4' |
Sun |
(Syn. Hinjo) Similar to Zebra grass, shorter, more compact.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Morning Light" |
|
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Red |
Aug-Sep |
4-5' |
5-6' |
Sun |
Thin green leaves edged with white. Silvery appearance.
Strongly arching habit.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Puenktchen" |
Little Dot Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Copper |
Sep |
5-6' |
N/A |
Sun |
Dark green foliage w/ yellow stripes. Similar to Zebrinus,
but has finer, thinner leaves.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Silberfeder" |
Silver Feather
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Silver |
Aug-Sep |
5-6' |
7-9' |
Sun |
Flowers earlier than species. Flowers held high above
foliage. Thin silver midrib.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Silberpfeil" |
Silver Arrow Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Silver |
N/A |
5-7' |
N/A |
Sun |
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Strictus" |
Porcupine Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Pink |
Aug-Sep |
6-8' |
8' |
Sun |
Horizontal bands of yellow on green leaves. Stiff, upright
form.
| Miscanthus
sinensis var. purpurescens |
Flame Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Magenta,
turning White |
Aug-Sep |
3-4' |
4-5' |
Sun |
Mid-green foliage turns bright orange-red in fall.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Variegatus" |
Variegated
Japanese Silver Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Pale Pink
turning Beige |
Sep |
5-6' |
6-8' |
S-LSh |
Foliage white-edged, green stripe in center. Loose, arching
habit.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Yaku Jima" |
Dwarf Maiden Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Silver |
Aug |
3-4' |
4-5' |
Sun |
Narrow leaves, Clumping habit. Early, profuse bloomer.
Flowers held well above foliage. Stands up over winter.
| Miscanthus
sinensis "Zebrinus" |
Zebra Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| pinkish copper |
Sep |
5-6' |
6-8' |
Sun |
Striking horizontal bands of yellow on dark green leaves.
Arching, vase-shaped habit.
| Opiopogon
japonicus "nana" |
Dwarf Mondo Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| n.s. |
N/A |
3" |
N/A |
PSh-Sh |
Very dark green dwarf groundcover.
| Opiopogon
plansicarpus "nigrescens" |
Black Mondo Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| n.s. |
N/A |
6" |
N/A |
PSh-Sh |
Groundcover, unusual near-black foliage.
| Panicum
virgatum "Cloud Nine" |
Blue Switch Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Airy, light,
golden |
Aug |
6' |
N/A |
Sun |
Tallest panicum. Clouds of airy flowers.
| Panicum
virgatum "Haense Herms" |
Red Switch Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Airy, light,
golden |
July-Aug |
36-42" |
4-5' |
Sun |
Green summer foliage, tips develop reddish tint in late
summer, Red-Orange fall color.
| Panicum
virgatum "Heavy Metal" |
Blue Switch Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Airy, light,
golden |
July-Aug |
3-4' |
4-5' |
Sun |
Stiff, upright metallic blue foliage. Yellow fall color.
Hardy, durable grass.
| Panicum
virgatum "Prairie Sky" |
Blue Switch Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Airy, light,
golden |
Aug |
3-4' |
4' |
Sun |
Bluest panicum. Breaks dormancy earliest. Stiff, upright
form, persists well in winter.
| Panicum
virgatum "Shenandoah" |
Red Switch Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Airy, light,
golden |
Aug |
3' |
3-4' |
Sun |
Blue-green foliage turns reddish by June.
| Pennisetum
alopecuroides "Cassian" |
Dwarf Fountain
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Dark Brown |
Aug-Oct |
18" |
24" |
Sun |
Leaves tinged red in fall. Compact selection.
| Pennisetum
alopecuroides "Hameln" |
Dwarf Fountain
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Rose-Copper Tan |
July-Aug |
2-3' |
2-3' |
Sun |
Compact selection. Neat mounded form. Great accent, for
massing or groundcover.
| Pennisetum
alopecuroides "Little Bunny" |
Mini Fountain
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Honey-beige |
July-Aug |
6-8" |
12" |
Sun |
Finely textured foliage. Neat mounded shape. Upright plumes.
Great edging, groundcover.
| Pennisetum
alopecuroides "Moudry" |
Black Flowered Ftn
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Dk Brown |
Sep |
2-3' |
2-3' |
Sun |
Striking plumes, neat mounded shape.
| Pennisetum
alopecuroides |
Fountain Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Rose-Copper Tan |
Aug-Oct |
3' |
3-4' |
Sun |
Graceful, arching mound. Bright glossy green foliage. Soft
foxtail flowers.
| Pennisetum
orientale |
Oriental Fountain
Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Pink turning
White |
July-Oct |
2-3' |
3' |
S-LSh |
Fluffy, delicate plumes, long bloom time. Softer, more open
habit. Bluish-grey-green foliage.
| Pennisetum
setaceum "Rubrum" |
Red Fountain Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Pink-Purple |
June-Frost |
4' |
4-5' |
Sun |
Deep Maroon foliage. Outstanding accent. NOT HARDY; treat as
annual here.
| Phalaris
arundinacea "Feesy" |
Ribbon Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| White, n.s. |
June |
2' |
3' |
PSh |
Finer foliage than Picta. Slight pink variegation on green
& white striped leaves. Ribbon grasses are aggressive, rhizomateus spreaders which
tolerate part shade, moist or poor soil. May be mown back in mid-summer to freshen
foliage.
| Phalaris
arundinacea "Picta" |
Ribbon Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| White, n.s. |
May-June |
18-24" |
2-3' |
PSh |
Bright green with white stripes.
| Schizachyrium
scoparium "The Blues" |
Little Bluestem |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| Wispy |
July |
12" |
2-3' |
Sun |
Tough, easy to grow native. Bright pink-orange fall color
holds well into winter. Bluish foliage, slightly taller, more open than festuca, slightly
wider leaves. Handles heat, humidity & drought.
| Sorghastrum
nutans "Sioux Blue" |
Indian Grass |
| Plume |
Bloom Time |
Foliage Hgt |
Plume Hgt |
Exposure |
| gold, showy |
Summer |
4-6' |
N/A |
Sun |
One of the most beautiful native grasses. Bright blue
foliage, stiff, upright growth. Great naturalized, as specimen.
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Ornamental Grasses Article
