Choosing Between Warm and Cool season Grasses
Ornamental grases are classified into warm season or cool season depending on when they are in active growth. Cool season grasses begin growth in late winter or early spring and by early summer they are flowering and their growth slows. Many cool season grasses could be considered 'all season' as they are often evergreen and look good all year. Warm season grasses start to grow much later when it gets warmer. Flowering doesn't start until late summer and they look fantastic late into the fall. Often the dormant foliage looks very attractive through the winter as well.
When choosing grasses it is ideal to choose a blend of warm and cool season grasses. This will provide interest from spring to fall.
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What Looks Good When: Spring, Summer and All-Season Grasses
Spring Grasses:
The following grasses are particularly showy early in the season.
Alopecurus pratensis ‘Aureus’ - Yellow Foxtail Grass
Arrhenatherum elatius bulbosum - Bulbous Oat Grass
Bouteloua gracilis - Mosquito Grass
Brizia media - Quaking Grass
Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ - Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Overdam’ - Variegated Feather Reed Grass
Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’ - Golden Sedge
Carex glauca - Blue Sedge
Carex muskingumensis - Palm Sedge
Carex muskingumensis ‘Little Midge’ - Miniature Palm Sedge
Carex pendula - Drooping Sedge
Carex siderosticha ‘Variegata’ - Broad leaved Sedge
Carex tumilicola - Berkeley Sedge
Cyperus glaber - Umbrella Sedge
Deschampsia varieties - Hair Grass
Eragrostis elliottii - Blue Love Grass
Eragrostis trichoides - Sand Love Grass
Glyceria maxima ‘Variegata’ - Variegated Manna Grass
Luzula nivea - Snowy Woodrush
Milium effusum ‘Aureum’ - Golden Wood Millet
Pennisetum orientale - Oriental Fountain Grass
Phalaris arundinacea ‘Feesey Form’ - Feesey’s Form Ribbon Grass
Sesleria varieties - Moor Grass
Stipa calamagrostis - Silver Spike Grass
Stipa tenuissima - Mexican Feather Grass
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Summer Grasses:
The following grasses are particularly showy in the summer and fall.
Anemanthele lessoniana - Pheasant’s Tail Grass
Arundo donax ‘Variegata’ - Variegated Giant Reed Grass
Baumea rubiginosa - Golden Sword Rush
Calamagrostis brachytricha - Korean Feather Grass
Chasmanthium latifolium - Northern Sea Oats
Hakonechloa macra - Hakone Grass
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ - Variegated Hakone Grass
Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’ - Japanese Blood Grass
Leymus arenarius ‘Findhorn’ - Dune Grass
Leymus condensatus ‘Canyon Prince’ - Dune Grass
Miscanthus varieties - Japanese Silver Grass
Molinia varieties - Moor Grass
Panicum varieties - Switch Grass
Pennisetum varieties - Fountain Grass
Saccharum ravennae - Ravenna Grass
Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’ - Little Bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans - Indian Grass
Spartina pectinata ‘Aureomarginata’ - Variegated Cord Grass
Themeda japonica - Japanese Themeda
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All Season Grasses:
The following grasses are attractive throughout the year.
Acorus gramineus varieties - Sweet Flag
Carex buchananii - New Zealand Sedge
Carex buchananii ‘Viridis’ - Green New Zealand Sedge
Carex caryophyllea ‘The Beatles’ - Mop-headed Sedge
Carex comans ‘Bronze’ - Bronze Sedge
Carex comans ‘Frosty Curls’ - Frosty Curls Hair Sedge
Carex conica ‘Snowline’ - Snowline Sedge
Carex flagellifera - Weeping Brown Sedge
Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’ - Ice Dance Sedge
Carex morrowii ‘Silk Tassel’ - Silk Tassel Sedge
Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ - Evergold Sedge
Carex testacea - Orange coloured Sedge
Cortaderia selloana varieties - Pampas Grass
Deschampsia flexuosa ‘Aurea’ - Tatra Gold Deschampsia
Festuca varieties - Fescue
Helictotrichon sempervirens ‘Sapphire’ - Sapphire Blue Oat Grass
Juncus varieties - Rush
Liriope muscari varieties - Lily turf
Ophiopogon planiscapus - Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ - Black Mondo Grass
Stipa gigantea - Giant Feather Grass
Uncinia uncinata - Red Hook Sedge
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Grasses for Specific Situations |
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