Home About Us Bare Root Information Growing Habits Contact UsTips for Choosing the Right Grass Grass Descriptions |
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Choosing Between Warm and Cool season GrassesOrnamental 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. What Looks Good When: Spring, Summer and All-Season GrassesSpring 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 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 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 Helictotrichon sempervirens ‘Sapphire’ - Sapphire Blue Oat Grass Juncus varieties - Rush Liriope muscari varieties - Lily turf Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ - Black Mondo Grass Stipa gigantea - Giant Feather Grass Uncinia uncinata - Red Hook Sedge Grasses for Specific Situations |
Drought Tolerant GrassesAlthough all grasses should have good irrigation while they are getting established, the following list are quite drought tolerant once established: Bouteloua gracilis - Mosquito Grass Calamagrostis varieties - Feather Reed Grass Helictotrichon sempervirens - Blue Oat Grass Koeleria glauca - Blue Hairgrass Panicum virgatum varieties - Switch Grass Schizachyrium scoparium - Bluestem |
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Grasses for ShadeThe following is a list of grasses that prefer the shade: Arrhenatherum elatius bulbosum ‘Variegata’ - Bulbous Oat Grass Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’ - Golden Sedge Deschampsia caespitosa varieties - Tufted Hair Grass Hakonechloa varieties - Golden Variegated Hakone Millium effusum ‘Aureum’ - Golden Wood Millet Phalaris arundinacea varieties - Ribbon Grass The following is a list of grasses that are tolerant of shade, but happy in the sun too: Chasmanthium latifolium - Northern Sea Oats Miscanthus ‘Purpurescens’ - Flame Grass Molinia varieties - Moor Grass Most grasses that prefer shade also prefer moisture. These ones like dry shade though: Astelia chathamica - Silver Spear Carex comans ‘Bronze’ - Bronze Sedge |
Moisture Loving GrassesThe following list of waterside grasses need constant moisture, but may not tolerate complete submersion of their crowns: Acorus gramineus varieties - Sweet Flag Chasmanthium latifolium - Northern Sea Oats Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’ - Blood Grass Molinia varieties - Moor Grass The following list of grasses are for marginal waters and will grow with their crowns submerged: Baumea rubiginosa ‘Variegata’ - Golden Sword Rush Cyperus papyrus - Dwarf Cyperus Glyceria maxima ‘Variegata’ - Manna Grass Spartina pectinata ‘Aureomarginata’ - Variegated Prairie Cord Grass |
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Salt Tolerant GrassesThe following list of grasses will tolerant areas where there is salt spray and wind: Carex testacea - Orange Coloured Sedge Chasmanthium latifolium - Northern Sea Oats Cortaderia richardii - Plumed Tussock Grass Cortaderia selloana varieties - Pampas Grass Panicum virgatum varieties - Switch Grass Pennisetum villosum - Feathertop Phalaris arundinacea varieties - Ribbon Grass Spartina pectinata ‘Aureomarginata’ - Variegated Prairie Cord Grass |
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Ornamental Grasses and DeerSurprisingly, deer don’t appear to be the least bit interested in ornamental grasses. Many have sharp leaf blades that would probably cut their mouths. In fact, these ones (e.g.Miscanthus, Cortaderia, Saccharum) can be used effectively to shield more vulnerable plants. Why they appear to be uninterested in the others is a mystery. topSome grasses that make great cut flowers |
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