ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
VARIETIES

The Ornamental Grasses category includes Semi-Aquatic varieties, indicated on the tag by a blue water droplet, for the wetter areas of your garden.

Grasses? These aren’t just things you mow, fertilize and water every weekend to have the lushest lawn in the neighborhood. So, let’s get to know a few of the "lawn" cousins that don’t belong in your lawn, but belong in your landscaping; true members of the grass family but used for striking accents in many applications. Here's just a few:

Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus' (Variegated Acorus)

Creeping rhizomes with fans of grasslike 1/4" wide leaves striped in green and white to 1 1/2' tall. Perennial; full sun to partial shade and ample water. Useful as a bog plant or in and around water gardens. Also good with collections of grasses, bamboos or sword leafed plants in rock gardens. Prune back in fall to renew growth.

Carex comans (New Zealand Hair Sedge)

Dense clumps of finely textured narrow leaves; silvery green and usually to 1" long, though can grow 3' - 6' under ideal conditions. Ends of leaves develop a curly little pig tail. As foliage gets taller, if falls over and if on a hillside, resembles flowing water. Perennial; full sun on coast and part shade inland. Prefers constantly moist soil. Good for borders, rock gardens, containers and water gardens.

Blue-gray grasslike foliage 6" to 12" tall. Evergreen only in the mildest climates. Hardy to 0 degrees. Creeping, but not invasive; spreads slowly. Withstands mild foot traffic and moderate shade; can be clipped like a lawn. Perennial; full sun on coast and partial shade inland. Prefers moist soil.

Cyperus papyrus (Papyrus)

One of the oldest used grasses by man – picture it along the Nile being beaten into the first paper. A giant among grasses, it has qualities unsurpassed in landscaping. Tall, to 10’, and equally as wide, it is sometimes likened to a lion’s tail – long, hard stems supporting a large, flowing pompom of graceful threads. Tropical and exotic with bold architectural lines, it is a perfect partner to water features and useful in softening hard structural situations. Best culture is full sun, lots of water and room to spread. Sensitive to frost, it may suffer a lot of foliage damage but bounces back in spring. It is generally regarded as evergreen and is a good pond plant if contained.

Similar to Papyrus, it is a little more reserved, growing to approximately 5’ tall and slightly less aggressive in its spreading habit. On top of its slender stems are narrow spreading leaves resembling the ribs of an umbrella. Lots of sun to partial shade suit this grass, and it will do equally well in regular landscape or in a shallow pool.

Plants 12" - 18" tall with fine texutred, thin leaves on top, arranged like the ribs of an umbrella.Perennial; grows in or out of water, full sun or shade. Good in or near ponds or water gardens, pots, planters and small rock gardens. Hardy to 30 degrees.

This diminutive grass looks like its big brother, the standard Papyrus, but has a "buzz cut." Instead of the long, flowing "lion’s tail", this is a well-trimmed pompom of clusters of stiff, green threadlike leaves sitting atop 18" stems. Useful in pots sunken into ponds or water gardens for the graceful effect of the slender stems. Offers a low profile architectural presence with good general landscape conditions. Very useful in Oriental gardens. Perennial; full sun or shade and grown in or out of water. Hardy to 30 degrees.

Not much to say here that hasn’t been said – it looks like Cyperus alternifolius with slightly broader leaves and a softer, more graceful appearance but is only 20" tall! Good in general landscaping and great in containers in ponds. Perennial; will grow in any exposure: sun, part shade or shade. In nature this is a bog plant, so it can be grown directly in ponds or water gardens but will do equally well with regular watering in containers or landscaping.

This is a low growing, clumping and mounding grass 4" to 10" high. The leaves are narrow, needle-like and soft to the touch but tough. The subtle blue/grey color is suited for borders, rock gardens and xeriscapes. It prefers well draining soil, full sun and will tolerate some shade. It naturalizes well in rock gardens and "Southwest" applications. Needs little water once established in zones 1-9, 14-24; in Zones 10-13 it needs as much water as lawn grass. Useful as a ground cover on slopes or level ground. Good accent plant in rock gardens. Clip back near to ground if plants start to look shabby. It is hardy to below zero and is considered evergreen. Festuca ovina also has color variations in blue-green and green.

Plants are evergreen 2' to 3' tall. Blue Oat Grass forms a fountain-like shape of bright blue-grey leaves. Perennial; full sun, regular water and good drainage. Good accent plant with boulders in landscaping and rock gardens.

Imperata cylindrica (Japanese Blood Grass)

Clumping grass with erect leaves to 2' tall. Top half of leaves is a rich, blood red. Perennial;full sun to part shade and regular water.
Excellent in borders where sun can shine through the blades. Spreads by underground runners, completely dormant in winter.

Juncus effusus (Common Rush)

Though more at home growing in moist to wet locations, this grass cousin can also be used in less natural applications if provided with adequate watering. Slender , round, stiff stems of dark olive green rise from the central root system forming a 1’ - 4’ tall almost round spiky mound. Great for ponds and edgewater placement. This is the traditional Rush used in Japan for weaving Tatami or sleeping mats.

Leaflike stems to 1/4" thick and
up to 2 1/2' tall. Stems grow in curly, corkscrew manner becoming even more so as the plant matures. Perennial; full sun or light shade
and ample water or in water.
Useful in water gardens, around
bogs or ponds.

Leaflike stems to 1/4" thick and up to 2 1/2' tall. Erect, medium green arching towards the tips. Perennial; full sun or light shade and ample water or in water. Useful in water gardens, or at the edge of ponds or streams.

Ornamental grasses up to 5' high with graceful slender plumes. Perennial; full sun or shade and best with ample watering. Good background accent plant.

Pennisetum setaceum var. rubrum (Red Fountain Grass)

The Fountain Grasses are a group known for their beautiful fluffy flower heads and cascading, fountain-like foliage. This tall (to 4’), strikingly colored red fountain grass is from a seed-sterile sport and won’t overtake the landscaping with seedlings like its predecessors. This is a good grass for xeriscape applications and any general landscape application with loads of full sun. Needs little water once established. It can be sensitive to very hard freezes.

Phalaris arundinacea 'tricolor' (Variegated Ribbon Grass)

Green and white striped leaves blushed with pink 6" - 8" long on stems 1 1/2' - 2 1/2' tall. Spreading but not agressive. Perennial; best in light shade and ample water; doesn't like to dry out. Good accent plant along ponds or streams and can be grown in shallow, to 2" of water. As regular landscape accent, be sure to protect from hot inland sun and provide frequent watering.

Scirpus cernuus (Fiber Optics Grass)

The "Fiber Optics Grass" is so called because on the end of each strand of a leaf is a bright, yellowish dot (which is the flower), giving it the appearance of one of those fiber-optic "bouquets" that one would see in a department store. This is one of the few grasses that performs well in deep shade; however, it will do very nicely in full sun as well, as long as it has abundant water. This is an excellent water-side feature plant, and can even grow directly in shallow water settings where its leaves can get up above. Hardy to the low 20’s, this little clumping grass stays put and is the brightest, freshest, spring green color that you can imagine!

Stipa (Feather Grass)

Fine textured ornamental grasses with large open and airy plumes. Perennial; full sun and regular watering. Use to impart lightness and motion to a garden.