GardeningSphere

Autumn Moor Grass

The Grass, 'Autumn Moor', Sesleria autumnalis, is very upright. This grass is a tough yet beautiful evergreen with vivid yellow green to almost chartreuse foliage. The attractive flowers grow up to 4" to 6" long, and emerge as purplish black upright spikes. The blades are held erect and become silvery white in late summer to fall. The lime green foliage is ideal for edging. A phenomenal grass to use as a large-scale groundcover, a filler in beds, or as an under planting for shrubs and trees.

Big Bluestem Grass

The Grass, 'Big Bluestem', Andropogon gerardii, is a native prairie grass. This grass is also called Turkey feet because the shape of the seed heads look like turkey feet. It is also called beard grass. The name big bluestem grass comes from the fact that this grass can grow to very big, 4 to 7 feet as a matter of fact. The hairy blades, which can get to be 12 inches long and 1/2 inch wide, will get a red tinge on the leaves as they get older, and turn bronze in the fall. Very attractive grass which works well as an accent plant or in mass plantings.

Blue Oat Grass

The Grass 'Blue Oat Grass', Helictotrichon sempervirens , is more enduring than blue fescues. Blue Oat grass is the best choice for accents. The clear blue summer foliage echoes with dwarf blue spruce and blue junipers. For a dramatic effect, try Helictotrichon with deep maroon leaved Canna lilies. The blades are upright and divergent. Blue Oat grasses are mostly grown for its metallic blue foliage. The handsome flowers resembling one-sided oat panicles appear in June and grow 1-2 feet above the leaves.

China Love Grass

The Grass 'China Love Grass', Eragrostis sp., is a dense mounded grass with a handsome compact foliage. The beautiful, pinkish-red, airy flowers, from summer to fall, form a dense, cloud-like appearance over clumping, dwarf foliage. Place this grass in full sun. China Love grasses begin to bloom early. This fescue-like plant produces fluffy drifts of pinkish red flowers through summer. As the seed heads mature, they turn an enchanting shade of gold.

Grass- Dallas Blues Switch Grass

The Ornamental Grass 'Dallas Blues Switch Grass', 'Panicum 'Dallas Blues' PPAF', also known as Switch Grass, is one of the finest native ornamental grasses. This fast grower has blue foliage and tan to pink flower spikes that appear in late summer to early fall. Extremely heat and humidity tolerant, it will do wonderful in drier areas. With a plant height of 4-6' and spread of 18", try planting with Echinacea and Salvia or in mass plantings. Protected by Plant Breeder's Rights - propagation prohibited.

Denver Botanic Garden Brome Grass

The Grass 'Denver Botanic Garden Brome', Brachypodium sylvaticum, is a mounded ornamental grass. It is beautiful with Hostas and Ferns. The soft downy foliage and slender oat-like flowers need good drainage to look their best. They can be planted along banks of ponds, incorporated into perennial gardens, grouped together, utilized as a ground cover along walkways, paths or on steep banks. They aren't fussy about soil requirements, are drought tolerant as well as insect and disease resistant.

Dwarf Fountain Grass

The Grass 'Dwarf Fountain Grass', Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'. The dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln' is a great grass for a specimen or in mass plantings. The leaves are narrow and arch; add to this seed-heads that resemble bottlebrushes, which are a rose copper bristly head. They can be planted along banks of ponds, incorporated into perennial gardens, grouped together, utilized as a ground cover along walkways, paths or on steep banks. They aren't fussy about soil requirements, are drought tolerant as well as insect and disease resistant.

Dwarf Variegated Ribbon Grass

The Grass 'Dwarf Variegated Ribbon grass', Phalaris arundinacea dwarf garters, is an outstanding, upright arching grass. It is similar to 'Strawberries and Cream', except the white-striped foliage loses its pink tint by early summer. It's also better mannered and not as floppy. Showy, soft white flowers rise 6 - 12" above the foliage. Even after the first frost has turned the foliage and flowers warm beige, their beauty remains throughout the winter. Dwarf Variegated Ribbon grasses are aggressive growers.

Dwarf White Striped Sweet Flag Grass

The Grass 'Dwarf White Striped Sweet Flag', Acorus gramineus Variegatus, is a mounded, non-invasive rhizome. This old garden favorite loves moist conditions. The arching sword-like foliage will light up shady corners, form attractive mass plantings, or add a bold accent. Sweet Flag is neither a sedge or a grass but a grass-like perennial and does well planted by the side of a pond or any boggy spot. It is evergreen and will grow in light shade or sun.

Grass - Elijah Blue Fescue

The Ornamental Grass 'Elijah' Blue', 'Festuca glauca', also know as Blue Fescue, is a wonderful ornamental grass that should not be passed by. With its bluish gray foliage, the plumes appear overwhelming from June to July. 'Elijah Blue' has a plant height of 12" and spread of 12-24". This grass prefers full sun, but will tolerate morning shade. Combined with blue and purple flowers, such as Salvia and Veronica, it adds color and contrast to any perennial garden. For best results, comb through the plant in winter to remove dead foliage. Keep well watered in hot summer months, especially when becoming established.

Evergold Sedge Grass

The Grass 'Evergold Sedge', Carex hoshimensis 'Evergold' is a mounded grass. A Japanese sedge that forms a low cascading clump of evergreen leathery leaves with a sunny cream-colored stripe down the center.'Evergolds' will tolerate dry shade but prefers sites with moist, rich soil. Evergold Sedge Grass is a choice plant for edging or in the rock garden. It is a great container plant as well as a good ground cover.

Grass - Fairy Tails Fountain Grass

The Ornamental Fountain Grass 'Fairy Tails', 'Pennisetum 'Fairy Tails' PPA', is a new variety on the market today. With dark, wheat colored foxtail blooms rising above the foliage in spring and summer, it is one not to pass by. 'Fairy Tails' should be planted in full sun and has a plant height and width of 3-5'. This low maintenance ornamental grass is extremely heat tolerant. Use in beds, in mass plantings or with Rudbeckia, Heliopsis or Gaillardia.

Feather Reed Grass

The Grass 'Feather Reed Grass', Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster', is a beautiful upright grass. 'Karl Forester' is a cool season grower with dark green, shiny foliage that appears in early spring and lasts until late fall. The flowers appear in June - earlier than many other ornamental grasses. It grows best in moist, well-drained fertile soil, and does well in moist heavy clay soil. This is a cool-season grass, which allows planting or transplanting in spring or fall. It truly has year-round beauty.

Golden Fruited Sedge Grass

The Grass 'Golden Fruited Sedge', Cyperales Cyperaceae Carex aurea, is a mounded sedge grass. A Sedge with beautiful silver foliage and showy spring flowers that yield bright yellow fruit is a choice Hosta companion. A very nice tufted perennial grass. They can be planted along banks of ponds, incorporated into perennial gardens, grouped together, utilized as a ground cover along walkways, paths or on steep banks. They aren't fussy about soil requirements, are drought tolerant as well as insect and disease resistant.

Golden Toupee Fescue Grass

The Grass 'Golden Toupee Fescue', Festuca ovina glauca 'Golden Toupee', is a beautiful tufted ornamental grass. A superb choice for a showy border planting or rock garden, the tight clumps of bright yellow foliage also complement conifers and other evergreens and also work well in containers. Somewhat insignificant, pale green flowers first appear in flattened, terminal panicles above the foliage on erect, slender stems in early summer, maturing to a straw color by mid-summer Pest and disease free.

Golden Variegated Hakone Grass

The Grass 'Golden Variegated Hakone Grass', Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', is a mounded non-invasive rhizome grass. It has brilliant yellow, bamboo-like foliage streaked with green lines. In the fall, the leaves turn an intense ruby pink. Golden Variegated Hakone Grass is attractive as a specimen, in mass plantings, or in combination with other shade loving plants. Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil with light shade or half-day sun. The yellow variegation turns red/brown if grown in too much sun. Pest and disease free.

Golden Variegated Sweet Flag Grass

The Grass 'Golden Variegated Sweet Flag', Acorus gramineus Ogon, is a mounded, non-invasive rhizome grass. It is great for containers, edging or as a groundcover. Fragrant, butter yellow sword-like blades create a striking contrast. Rich golden yellow foliage grows to 10 inches high, 1 foot spread. It has a typical philodendron flower that can be used fresh or dried. It grows well in pots, ponds, as an edging or groundcover and even grows indoors. It doesn't like to dry out but can handle sun or shade.

Green Sedge Grass

The Grass 'Green Sedge', Carex dipsacea, is a mounded sedge. It is striking and versatile. Green Sedge features slender, iridescent olive green leaves. It does well in a variety of conditions, especially mixed containers. This perennial is a native plant. Contrary to true ornamental grasses, Green Sedge grows well in shaded situations with moist, well-drained soil. These grass-like, clumping plants are grown for foliage effect in borders, containers, ground cover, rock gardens and water gardens.

Heavy Metal Switch Grass

The Grass 'Heavy Metal Switch Grass', Panicum virgatum, is also known as Blue Switch Grass. The 'Heavy Metal' switch grass has a striking metallic blue leaf color. It has a very upright, erect growth habit and will not fall over in a heavy rain. In autumn, pink flowers are formed and the fall leaf color is yellow. The loose, broad, weeping plumes of purple-green "spikelets", bloom stalks rise above the foliage. It is quite handsome when used in groups. It thrives in full to partial sun.

Horsetail Rush Grass

The Grass 'Horsetail Rush', Equisetum hyemele, is an upright mounded, clumping rhizome. Horsetail Rush Grass is an ancient plant with bushy, slender stems and a weeping habit. When young, the slender stems grow horizontally but the plant sends up thicker, vertical stems as it ages. In winter, the evergreen, gray green foliage turns a rich bronze. It has jointed, hollow stems that are furrowed and green with black bands that give it a bamboo-like appearance.

Grass - Ice Dance Sedge

The Ornamental Grass 'Ice Dance', 'Carex 'Ice Dance', also known as Sedge, is a great addition to a shaded perennial garden. This easily grown Sedge prefers wet soil and is low maintenance, but does need regular watering. 'Ice Dance' has a plant height and spread of 12-15". With grass-like green leaves, the centers are pure white with triangular stems, as compared to rounded grass stems. Try planting this Sedge in woodland gardens, as a border plant or combined with Heuchera and Ferns. It has no significant insect or disease problems.

Indian Grass

The Grass 'Indian Grass', Sorghastrum nutans, is a clump forming native grass that reaches 4-5' in height. Indian grass is one of the most important native tall grasses. There are prominent claw-like lobes or "rabbit-ears" at the point where the leaf blade attaches to the stem. Indian Grasses have plume-like seed heads that turn a chestnut brown, and later take on a gray coloration. This grass is fairly tolerant to drought conditions. Seeds are consumed by birds and small mammals.

Leather Leaf Sedge Grass

The Grass 'Leather Leaf Sedge', Carex buchananii, is an upright grass and a native of New Zealand. This variety prefers moist, fast-draining, rocky soil. The finely textured copper foliage contrasts vividly with dark green, blue, and silver plants. Equally at home in containers and rock gardens, this evergreen perennial's copper foliage is attractive on this fine textured grass. The clumps can grow up to 3 tall, with a spreading form and arching gracful & dainty foliage.

Little Bluestem Grass

The Grass 'Little Bluestem', Schizachyrium scoparium, is a native American prairie grass. It is also know as "Sage grass" or "Beard grass'. It can reach up to 3-4' and has a bluish hue to the leaves. The leaves turn a rich orangey wheat color in fall. Flowers are scattered along the upper parts of the stem branches, with long hairs creating a feathery appearance. There is a single, white, hairy flower cluster at the tip of each stalk.