Grasses
have always been a part of the earths natural
landscape. Because of their versatility grasses
are being used more and more in the home garden
or landscape. They can be used as fillers or specimens,
borders or background plantings, as groundcovers
or screens, and also in container plantings. Their
adaptability and beauty make them perfect companions
to flowering plants and woody ornamentals. Ornamental
grasses are available in a wide array of colors,
textures, shapes, and forms. The flowers or plumes,
with subsequent seedheads, are equally as diverse
in color and texture and often quite spectacular.
Each grass species has its own unique form ranging
from mounding, to upright, to mat-forming groundcovers.
Ornamental grasses are a must in every landscape
as they add interesting and unique contrast and
are very easy to grow.
|
Below
is a listing of hardy ornamental grasses
that perform well in Zone
8
|
Name: |
Sweet Flag 'Ogon' |
Botanical: |
Acorus |
| Height
x Width: |
12-15"
H x 12-18" W |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun or Part Shade |
| Foliage
Color: |
Golden |
| Water: |
Moist or dry |
| Features: |
Features
iris-like tufts of narrow,
grass-like, variegated leaf
blades (6-12" tall
and 1/4" wide) which
are striped with yellow
and green but primarily
appear as yellow. Tufts
slowly spread by creeping
roots to form a dense ground
cover. Foliage is sweetly
fragrant. |
| Companions: |
Combine
in the garden or containers
with Iris Psuedacorus, Perennial
Hibiscus, Calla Lily, Elephant
Ear, Swamp Sunflower, Joe
Pye Weed, and other plants
and trees that prefer damp
to wet soils. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Cosmopolitan Grass |
Botanical: |
Miscanthus |
| Height
x Width: |
5-6'
H x 3-4' W |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun or Part Shade |
| Foliage: |
Variegated white and green |
| Water: |
Drought
tolerant |
| Features: |
'Cosmopolitan'
has become recognized as
one of the best variegated
miscanthus. It has a wider
leaf than most and very
wide, vertical white striping
throughout the leaf. |
| Companions: |
Abelias,
Barberries, Cotoneaster,
Hollies, Junipers, Loropetalums,Dwarf
Nandinas, Sprieas, Knockout
Rose, Lantanas, other Ornamental
Grasses, Sedums and many
other perennials. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Horsetail
Reed Grass |
Botanical: |
Equisetum hymale |
| Height
x Width: |
4-6'H
x 3'+W |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun or Part Shade |
| Water: |
Prefers it wet or damp. |
| Features: |
A prehistoric
grass resembling leafless
bambo,that spreads in moisture
retentive or wet soils.
Can be planted in the garden
pond. Deer resistant and
excellent for use in cut
flower arrangements. |
| Companions: |
Iris
Psuedacorus, Perennial Hibiscus,
Calla Lily, Elephant Ear,
Swamp Sunflower, Joe Pye
Weed, Riverbirch, and other
plants and trees that prefer
damp to wet soils. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Liriope
'Big Blue' - (Monkey Grass) |
Botanical: |
Liriope muscari |
| Height
x Width: |
12" H
- Space 15-18" apart |
| Exposure: |
Shade or afternoon shade |
| Bloom
Color: |
Violet-Purple |
| Bloom
Time: |
Summer |
| Water: |
Very drought tolerant |
| Features: |
The violet-purple
flower spikes rise above
the dark blue-green grassy
foliage in Summer. 'Big
Blue' Liriope forms neat
clumps and does not become
invasive like other older
varieties of Liriope. Easy
to grow and useful as a
groundcover or border in
situations with afternoon
sahde or shade. You can't
kill this one! |
| Companions: |
Useful
to underplant small trees
such as Japanese Maples,
as a groundcover under large
shade trees, or a border
in islands or foundation
plantings. Space 15-18"
apart. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Liriope
'Silver Dragon' |
Botanical: |
Liriope spicata |
| Height
x Width: |
12" H
- Space 18-24" apart |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun or Partial Shade |
| Bloom
Color: |
Violet-Purple |
| Bloom
Time: |
Summer |
| Water: |
Low |
| Features: |
Outstanding
white blades with a dark
green stripe make for an
excellent contrast in the
landscape. This one is a
spreader and is best used
as a groundcover in contained
areas. Easy to grow! You
can't kill this one! |
| Companions: |
Useful
as a groundcover in foundation
plantings, under trees,
or in sitting areas. Space
15-18" apart. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Liriope
'Variegated' (Monkey Grass) |
Botanical: |
Liriope |
| Height
x Width: |
12" H
- Space 15-18" apart |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun or Part Shade |
| Bloom
Color: |
Violet-Blue |
| Bloom
Time: |
Summer |
| Water: |
Low |
| Features: |
Outstanding
variegated leaves make for
an excellent contrast in
the landscape. Forms neat
clumps and is not invasive.
Easy to grow. You can't
kill this one! |
| Companions: |
Useful
to underplant small trees
such as Japanese Maples
and Crape Myrtles, as a
groundcover under large
shade trees, or a border
in islands or foundation
plantings. Space 15-18"
apart. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Dwarf
Mondo Grass |
Botanical: |
Ophiogon |
| Height
x Width: |
2-3"
H - Space 12-15" apart |
| Exposure: |
Shade or Afternoon Shade |
| Bloom
Color: |
Pale violet |
| Bloom
Time: |
Summer |
| Water: |
Low |
| Features: |
Grass-like,
dark blue-green slender
foliage spreads by underground
stolons. Forms a dense carpet
wherever planted. |
| Companions: |
Excellent
for underplanting small
trees such as Japanese Maples
or use as a groundcover
around sitting areas or
under the canopy of large
trees. Also useful between
stepping stones or pavers. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Maiden
Grass |
Botanical: |
Miscanthus gracillimus |
| Height
x Width: |
4-5'H
x 3-4'W |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun |
| Bloom
Color: |
Buff Plumes |
| Bloom
Time: |
Summer/Fall |
| Water: |
Low |
| Features: |
Forms neat,
dense, graceful clumps of
slender silvery-green grass-like
foliage from which rises
fluffy, white plumes in
late Summer and Fall. Use
this drought tolerant, low
maintenance grass as a specimen,
or in groups, just about
anywhere in the landscape.
A Wilson Bros. Favorite! |
| Companions: |
Abelias,
Barberries, Cotoneaster,
Hollies, Junipers, Loropetalums,Dwarf
Nandinas, Sprieas, Knockout
Rose, Lantanas, other Ornamental
Grasses, Sedums and many
other perennials. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Muhly
Grass |
Botanical: |
Muhlenbergia capillaries |
| Height
x Width: |
3-4' H x 3'
W |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun |
| Bloom
Color: |
Pinkish-Purple |
| Bloom
Time: |
Fall |
| Water: |
Very drought tolerant |
| Features: |
Rose-Purple
wispy plumes appear in early
Fall on this coastal-looking
grass. Dark green, slender,
grassy foliage is attractive.
Most outstanding when planted
in groups of 3 or more.
Very drought tolerant. |
| Companions: |
Other
ornamental grasses, , Junipers,
Barberries, Abelias, Dwarf
Nandinas, Dwarf Spireas,
Sedums and many other drought
tolerant plants and perennials. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Pampas
Grass - White |
Botanical: |
Cortaderia selloana |
| Height
x Width: |
6-9' H x 5-6'
W |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun |
| Bloom
Color: |
Buff plumes |
| Bloom
Time: |
Fall |
| Water: |
Low |
| Features: |
Elegant,
large fluffy plumes rise
above the huge clumps of
slender, weeping foliage.
Useful as an accent anywhere
in the landscape that the
sun shines. Also useful
as a screen. |
| Companions: |
Abelias,
Barberries, Hollies, Junipers,
Nandinas, Spireas, Yucca,
and many more. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Pink
Pampas Grass |
Botanical: |
A |
| Height
x Width: |
8-9' H x 5-6'
W |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun |
| Bloom
Color: |
Pink plumes |
| Bloom
Time: |
Fall |
| Water: |
Low |
| Features: |
Same as
White Pampas Grass but with
pink plumes! |
| Companions: |
Ableias,
Barberries, Hollies, Junipers,
Nandinas, Spireas, Yucca,
and many more. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Pony
Tails Grass |
Botanical: |
Stipa tenuissima |
| Height
x Width: |
8-9' H x 5-6'
W |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun |
| Bloom
Color: |
White to golden golden |
| Bloom
Time: |
Summer-Fall |
| Water: |
Drought tolerant |
| Features: |
A
neat, compact, perennial
grass, this has lots of
close-packed, stiff, thread-like
stems forming a strongly
horizontal shape. In summer,
plants are covered with
masses of elegant pale feathery
seed-heads which are held
a little above the foliage.
These can be cut and dried
when first opened for use
in winter arrangements indoors.
Alternatively they make
a useful winter food source
for finches and other seed-eating
birds. |
| Companions: |
Ableias,
Barberries, Hollies, Junipers,
Nandinas, Spireas, Yucca,
and drought tolerant perennials
and more. |
|
|
|
Name: |
Zebra
Grass |
Botanical: |
Miscanthus zebrinus |
| Height
x Width: |
5-6' H x 4-5'
W |
| Exposure: |
Full Sun or light shade |
| Bloom
Color: |
Buff plumes |
| Bloom
Time: |
Fall |
| Water: |
Low |
| Features: |
The blades
of this grass have horizontal
yellow stripes from top
to bottom! An exceelent
contrast in the landscape
or perennial garden. Very
drought tolerant. |
| Companions: |
Abelias,
Barberries, Hollies, Junipers,
Dwarf Nandinas, Dwarf Spireas,
many perennials, and more. |
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|
All
About Ornamental Grasses
How
to Plant a Shrub
Plant
Files |
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