Grasses are more than just groundcover.  When used in landscapes, they can add a great deal to the texture, color, movement and even sound of your garden.  They can be used as individual specimens, in mass plantings or as border plant.  Many of them are also a good source of dried materials for arrangements.  Here is a description of some favorites:

ANDROPOGON – GERARDI

BIG BLUE STEM  - prairie grass, 72” height, for edge of woods or background or windbreak.  Good for dried arrangements.

CALAMAGROSTIS – REED FEATHER

ELDORADO - slender green leaves have a bright gold streak down the center.  Tan flower head. Height 4-5’.

KARL FORESTER – showy feather plumes with wheat colored seed heads, full sun to partial shade, 5 feet

FESTUCA – BLUE FESCUE

ELIJAH BLUE – one of the nicest blues – color holds up well all summer – 10” height

HAKONECHLOA

HAKONE VARIEGATED - non-invasive, has brilliant yellow, bamboo-like foliage streaked with green lines. In fall, foliage turns an intense ruby pink. Attractive as a specimen, in mass plantings, or in combination with other shade loving plants. Height 12”.

IMPERATA – JAPANESE BLOOD GRASS

RED BARON – emerges bright green with wine red stined tips. Completely red foliage in fall – 16” height

MISCANTHUS – MAIDEN GRASS

AMUR SILVER – White plumes – Aggressive plant – 96” height 

FLAME PURPURASCENS - medium green foliage with reddish tint, turning orange-red in fall, silvery purple flowers, height 4-5’ tall, spread 24-36”, well drained soil in full sun to part shade, nice for screen and birds.

PORCUPINE – bright green with golden horizontal banding, stiff, upright habit, copper turning fluffy tan, flowers in September, 6-8 feet, spread 24-36”, average well drained soil in full sun to part shade.

SILVER FEATHER – silvery white plumes August – September, height 6’.

VARIGATUS – longitudinal stripes on green foliage, height 6’.

PANICUM – SWITCH GRASS

DALLAS BLUES – wide blue foliage, mauve flower heads, good winter color, height 6’

HEAVY METAL – bright, metallic blue foliage, pink flowers, yellow and red fall highlights, 60” height

SHENANDOAH (RED) – bright red foliage appears in June – red flowers later in summer – 36” height

PHARLAIS – RIBBON GRASS

RIBBON GRASS  – green and white striped leaves, spreads rapidly, does well in poor dry soils, approximately 2’ high.

RAVENNAE  - PAMPAS

NORTHERN PAMPAS – 10-14’ plumes tower over 5’ foliage, full sun