Grasses

Acorus gramineus 'Aureus'

Dwarf Golden Sweetflag, Grassy-leaved Sweetflag

Size: 3-5”
Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Growth Habit: Very small, clump forming.

Bright gold, sword-like evergreen grass. Good groundcover.

DR N

Andropogon gerardii

Big Bluestem, Turkey Foot

Size: 3-8'
Hardiness: Zone 3
Growth Habit: Upright.

The Monarch Prairie Grass! This outstanding native grass is tolerant of various soil types from wet clay to dry sand . In late summer its foliage is blue-green throughout summer and changes to an attractive reddish coppery tone. Fantastic late season interest; use this for open fields and meadows, along roadside etc. Great with Asters and other late perennials.

DR N

Andropogon glomeratus

Bushy Beard Grass

Size: 2'

Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Growth Habit: Clump forming and bushy.

Golden, flat, linear leaves that produce small spikelets in summer. A pioneer soil stabilizing plant great for moist to average soils. It is bushier than A. virginicus. A natural for wet areas. Very attractive and distinct seed heads. One of the showiest native grasses. Lovely to see these grasses in the winter, still standing proud when the eye yearns for something cheerful in the landscape.

DR N

Andropogon virginicus

Broom Sedge

Size: 2 - 3'

Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Growth Habit: Clump-forming.

Probably one of the most prominent native grasses. This pioneer species is extremely durable to almost any adverse conditions such as drought or salt spray . Develops a wispy inflorescence (flower) that looks great even through the winter if not cut back. Golden, warm season grass found in open fields with dry or poor soils.

Arundo donax 'Variegata'

Arundo

Size : 10-12' Stalks

Hardiness : Zone 7

Growth Habit : Broadly variegated leaves.

Briza media

Quaking Grass

Size: 18-24”

Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Growth Habit: Upright clump.

Cool season grass sets flower and seed in early summer. Bears panicles of translucent, dangling seed heads on wiry stems. Green at first, the seed heads turn a warm tan color as they dry. Cut back after seed heads shatter to encourage fresh growth.

Calamagrostis ‘Avalanche'

Variegated Feather Reed Grass

Size: 48”

Hardiness: Zones 4-7
Growth Habit: Upright clump.

Hot season, new Feather Reed grass has a wide, white band down the center of the leaf blade. Silvery tan plumes starting mid summer.

Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'

Feather Reed Grass

Size : 4-5'

Hardiness :

Growth Habit : Tall, upright.

Early flowering grass with long lasting, wheat-like inflorescense. Great with Buddleia, Boltonia, Monarda.

DR N

Carex appalachica

Appalachian Sedge

Size: 12-24”

Hardiness: Zone 5
Growth Habit: Prostrate.

Medium green foliage with a very fine texture. Naturalizes a shade or woodland garden, and prefers dry grounds. When planted on a slope, this grass can give the impression of the movement of wind and water.

Carex bergrenii

Sedge

Size : 4"

Hardiness : Zone 6

Growth Habit : Loose tufts of leaves, long leaves, and small flower spikes.

Color-changing with blue-green, metallic gray, and reddish-brown. Good trough plant.

Carex buchananii

Leatherleaf Sedge

Size : 18"

Hardiness : Zone 6

Growth Habit : Densely tufted, flower spikes, narrow blades.

Curled at tips.

Carex com. 'Frosted Curls'

New Zealand Hair Sedge

Size : 12-15"

Hardiness : Zones 7-9

Growth Habit : Clump-forming.

Very attractive fine weeping foliage. Average to dry spots. Narrow leaves seem almost iridescent, silvery green.

Carex conica ‘Snowline'

Miniature Variegated Sedge

Size: 8-10”

Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Growth Habit: Tiny clump forming.

Small, tufted, perennial grass with green-edged, fine, cream leaves and purple-brown flower spikes. Long, narrow foliage. Prefers moist, but well-drained soil. Uncommon in the U.S., but popular in Europe. Species native to Japan.

DR N

Carex emoryi

Emoryi Sedge

Size: 24”

Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Growth Habit: Forms a dense tussock.

This wetland native has straw colored leaves at base with bright green new growth emerging from the top.

Carex 'Ice Dance'

Sedge

Size : 12-15"

Hardiness :

Growth Habit : Leathery, semi-evergreen leaves. Weed-smothering groundcover.

Carex morowii ‘Ice Dance'

Japanese Sedge, Marrow's Sedge

Size: 12” Tall and Wide

Hardiness: Zones 6-9
Growth Habit: Variegated, clump forming.

Low maintenance ground cover. This is a new, improved introduction of variegated sedge. Long arching blades are shiny, brilliant silvery white, very crisp and clean over rich green. This improvement is drought tolerant once established, quite vigorous and mostly evergreen. Very shade tolerant, best in rich soils. Great groundcover plant for illuminating shady gardens.

Carex morrowii 'Silver Sceptre'

Sedge

Size : 10-12"

Hardiness : Zones 5-9

Growth Habit : Clump-forming.

Clump forming green leaves with a wide white margin. Attractive ground cover that can be used in troughs and rock gardens.

Carex musk. 'Little Midge'

Sedge

Size : 12-15"

Hardiness : Full Zones 5-9

Growth Habit : Compact and dense.

Very fine foliage - erect stems bear bright green leaves. In early to mid-summer produces golden brown flower spikes.

DR N

Carex pennsylvanica

Pennsylvania Sedge

Size: 8"

Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Growth Habit: Clump-forming, spreading. Weeping, mounding habit.

A wonderful groundcover for average to dry deciduous shade. Our prevalent, indispensable, native grass is happiest under Oak trees. This is one of the first plants to green up in the spring with flowers tan in color. Leaves are a nice, glossy green. Average to dry soils will do. Plant in mass and let slowly spread for a groundcover, where little else will grow. Nice alternative to a lawn that won't grow in the shade, no mowing needed.

DR N

Carex plantaginea

Plantain-leaved Sedge

Size : 1-2'

Hardiness : Zones 4-9

Growth Habit : Clump-forming.

Flowers are brownish-black in color and arching emerging early spring. Broad, flat leaves are bright green with many veins. This evergreen sedge is best suited for woodland settings.

DR N

Carex platyphylla

Silver Sedge

Size : 8-12"

Hardiness : Zones 4-8

Growth Habit : Clump-forming. Spreads slowly to form a lovely groundcover.

Brown flowers in April-May. Beautiful, pleated gray-green leaves look good all winter.

Carex siderostica 'Banana Boat'

Sedge

Size :

Hardiness : Zones 6-9

Growth Habit : Needs warm weather to emerge.

Gold leaves with green edges

Carex siderostica 'Island Brocade'

Sedge

Size :

Hardiness : Zone 6

Growth Habit : Broad arching blades.

Creamy yellow blades.

Carex siderostica 'Variegata'

Sedge

Size : 12"

Hardiness : Zones 6-9

Growth Habit : Clump-forming.

Slender, pale brown flower spikes in late spring. Broad pale green leaves, striped white and pink flushed at base.

Carex spec. 'The Beatles'

Mop-headed Sedge

Size : 3-4"

Hardiness : Zones 7-9

Growth Habit : Low, evergreen.

Dark green leaves. Inconspicuous flowers are held down by foliage. Slow-creeping habit and fine textured leaves make it a useful plant.

Carex stricta

Tussock Sedge

Size : 2-3"

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Clump-forming. Forms dense tussocks of straw-colored leaves at base.

Bright green new growth emerges from the top. Found in wet meadows, swamps and along stream banks.

DR N

Carex stricta ‘Variegata'

Sedge

Size: 9-12”

Hardiness: Zone 4
Growth Habit: Rapid grower.

Green leaf blades with white stripes. Requires moist soil.

DR N

Carex vulpinoidea

Fox Sedge

Size : 3'

Hardiness : Zones 4-8

Growth Habit : Medium height, obligate wetland plant.

Freshwater marshes, wet meadows.

Chasmanthium latifolium

Northern Sea Oats

Size: 2-3'

Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Growth Habit: Clump-forming, upright.

This attractive, native grass is tolerant of shade, drought, salt , and spreads fairly rapidly. Sometimes used in dry flower arrangements.

Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila'

Compact Pampas Grass

Size: 4-6'
Hardiness: Zones 7-10
Growth Habit: Dense, clump forming.

Very architectural, this is a gray-green grass with showy flower heads in August with large, cone-shaped heads, the best of the Pampas. Tolerant of coastal conditions , but cannot tolerate standing water or wet feet. Hardiness can be inconsistent.

Cortaderia selloana 'Usballata'

Pampas Grass

Size : 7'

Hardiness : Zones 6-10

Growth Habit : Clump-forming.

This cultivar has huge, ivory colored plumes - Outstanding! Plant found in Usballata, Argentinean village in the Andes foothills.

DR N

Deschampsia flexuosa

Crinkled Hair Grass

Size: 8-12"

Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Growth Habit: Clumping.

Tufts of slender leaves and a bouquet of slim-stemmed flower spikelets colored purple or bronze when they emerge in summer, turn mellow to a fine gold. Wonderfully arching flowers have a crinkle to them, making a shimmering haze when backlit by the sun. Foliage is bright green. Native to North America across the Arctic Circle into Asia and Europe, this plant's foliage is easily mistaken for hard fescue. The inflorescence is held higher (approx. 16-18") above the 3-4" foliage and is much more graceful than any of the Festuca. Excellent low maintenance accent for sandy, well-drained soils. Grows best in partial shade and requires moist soil.

Elymus a. ‘Blue Dune'

Blue Wild Rye, Blue Lyme Grass, European Beach Grass

Size: 1 ½ - 2 ½'
Hardiness: Zones 4-10
Growth Habit: Forms loose, spreading clumps. Densely tufted.

Blue leaves, ¼ - ½” wide and 24” long. Almost metallic blue foliage. Tolerates salt and spray . Also, drought tolerant. Prefers well-drained soil, even sand dunes!

DR N

Eragrostis elliotii

Blue Love Grass

Size: 3' Tall and Wide

Hardiness: Zones 6-10
Growth Habit: Clump-forming.

Graceful clump of narrow, very blue gray grass. In early May airy but sturdy plumes arise, opening like a tan cloud. E. elliottii makes a 3' wide clump of narrow powder blue foliage. Drought tolerant. Native to the southeastern U.S.

DR N

Eragrostis spectabilis

Purple Love Grass

Size: 18-24”

Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Growth Habit: Clump-forming.

Light green leaves; flowers are red to purple and near the end of the growing season, foliage will turn to fluffy clouds of bronze-red in full sun. Irresistible texture plant for the late summer garden. Found in dry, sandy fields.

DR

Erianthus ravennae

Ravenna Grass

Size : 9-12'

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Upright and clumping.

A dramatic grass. Flower plumes, up to 2', last Sept thru winter. Plumes lighten from purplish to beige to silver. Although big, this plant is not invasive. It makes a good screen.

DR

Festuca glauca 'Boulder Blue'

Sheep's Fescue

Size : 12"

Hardiness : Zones 4-8

Growth Habit : Stiff and upright leaves.

Drought and heat tolerant. Very slate blue leaves.

Festuca glauca 'Solling'

Blue Sheep's Fescue

Size : 8-10"

Hardiness : Zones 4-9

Growth Habit : Clump-forming.

Forms a beautiful clump of light blue fine textured leaves. Feels like soft steel wool to the touch. Plants knit together into an almost seamless turf if placed together.

Festuca ovina glauca 'Elijah Blue'

Blue Sheep Fescue Grass

Size : 8-10"

Hardiness : Zones 3-8

Growth Habit : Upright.

Bluest of all the blue fescues. Compact with deep blue tufts all year. Introduced by the late Lois Woodhull of "The Plantage," from Long Island.

Festuca subverticillata

Nodding Fescue

Size: 8-18”

Hardiness: Zone 5
Growth Habit: Clumping habit with graceful, vase-like form.

Dark green, glossy blades. Adds a windswept element of texture to the garden.

Hakonechloa macra

Size : 2"

Hardiness :

Growth Habit : Dense masses.

Graceful dwarf grass.

Hakonechloa macra 'Albo Striata'

Japanese Forest Grass

Size :

Hardiness :

Growth Habit : Broad, cascading leaves.

This is a forest grass so it loves the shade!!!

Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold'

Japanese Forest Grass

Size: 10-12”

Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Growth Habit: Very slow spreading mound.

Completely golden foliage. Very useful for brightening a shady area. Lovely, graceful texture.

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola'

Japanese Forest Grass

Size: 18-24"

Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Growth Habit: Dwarf, forms dense mass.

Leaves are bright yellow with narrow green stripes. Arching, linear leaves are red flushed in autumn persisting into winter. Bears needle-like, pale green spikelets in late summer. Bright gold and white variegation make this 2' beauty a bright spot for semi-shaded gardens.

DR N

Juncus ‘Carmen's Gray'

California Gray Rush

Size: 1-3'
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Growth Habit: Clump-forming.

Prefers moist, boggy areas. Steel-gray foliage. Stiff, vertical, cylindrical leaves are 1/8 – ¼” diameter. Prefers light shade, but will tolerate full sun as long as there is moisture.

Juncus effusus ‘Spiralis'

Cork Screw Rush

Size: Grows 18 -24"

Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Growth Habit: Upright, contorted.

A bizarre specimen and conversation piece for moist soils. Uniquely twisted and contorted, smooth, round, green tubular stems, forming a jumbled clump.

Juncus gerrardi

Soft Rush

Size :

Hardiness :

Growth Habit : Low-growing.

Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue'

Big Blue Lily Turf

Size: 1-2'
Hardiness: Zones 5-10
Growth Habit: Dense, slow spreading, and clump forming.

Not really a grass, this ground cover does best in partial shade with adequate moisture. It blooms nicely in August with bright lavender flowers, followed by purple-black fruit, and has glossy, dark green foliage with evergreen, strap-like leaves. Drought tolerant.

Liriope spicata ‘Silver Dragon'

Monroe White Lily Turf

Size: 1'
Hardiness: Zones 5-10
Growth Habit: Dense, slow spreading, and clump forming.

Thin, variegated leaves, striped white boldly host shimmering silver-lavender flowers. Does best in partial shade. Also has purple-black fruit after flower.

Luzula sylvatica ‘Aurea'

Golden Wood Rush

Size: 12" Tall, 24" Flower

Hardiness: Zone 6
Growth Habit: Dense tufts spread slowly for weed-smothering masses.

Golden, grassy foliage that's loose and strap-like with a lighter gold line along the edge.

Luzula sylvatica ‘Marginata'

Variegated Wood Rush

Size: 1'

Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Growth Habit: Tufts or loose low mounds.

Banded wood rush. Green with gold margins on leaves. Useful texture for shade gardens.

We would like to express our concerns about the possible chance of invasiveness regarding all Miscanthus. If you see this grass seeding itself please let us know so we can advise.

Miscanthus purpurescens

Flame Grass

Size : 4-5' Foliage, 5-6' Plumes

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit :

Foliage turns red as summer progresses. Plumes all fall.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'

Ornamental Grass

Size : 4"

Hardiness :

Growth Habit : Dwarf form.

Pinkish blooms turn to white.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Cabaret'

Japanese Silver Grass

Size: 6-8'
Hardiness: Zones 6-9
Growth Habit: Upright with fountain top.

This grass is a splendid addition to the perennial backdrop or specimen planting. Foliage topped by copper colored flowers. Wide, ribbon-like foliage with milky, white, linear-striped centers and dark green leaf margins; makes a bold accent or focal point in a garden. Pink plumes, September to October.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Cosmopolitan'

Ornamental Grass

Size : 7-9"

Hardiness :

Growth Habit : Upright and weeping.

Broad variegated blades with white margins.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland'

Maiden Grass

Size: 3-4'
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Growth Habit: Upright and arching.

Creamy white and green leaves almost glow in landscape. Strong arching habit stands up to wind and rain.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'

Ornamental Grass 'Gracillimus'

Size : 5-6'

Hardiness : Zones 4-9

Growth Habit : Erect, clump-forming.

Feathery silver flower stalks emerge in late summer. Narrow, slender, arching, graceful leaves from erect clumps. Foliage turns attractive orange in fall-leave uncut for winter.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'

Maiden Grass

Size : 3-4'

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Clump-forming.

Reddish-bronze plumes appear in the late fall. Narrow green and white variegated leaves-subtle but effective. Good accent plant - prefers rich, moist soil.

Miscanthus sinensis 'November Sunset'

Miscanthus

Size : 6-8' Spikes

Hardiness : Zone 5

Growth Habit :

Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'

Porcupine Grass

Size : 6'

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Clump-forming, erect.

Foliage has alternating yellow-gold horizontal bars. Giant, impressive plumes rise 9' in the fall.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'

Japanese Silver Grass

Size : 5-6'

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Clump-forming.

Variegated green and white striped blades. Very attractive.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'

Zebra Grass

Size : 5-6'

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Tall upright with arching blades.

Bears plumes 7-8' tall late in the season. Foliage has distinct gold horizontal bands with arching blades.

Molina arundinacea 'Skyracer'

Purple Moor Grass

Size : 7'

Hardiness :

Growth Habit : Stiff, erect.

Use as a single specimen or in mass plantings. Prefers acid soils, but will tolerate any garden soil. Slight gray tinged foliage. Stiff, erect flower heads seem to hover well above the foliage beginning mid-summer.

Panicum amarum 'Dewey Blue'

Atlantic Coastal Grass

Size : Up to 4'

Hardiness : Zones 2-9

Growth Habit : Smooth, blue tinted. Spreads slowly forming clumps. Fountain habit.

Blue color. Flowers are airy, light beige. Blooms fall. Adapted to dry, sterile locations. Excellent shoreline native.

Panicum 'Shenandoah'

Switch Grass

Hardiness : Zones 3-8

Size : 3'

Growth Habit : Upright.

Bears bright red flowers in June to match its foliage. This is the brightest red panicum yet!

DR N

Panicum virgatum

Switch Grass

Size : 3'

Hardiness : Zones 3-8

Growth Habit : Clumping forming with upright habit.

Broad, weeping panicles 20" long of purple-green spikelets in autumn Purple to glaucous, mid-green stems bear linear mid-green leaves. Versatile and attractive.

DR N

Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'

Heavy Metal Switch Grass

Size : 4'

Hardiness : Zone 5

Growth Habit : Stiff upright.

Metallic blue leaves and yellow in fall.

DR N

Panicum virgatum 'Squaw'

Red Switch Grass

Size : 3-4'

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Compact, clump forming

Purplish red highlights on the leaf tips become redder late in season Foliage becomes bright red-orange and matures to gray-brown. Mass planting of this cultivar gives impression of small prairie fire.

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Chinese Fountain Grass

Size : 3-4'

Hardiness : Zones 5-7

Growth Habit : Clump-forming.

Tassels of silvery-purple plumes, fall and winter. Yellow foliage in autumn, brown in winter. Lovely specimen, border or cut flower - Highly resistant to drought. Thrives in fertile, well drained soil.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Cassian'

Fountain Grass

Size : 30-36"

Hardiness : Zone 5

Growth Habit : Weeping clumps.

Slightly shorter than the species with finer textured leaves.

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hamelin'

Fountain Grass

Size: 3'

Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Growth Habit: Clump forming and tufted.

Bears bristly, yellow-green to dark purple spikelets summer and autumn. Flat, linear, pointed, mid to dark green leaves. Very popular, warm season grass with fine textured blades and lovely bottle-brush flowers. Good robust form, great accent.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Moudry'

Black Fountain Grass

Size : 2 - 3'

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Clump-Forming

Late blooming fountain grass has dark brown or black inflorescence. Evergreen grass with flat, linear mid to dark green leaves. Nice circular blooming pattern. Good for drying.

Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose'

Oriental Fountain Grass

Size : 36-40"

Hardiness : Zone 5-8

Growth Habit : Uniform clumps of arching blades

Intense, smokey rose-purple flowers from late May to frost. Deep green blades. Elegant and beautiful.

Pleioblastus viridi-striatus

Dwarf bamboo

Size : 3 Feet

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Upright

Leaves are yellow with variable stripes and a satiny sheen. Magnificently bright bamboo. Cut to ground in early Spring. Best coloring if grown in sun with good soil.

Saccharum ravannae (formerly Erianthus)

Ravenna Grass

Size : 5' tall. Plumes 10' tall.

Hardiness : Zones 5-9

Growth Habit : Upright.

Silvery plumes. Very striking, bold appearance when in flower late summer through winter.

Sasaella masamuneana 'Albostriata'

Dwarf Bamboo

Size : 8-10"

Hardiness : Zone 5

Growth Habit : Vigorous spreading dwarf.

Bamboo with dark green leaves and a creamy white variegation. May lose variegation if planted in sun.

DR N

Schizachyrium scoparium

Little Blue Stem Grass

Size : 3'-4'

Hardiness : Zones 5-8

Growth Habit : Densely tufted and Upright

Mid-green to gray-green leaves that turn purple to orange-red in fall. Late summer to mid-autumn bears narrow racemes of wispy spikelets. Warm season grass for poor, dry soils.

DR N

Sorghastrum nutans 'Sioux Blues'

Indian Grass

Size : 4-6'

Hardiness : Zones 3-8

Growth Habit : Stiff, upright habit.

Spodiopogon sibiricus

Silver Spike Grass

Size : 4'

Hardiness :

Growth Habit : Bamboo-like appearance. Upright.

Bold architectural pattern. Dark green foliage, purple tinged spiklets, late summer.

DR N

Sporobolus heterolepis

Prairie Dropseed

Size: 2-3”

Hardiness: Zone 4

Growth Habit: Dense, flowing, fine-textured clump.

Glossy, green blades turning orange in fall, fading to tan. Tolerates a wide range of soils, including clays. Prefers dry, rocky soils. Good drought tolerance. Slow-growing and slow to establish.