Ornamental grasses can be a fantastic addition to any landscape, offering beauty with minimal effort. These versatile plants provide texture, movement, and year-round interest while needing less maintenance and water than many traditional garden plants. This guide covers the popular low-maintenance varieties and provides care tips to help your ornamental grasses thrive.
What To Know About Buying Ornamental Grass
When selecting ornamental grass for your yard, several factors come into play. Consider these key aspects to choose the right grass for your specific needs and environment.
Height
Ornamental grasses come in a wide range of heights, from just a few inches tall to towering varieties reaching up to 15 feet. You can use taller grasses as natural privacy screens or create dramatic focal points in your landscape. Shorter varieties work well as ground covers or in rock gardens. Consider the mature height of the grass in relation to the location you want to plant it and its purpose in your landscape design.
Cool or Warm Season
The climate in your region matters when you select ornamental grass. Cool-season grasses thrive in areas with temperatures typically between 60–75ºF, making them ideal for northern regions of the United States. Warm-season grasses, on the other hand, prefer temperatures between 80–95ºF and are better suited for southern climates.
Hardiness Zone
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides the United States into 13 zones based on average annual minimum winter temperatures. This information is important when selecting ornamental grasses—it helps you figure out which varieties survive and thrive in your specific region.
Soil Type
One of the advantages of ornamental grasses is that they can easily adapt to various soil conditions. Most varieties prefer slightly moist, well-drained soil, but some can thrive in clay or rocky soil. When purchasing ornamental grass, check the plant tag or consult with a local nursery to make sure the grass is compatible with your soil type.
Ornamental Grass Options
Ornamental grasses come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Here are some popular low-maintenance options that can add beauty and interest to your landscape.
Black Mondo
Black Mondo (Ophiopogon planiscapus) is a striking ornamental grass that grows in compact mounds and spreads about 2 feet. Its rich, dark violet foliage creates a dramatic contrast in the garden, while its lavender to pinkish-white blossoms add some contrast. This perennial does best in medium-moist soil and can grow in full sun or shade. Black mondo is also resistant to deer and rabbits, making it a practical choice for gardens in areas with wildlife.
- Height: 6 to 12 inches
- Color: Blackish-violet
- Cool- or warm-season grass: Warm
Blue Fescue
Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is a cool-season grass that forms tight, small mounds. Its color changes throughout the seasons, starting with a light blue-silver hue in spring, transitioning to blue-green in summer, and darkening to a mottled green in fall. This drought-resistant grass is perfect for rock gardens or areas with limited water. Blue fescue also attracts birds, adding another layer of interest to your landscape.
- Height: 6 to 12 inches
- Color: Color variation from green to blue-green annually
- Cool- or warm-season grass: Cool
Lilyturf
Lilyturf (Liriope muscari) is a versatile ornamental grass that grows in clumps and spreads quickly. While its foliage is primarily green, it produces beautiful purple-violet flowers. Lilyturf is adaptable to various light conditions, thriving in both full sun and shade. Additionally, homeowners often use it as a ground cover to suppress weeds, providing both beauty and functionality in the garden.
- Height: 6 to 12 inches
- Color: Green
- Cool- or warm-season grass: Warm
Japanese Forest Grass
Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) is known for its cascading, mound-forming growth habit. Its color ranges from yellow-gold in sun to lime green in shade, creating a bright spot in any garden. This cool-season grass prefers moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate both full sun and full shade. Japanese forest grass is also known for its slow growth rate, making it an excellent choice if you want a low-maintenance option that doesn’t require frequent trimming.
- Height: 12 to 28 inches
- Color: Yellow-gold
- Cool- or warm-season grass: Cool
Purple Fountain
Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum rubrum) is a warm-season grass known for its striking burgundy-red plumes that arch outward from the clump. This drought-tolerant grass thrives in tropical areas and requires about six hours of sun daily. Purple fountain grass also adds a dynamic element to landscapes due to its swaying plumes that respond to the wind, creating movement and visual interest.
- Height: 3 to 6 feet
- Color: Burgundy red
- Cool- or warm-season grass: Warm
Zebra Grass
Zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis) is a tall, dramatic ornamental grass that grows in wide clumps. Its green blades feature distinctive yellow stripes along the edges, creating a striking visual effect. This warm-season grass prefers full sun and can tolerate some drought once it is established. Zebra grass also produces attractive feathery blooms in late summer to fall, adding another layer of aesthetic appeal.
- Height: 5 to 8 feet
- Color: Striped green and yellow
- Cool- or warm-season grass: Warm
Caring for Ornamental Grass
Proper care is essential for maintaining healthy and vibrant ornamental grasses. While these plants are generally low-maintenance, here’s how to get the most success in your landscape.
Watering
When you first plant them, ornamental grasses require frequent watering to establish their root systems. Water them every other day for the first few weeks, then reduce watering to twice a week for the remainder of the first growing season. After the first year, most ornamental grasses can thrive on natural rainfall alone. However, during prolonged dry spells, provide supplemental water every three weeks to prevent stress. It’s also useful to mulch around the base of new plants to help retain moisture.
Fertilizing
Most ornamental grasses have modest fertilizer requirements. In fact, some varieties, such as fine and hard fescues or purple fountain grasses, may not need any additional fertilizer at all. For other types, apply a slow-release fertilizer in the spring.
A mixture of rotted manure, mushroom compost, and leaf mold can provide essential nutrients without over-fertilizing. Be cautious not to over-apply fertilizer—excessive nutrients can cause weak growth and increase its susceptibility to diseases.
When To Cut Back Ornamental Grass
You should cut back ornamental grass in late winter or early spring—prune the brown, dead foliage that has accumulated over winter. Removing this old growth allows new, green shoots to emerge unimpeded and helps maintain the plant’s overall health and appearance.
To cut back ornamental grass:
- Wait until late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins.
- Use sharp, clean pruning shears or hedge trimmers.
- Cut the grass back to about 4–6 inches above ground level.
- Remove all cut foliage and dispose of it in your compost or yard waste.
- Rake the area around the grass to remove any remaining debris.
This practice not only helps new growth but also reduces the risk of pests and diseases harboring in old foliage.
Dividing Ornamental Grass
After several years, some ornamental grasses may become too large for their location or start to die out in the center. This is a sign that it’s time to divide the plant. Dividing helps control the size of the grass and rejuvenates it, as well as creating new plants for other areas of your garden.
To divide ornamental grass:
- Cut back the grass as described above.
- Use a sharp spade or ax to divide the root ball into smaller sections.
- Carefully dig out one or more sections, leaving at least one part in the original location.
- Replant the divided sections in prepared soil, water thoroughly, and maintain as you would a new planting.
Dividing every three to four years prevents overcrowding and promotes healthier, more vigorous growth.
Protect Ornamental Grass
While ornamental grasses are generally resistant to pests and diseases, they can occasionally face challenges. Being aware of potential issues and taking preventive measures can help keep your grasses healthy and thriving.
Battling Pests
Some insects that may affect ornamental grasses include aphids, armyworms, grasshoppers, lace bugs, and mites.
To control these pests, use insecticidal soaps or neem oil. These solutions work well against many common insects while being less harmful to beneficial organisms. Regularly inspecting your grasses for signs of infestation can help catch problems early before they become severe.
Preventing Diseases
Ornamental grasses can sometimes be affected by fungal diseases, including leaf spot, powdery mildew, root rot, and rust.
To prevent these diseases, provide enough air circulation around your grasses, avoid overhead watering, and maintain good garden hygiene by removing dead foliage promptly. You can also use fungicides as a last resort if diseases become a persistent issue.
Preventive Measures
To keep your ornamental grasses healthy and resistant to pests and diseases:
- Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Maintain good air circulation by spacing plants appropriately.
- Plant grasses in appropriate locations with proper sunlight and soil conditions.
- Remove dead or diseased foliage promptly.
- Water at the base of the plant rather than from overhead.
2 Common Questions About Ornamental Grasses
Understanding the basics of ornamental grasses can help you make informed decisions about incorporating them into your landscape. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.
Are Perennials and Ornamental Grass the Same?
You can find both perennial and annual ornamental grasses. Perennials live for two or more years, while annuals live only one year, as the name implies.
Does Ornamental Grass Require a Lot of Maintenance?
Ornamental grass is drought-resistant, so you don’t have to water it much, and most pests don’t find it appetizing. You only have to cut them back occasionally to eliminate the brown grass and keep it from dying. Additionally, you will have to divide it every few years.
Our Conclusion
Ornamental grasses offer a beautiful, low-maintenance solution for adding texture, movement, and year-round interest to your landscape. With proper selection and care, these versatile plants can thrive in various conditions, from full sun to shade, and in different soil types. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can enjoy the beauty and benefits of ornamental grasses in your garden.
