- The best grasses for northern regions
- Which grass is best for full sun?
- Easy-to-Grow Ornamental Grasses for Shade
- What ornamental grasses will grow in part shade area
- Which grasses to plant in wet areas
- What is the best grass for the edge of a pond?
- What kind of grass can grow in water?
Ensuring that the plant you choose can survive in your region should be the first consideration when choosing an ornamental grass. Some are less cold-hardy and can be grown as annuals in northern regions, while others will easily withstand the harsh winter weather.
What ornamental grass for Canadian climate?
- Karl Foerster feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora – zone 4)
- Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora - zone 4)
- Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis arundinacea, syn. C. brachytricha - zone 4)
- Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum - zone 3)
- Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans - zone 3)
- Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica - zone 3)
- Palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis - zone 2)
- Gray’s sedge (Carex grayi - zone 2)
- Ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinacea Picta - zone 3)
- Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa - zone 3)
- Tall moor grass (Molinia arundinacea, syn. Molinia caerulea arundinacea - zone 4)
- Blue fescue (Festuca glauca - zone 4)
- Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens - zone 4)
TIP: Grasses grown outside their hardiness zone will benefit from winter protection if your zone is slightly colder than recommended (for example, if you live in zone 5 and are growing a plant for zone 6). It is also possible to grow them in pots indoors during the winter. Make sure to place them in a bright location and avoid overwatering them.
What grass is best for full sun?
Mostly native to steppes or meadows, grasses generally prefer a sunny location (we'll discuss the exceptions a little later). They are also heat-tolerant and drought-resistant, and they thrive in well-drained soil. As long as you choose a variety that isn't invasive, grasses are plants that require very little maintenance.
Since the choice of grasses for sunny areas is vast, it is easy to succumb to varieties with varied shapes, exceptional colours (not only in the fall) and early or spectacular flowering.
The most beautiful grasses for sunny areas
- Big bluestem grass (Andropogon gerardii - zone 4) Several varieties have red or purple leaves in late spring or summer.
- Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis - zone 5) Vaporous pink or purple flowers that grow almost from the base of the plant.
- Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens - zone 4) Glaucous foliage and flowers well above the foliage.
- Giant Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis Giganteus - zone 4) Reaches a height of 3 metres.
- Flame grass (Miscanthus sinensis Purpurascens - zone 4) Foliage takes on an orange-red hue in the fall.
- Huron Sunrise maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis Huron Sunrise - zone 4) One of the most floriferous with its enormous burgundy plumes.
- Porcupine grass (Miscanthus sinensis Strictus - zone 3) Green foliage with horizontal yellow stripes.
- Hot Rod switchgrass (Panicum virgatum Hot Rod - zone 4) Blue-green foliage that quickly turns red, and then brown.
- Niagara Falls switchgrass (Panicum virgatum Niagara Falls - zone 4) A beautiful powder blue clump that can measure 4 feet by 4 feet.
- Shenandoah switchgrass (Panicum virgatum Shenandoah - zone 4) Green foliage with red tips all season long.
- Red Head fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides Red Head- zone 5) Magnificent purple plumes.
- Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima - zone 8) Impressive golden flowering.
- Needle grass (Stipa capillata - zone 4) Extra fine spikes that sway in the wind.
What ornamental grasses will grow in shade?
Shade-loving grasses are rarer, but they certainly make an impact. Some have a beautiful golden colour that can brighten up areas of the garden that would otherwise look dull.
There are a wide variety of sedges available that are ideal for shaded areas. We included a few suggestions in the list below. Visit your local garden centre and search the internet for other varieties that are suitable for your climate!
The most beautiful grasses for shade
- Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora - zone 3)
- Silver spike grass (Achnatherum calamagrostis, syn. Stipa calamagrostis - zone 5)
- Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica - zone 4) Often used to replace grass in shaded areas.
- Blue Zinger sedge (Carex flacca - zone 5)
- Bunny Blue sedge (Carex laxiculmis - zone 5) Produces wide silver-blue ribbons.
- Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa - zone 3) A versatile plant that tolerates both sun and shade.
- Northern Lights tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa - zone 4) Variegated white, pink and golden foliage.
- Tall moor grass (Molinia arundinacea - zone 4)
- Golden Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra Aureola - zone 5) Bright yellow foliage with green stripes.
- Golden millet grass (Millium effusum Aureum - zone 5) Bright yellow!
- Purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea - zone 3)
- Solar Flair woodrush (Luzula sylvatica Solar Flair - zone 5) Golden green foliage.
Several varieties for shaded areas can thrive in partial shade. It is also the case with several grasses adapted to sunny areas.
What kind of grass grows in partial shade?
- Karl Foerster feather reed grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora - zone 3) To use by itself, in a trio, in a bed or to border an alley.
- Eldorado feather reed grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora - zone 3) Green foliage with a yellow centre that flowers in July.
- Lightning Strike feather reed grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora - zone 3) Green foliage with a wide white band. Pink then purple flowering before turning gold.
- Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha - zone 4) Purple-pink inflorescence.
- Lemon Zest sedge (Carex siderosticha - zone 5) Beautiful bright yellow foliage.
- Golden woodrush (Luzula sylvatica Aurea - zone 5) Golden yellow foliage.
- Zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis Zebrinus - zone 5) Foliage with horizontal creamy yellow stripes.
- Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens - zone 5) Ground cover with almost black foliage and pink flowers. Produces purplish berries.
Discover beautiful ornamental grasses to grow in pots and learn how to create superb grass hedges in our other articles.
Which ornamental grasses to plant in wet areas?
Although grasses are known for their resistance to drought, some varieties thrive in moist environments. These include sedges, rushes (Juncus), and grasses such as Phalaris arundinacea (ribbon grass) and Acorus calamus (sweetflag). Hakonechloa macra is also an interesting option for moist soils.
Many grasses that thrive in humid conditions are formidable invaders. Several should be avoided, while others, generally easy to control, can also become impossible to contain.
What is the best grass for the edge of a pond?
- Corkscrew rush (Juncus effusus Spiralis – zone 5) or hard rush (Juncus inflexus - zone 5) As they spread by rhizomes and seeds, they can quickly invade humid areas.
- Golden sedge (Elata aurea - zone 5) It forms a compact clump and is not considered invasive. It can also be planted in water at a depth of less than 10 cm.
- Purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea - zone 4) It can be considered invasive in humid areas.
- Variegated Japanese sweetflag (Acorus gramineus Variegatus - zone 4) It will also thrive in a pond or simply in a bowl of water. Its growth is slow and it is not invasive. For shade or partial shade since the sun damages its variegation.
- Golden Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra Aureola - zone 5)
- Adagio maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis Adagio - zone 4) Silver foliage that turns orange-purple in the fall.
- Variegated Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis Variegatus - zone 4) Bright green foliage with white stripes.
What kind of grass can grow in water?
- Common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris - zone 6) It is considered invasive when it is happy in its environment.
- Variegated manna grass (Glyceria maxima Variegata - zone 4) Lime green foliage with creamy white stripes. Takes on a pinkish hue in the spring. CAUTION: it spreads quickly!
