Grasses Beyond Turf
plant feature
A modern alternative to the common lawn, sweeping groundcovers of dwarf ornamental grasses and grass-like plants carpet the garden with a soft surface in pleasing contrast to paved areas and hardscape features. Finely textured leaves animate the landscape, capturing movement and light, while a resilient nature and variety of growing habits provide lasting, year-round garden impact with minimal upkeep.
Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) Steely blue mounding clumps of narrow foliage grows 6 to 10-inches tall. Provide full sun to part shade; tolerant of drought, heat and poor soil. Evergreen, zones 4 - 8
Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) Blue-grey stiff, upright mounding clumps grow to 24-inches tall with flower spikes reaching 4 feet in summer. Provide full sun and well-drained soil. Evergreen, zone 4 - 8.
Dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’) Uniform compact clumps of dark green foliage sport buff-colored plumes in late summer before turning golden russet in fall; grows 10 to 12-inches tall. Provide full sun to light shade, moderately drought tolerant once established. Deciduous, zone 5 - 9.
Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) Stunning and dramatic black grass-like foliage grows 4 to 6-inches tall in dense, slowly spreading mats. Provide evenly moist soil in full to partial sun. Evergreen, zones 5 -10
Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) Lush weeping mounds of graceful leaves grow to 24-inches tall. Provide partial to bright open shade and evenly moist soil. Variegated forms (H. macra ‘Albostriata’ and H. macra ‘Aureola’) light up shady conditions with cream and green or gold and green foliage respectively. Deciduous, zones 5 - 9.
Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) Silky blond tresses on this softly-tufted grass grow 12 to 24-inches tall, waving and whispering in the slightest breeze. Provide full sun to light shade and well-drained soil; weed out unwanted seedlings. Evergreen, zones 7- 11.
Orange sedge (Carex testacea) Fine blades of copper-brown have orange tips that become more pronounced in winter. Not a true grass, this gracefully mounding perennial grows 12 to 18-inches tall. Provide full sun to part shade and evenly moist soil. Evergreen, zones 6 - 11.
Tufted hair grass (Deschampsia caespitosa) Verdant green clumps grow to 15-inches tall, profusely flowering in early summer with light and airy panicles that rise to 3 feet. Provide partial shade and evenly moist soil, foliage holds up best where temperatures are moderate. Evergreen, zones 4 – 8.
Variegated Japanese sweet flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’) Striped golden yellow and green foliage grows 10 to 12-inches tall in a neat, tidy mound. These grass-like plants tolerate light foot traffic emitting a sweet scent when trod upon. Provide sun to shade and evenly moist soil; will tolerate boggy conditions. Evergreen, zones 6 - 8.
