you are here: grasses reference guide
 

Acorus
Japanese Sweet Flag

Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus'
Japanese Sweet Flag

Height: 12"
Spread: 4-6"
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated
Bloom Months: insignificant
Flowers: insignificant
Light Requirements: sun, part shade

Fine textured foliage, striped green and white.

Calamagrostis
Feather Reed Grass

Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Avalanche'
Avalanche Feather Reed Grass

Height: 4-5'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green, white
Bloom Months: 6-7
Flowers: golden panicle
Light Requirements: sun, part shade

A variegated form of Calamagrostis 'Karl Forester'.  This variety
has an upright form with green and white striped foliage.

5026

Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Forester'
Karl Forester Feather Reed Grass

Height: 4-5'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 4
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 7-8
Flowers: golden panicle
Light Requirements: sun, part shade

Upright grass with gold plumes in June.

4131

Calamagrostis arundinacae 'Overdam'
Overdam Feather Reed Grass

Carex
Sedge

Carex buchanii Red Rooster (annual)

801094

Carex glauca 'Blue Zinger'
Blue Zinger Variegated Sedge

Height: 12-15"
Spread: 24"
Zone: 4
Foliage: blue
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flower: plumes
Light Requirements: full sun, part shade

Narrow, grey-blue foliage with an arching habit.
Great for rock gardens or borders.

4152

Carex morrowii 'Evergold'
Evergold Variegated Sedge

Height:  12"
Spread: 18"
Zone: 5
Foliage:  yellow/green
Bloom Months: N/A
Flower: insignificant
Light Requirements: shade, part shade

Pendulous leaves with creamy yellow centers.
Semi-evergreen.  A nice short sedge for shady areas.
Has a weeping habit.

4142

Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'
Ice Dance Variegated Sedge

Height: 12"
Spread: 24"
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated
Bloom Months: ***
Flower: red
Light Requirements: sun, part shade

A very clean-looking appearance with dark green leaves edged in white.
More vigorous than C. Variegata. Makes an excellent ground cover.

4141

Height: 12"
Spread: 24"
Zone: 5
Foliage: bright green
Bloom Months: ***
Flower: ***
Light Requirements: shade or part shade

Bright green, finely textured bamboo-type foliage.
Excellent in wet areas. Grows 12" tall in shade or part shade.

4280

Carex muskingumensis Oehme' Oehme Sedge

Height: 18"
Spread: 24"
Zone: 5
Foliage: green w/subtle yellow variegation
Bloom Months: ***
Flower: ***
Light Requirements: shade or part shade

Green, bamboo-type foliage with a subtle yellow varietation
Grows well in moist soil in shade or partial sun.

5718

Elymus
Blue Lyme Grass

Elymus glaucus
Blue Lyme Rye

Height: 24-30"
Spread: 18-24"
Zone: 4
Foliage: blue
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: wheat-like
Light Requirement: full sun

Deep glaucus blue, coarse textured grass. Spreads quickly.

4322

Elymus glaucus 'Blue Dune'
Blue Wild Rye

Height: 30
Spread: 36"
Zone: 4
Foliage: blue
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flower: wheat-like
Light Requirements: full sun

Very bright blue foliage and heat tolerance make this one a winner.

5690

Erianthus
Plume Grass

Erianthus ravennae
Hardy Plume Grass
(aka Hardy Pampas Grass, Ravenna Grass, or Mvenra Grass)

Height: 10-12'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: tan plume
Light Requirement: full sun

Hardy alternative to Pampas Grass.
Beige plumes 10-12' tall foliage over 3-4' tall in late summer.

4326

Festuca ovina glauca 'Elijah Blue'
'Elijah Blue' Fescue

(enlarged image)

Height: 12"
Spread: 18-24"
Zone: 4
Foliage: blue
Bloom Months: ***
Flowers: insignificant
Light Requirement: full sun

The best blue of the Blue Fescues and most heat tolerant.

4330

Hackonechloa
(HAKON-EE-KLOA)

Hakonechloa macro 'Naomi'

Height: 16"
Spread: 24"
Zone: 5
Foliage: reddish-purple
Bloom Months: ***
Flower: drooping panicle
Light Requirements: shade or part shade

Similar to Hakonechloa aureola, except the green and yellow
striped leaves turn a reddish purple color in the fall. It will
grow 16 inches in shade or part shade.

4560

Hakonechloa macro 'Nicholas'

Height: 16"
Spread: 24"
Zone: 5
Foliage: orange and red in fall
Bloom Months: ***
Flower: drooping panicle
Light Requirements: shade or part shade

Solid green leaves turn orange and red in the fall.
Grows 16" tall in shade or part shade.

4046

Helictotrichon
Oat Grass (or Ornamental Oats)

Helictotrichon sempervirens
Evergreen Oat Grass

Height: 24"
Spread: 24-30"
Zone: 4
Foliage: blue
Bloom Months: ***
Flowers: drooping panicle
Light Requirement: full sun

Stiff, upright blue leaves. Similar to Blue Fescues, but larger.
Requires full sun and a well drained soil.

4361

Helictotrichon sempervirens
'Sapphire' Evergreen Oat Grass

Height: 24"
Spread: 24"
Zone: 4
Foliage: blue
Bloom Months: ***
Flower: drooping panicle
Light Requirements: full sun

Similar to H. sempervirens, but the foliage is broader and a brighter blue.

4500

Imperata
Japanese Blood Grass

Imperata cylindrica rubra 'Red Baron'
Red Baron Japanese Blood Grass

Height: 12-18"
Spread: 24-30"
Zone: 5
Foliage: red
Bloom Months:***
Flowers: insignificant
Light Requirement: part shade

Green leaves with red tips, very showy. Prefers light shade,
but will tolerate sun. Requires good drainage.

4952

Liriope
Lily-turf

Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'
Big Blue Lily-turf

Height: 18"
Spread: 18-24"
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 7-8
Flowers: dark violet
Light Requirement: part shade or shade

Dark green grass-like, evergreen foliage. Dark violet blooms that resemble
grape hyacinths. Excellent for groundcover or borders.

5119

Liriope muscari 'Silvery Sunproof'
Silver Sunproof Variegated Lily-turf

Height: 15"
Spread: 18-24"
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated green/yellow
Bloom Months: 7-8
Flowers: violet
Light Requirement: part shade or shade

Green and yellow variegated with violet blooms.
Good for borders or groundcover.

5117

Miscanthus
Maiden Grass (or Silver Grass)

Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'
Adagio Maiden Grass

Height: 2-4'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

Best dwarf Miscanthus. Narrow green foliage, 4' plumes tinged pink.

5601

Miscanthus sinensis  'Arabesque'
Arabesque Maiden Grass

Height: 3-4'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 4
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flower: plumes
Light Requirements: full sun

Narrow, green leaf with a silver midrib. Spectacular fluffy plumes in the fall.

5612

Miscanthus sinensis 'Cabaret'
Cabaret Japanese Silver Grass

Height: 6'
Spread: 3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green/white
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

Wide green leaf with white center. Coppery plumes fade to pink.
Very distinctive in the landscape.

5137

Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
Gracillimus Maiden Grass

Height: 6-8'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 7-8
Flowers: silver to bronze-red
Light Requirement: full sun

Narrow green leaves. Silvery plumes mid-late summer turn bronze-red in fall.

5139

Miscanthus sinensis
'Grosse Fountaine' Maiden Grass

Height: 6-7'
Spread: 30"
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flowers: cream
Light Requirement: full sun

Upright growing grass with large plumes
in late summer.

5496

Miscanthus sinensis 'Huron Sunrise'
Huron Sunrise Maiden Grass

(photos courtesy of Walters Gardens)

Height: 5-6'
Spread: 3'
Zone: 5
Bloom Months: 9
Flowers: burgundy
Light Requirements: full sun

Blooms profusely with burgundy plumes in early fall.

5876

Miscanthus sinensis
Miscanthus 'Little Kitten' Maiden Grass

Height: 2'
Spread: 30"
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flowers: light pink
Light Requirement: full sun

A dwarf Miscanthus with narrow green leaves.
Pinkish flowers in August.

4777

Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus'
Malepartus Grass

Height: 5-6'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flowers: pink plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

Fast-grower with excellent fall color. Pink plumes in late summer.

5480

Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'
Silver Variegated Maiden Grass

(photo courtesy of Walters Gardens)

Height: 4-5'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated
Bloom Months: 7-8
Flowers: reddish-brown
Light Requirement: sun

Bright green leaves turn reddish-purple in the fall. Airy panicles late summer.

5141

Miscanthus sinensis 'Puenktchen'
Little Dot Maiden Grass

Height: 5'
Spread: 30"
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flowers: rose
Light Requirement: sun

Similar to Miscanthus Strictus, but this one has narrower leaves.
Rose-burgundy plumes appear in August.

#5185

Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurascens'
Flame Grass

Height: 3-4'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green, red tips
Bloom Months: 7-8
Flowers: panicle
Light Requirement: sun

Somewhat shorter variety that turns a mauve color in the fall.

5142

Miscanthus sinensis 'Sarabande'
Sarabande Maiden Grass

Height: 5-6
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flowers: panicle
Light Requirements: sun

A narrow leaved variety of Maiden Grass.
Copper-colored seed heads late summer to early fall.

5611

Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder'
Silberfeder Maiden Grass

(photo courtesy of Walters Gardens)

Height: 6-7'
Spread: 36-48"
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: panicle
Light Requirement: sun

Wider green leaves with an arching habit.
Large, feathery seed heads rise high above the foliage.
One of the hardiest Miscanthus.

5135

Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'
Porcupine Grass

Height: 6'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated
Bloom Months: 7-8
Flowers: panicle
Light Requirement: sun

Stiff, upright leaves with horizontal yellow stripes.

5145

Miscanthus sinensis 'Super Stripe'
Super Stripe Maiden Grass

Height: 2-4'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated
Bloom Months: 7-8
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

A smaller form of 'Strictus' that has wide gold
horizontal bands on the leaves.

5914

Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'
Variegated Eulalia Grass

Height: 5-6'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated
Bloom Months: 8-10
Flowers: panicle
Light Requirement: sun

Striking green and white variegation.

5146

Miscanthus sinensis 'Yaku Jima'
Dwarf Maiden Grass

Height: 2-3'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Month: 8
Flowers: panicle
Light Requirement: sun

Dwarf form looks like a dwarf Gracillimus. Nice fall color.

5147

Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascenes 'Autumn Red'
Red Maiden Grass

Height: 4-5'
Spread: 3'
Zone: 3
Bloom Months: 9-10
Foliage: green
Flowers: panicle
Light Requirements: sun

Wider green leaves in the summer turn brilliant
red-orange in the fall.

5497

Panicum

Panicum vigatum 'Heavy Metal'
Heavy Metal Switch Grass

Height: 5'
Spread: 3'
Zone: 2
Foliage: blue-green
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

Upright habit with glaucous blue leaves.
Sprays of delicata seed heads

5241

Panicum 'Prairie Sky'
Prairie Sky Switch Grass

Height: 4'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 5
Foliage: blue
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

Blue foliage, strong grower.

5242

Panicum virgatum 'Rotstrahlbusch'
Rotstrahlbusch Switch Grass

Height: 3-4'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

Deep red leaf tips deepening in the fall. Reddest of all the red switch grasses.

5410

Height: 4'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green then red
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

Foliage emerges green, and then develops a wine red coloring in early summer.
Ornamental seed heads provide winter interest.  Grows 4' high with sun.

4424

Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'
Shenandoah Switch Grass

Height: 4'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 2
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

Red-tipped, deep green foliage turns burgundy-red in the fall.

5524

Pennisetum Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Cassain'
Cassain Dwarf Fountain Grass

Height: 3'
Spread: 3'
Zone: 4
Bloom Months: 9-10
Foliage: green
Flowers: bottle brush-like plume
Light Requirement: sun

A fountain grass that gets a little taller than 'Hameln'.
Turns a beautiful golden color in fall.

5521

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Foxtrot'
Foxtrot Dwarf Fountain Grass

Height: 5-6'
Spread: 3'
Zone: 5
Bloom Months: 9-10
Foliage: green
Flowers: bottle brush-like plume
Light Requirement: sun

Narrow green leaves turn gold in the fall.
Silvery plumes from mid summer to fall.
Grows 5-6' in full sun.

5190

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
Dwarf Fountain Grass

Height: 2'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 8-10
Flowers: bottle brush-like plume
Light Requirement: sun

Short, compact grass with bright green leaves.
Attractive plumes, August through October.

5256

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny'
Dwarf Fountain Grass

Height: 12"
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 8-9
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full sun

Miniature fountain grass.

5257

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Moudry'
Black Fountain Grass

Height: 2-3'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: brown-black plume
Light Requirement: full sun

Stiff, coarse green leaves sport black-tipped flowers September and October.

5258

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'PennStripe'
PennStripe Grass

Height: 2-3'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated - green/white
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: plumes
Light Requirement: full or part sun

A variegated form of P. 'Hameln', with narrow green and white leaves.
Grows 2-3' high in sun or part shade.

4968

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head'
PennStripe Grass

Height: 4'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated - green
Bloom Months: 9-10
Flowers: red plumes
Light Requirement: full or part sun

Large, red plumes on 4' stems mid-late summer.
Narrow green leaves grow to 3' tall in sun.

4465

Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose'
Karley’s Rose Fountain Grass

Height: 3-4'
Spread: 3-4'
Zone: 5
Foliage: green
Bloom Months: 6-10
Flowers: pink plume
Light Requirement: full sun

Narrow silvery-green leaves and pink plumes that start
appearing in June and continue until frost.

5599

Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
Annual Red Fountain Grass

Height: 3-4'
Spread: 2'
Zone: 9
Foliage: burgundy
Bloom Months: 6-8
Flowers: purple plume
Light Requirement: full sun

Plant this annual grass in early summer and enjoy its outstanding burgundy
color and attractive plumes until frost. A great accent plant.

5259

Phalaris Ribbon Grass
(or Reed Canary Grass)

Phalaris arundinaceae 'Feesey Form'
Strawberries & Cream Ribbon Grass

Height: 2-3'
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 4
Foliage: green/white/pink
Bloom Months: 6-7
Flowers: whitish panicle
Light Requirement: sun, part shade

Leaves of green and white, blushed with pink.
A fast grower, will grow in wet soil.

5254

Phalaris arundinaceae 'Strawberries & Cream'
'Strawberries & Cream' Ribbon Grass

Height: 24"
Spread: 4"
Zone: 4
Foliage: variegated green and white striped
Bloom Months: 6-7
Flowers: whitish panicle
Light Requirement: sun, part shade

Green and white striped leaves, with a hint
of pink in the spring and fall.  Rapid grower to 24"
Full sun to partial shade.

5166

Phalaris arundinaceae 'Variegata'
Ribbon Grass

Height: 18"
Spread: 2-3'
Zone: 5
Foliage: variegated
Bloom Months: 6-7
Flowers: whitish panicle
Light Requirement: sun, part shade

Narrow, variegated green and white leaves. Fast growing.

5265