Ornamental grasses are a nice low maintenance addition to almost any landscape. They are easy to care for as they tend to be relatively disease and pest free. Most varieties require little watering or fertilizer. There are many different sizes and shapes to choose from.Smaller ones are often used as ground covers while larger ones can be used as ground cover while larger ones can be used as privacy hedges. Mid-sized varieties often make nice borders for landscape beds.
Warm season grasses start to grow vigorously in the late spring and early summer when things start to heat up. They tend to need less water and are relatively low maintenance. Most flower in the late summer and fall. Here are a few examples of more commonly used warm season ornamental grasses.
Andropogona gerandii - Big bluestem - Gray to blue green color. Full sun. Zone 2-7. Purple blooms. 2-3' wide & 4-6' tall.
Bouteloua gracilis - Blonde ambition blue grama - blue green color. Partial/full sun. Zone 4-9. Green flower. 1-3' tall.
Chasmanthium latifolium - Inland sea oat - bright green. Some sun/shade. Zone 3 - 8. 3' wide up to 6'+ tall.
Miscanthus sinensis - Porcupine grass - Green gold color. Full sun. Zone 4-9. 3' wide and 6' tall.
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