The Beauty of Ornamental Grasses

Give your garden four seasons of interest with low-maintenance grasses.

By Katie A. Ketelsen

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Fall Festival of Ornamental Grasses

Pockets of Blue Fescue

Low-Growing Japanese Forestgrass

Foliage Favorite: Zebragrass

Graceful Fountaingrass

Flaming Switchgrass

Grasses in the Border

Strong, Upright Feather Reedgrass

Erosion-Controlling Clumps

Complementary Colors

Container-Loving Fountaingrass

Contemporary Curves

Fall Combo

Poolside Miscanthus

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Fall Festival of Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses have multiseason appeal: In spring, the shoots add a vibrant flush of green; in summer, their plumes bring color and texture to the landscape; in autumn, many varieties turn shades of red, orange, and yellow. They're fantastic in winter, too: When snow falls, standing grasses break up the monotony of a barren landscape, making the long season more bearable.

See 17 of our favorite varieties.

Pockets of Blue Fescue

Use groupings of blue fescue to greet your guests and carry their eye up your walkway. The small size of drought-tolerant blue fescue -- usually 6-10 inches tall and 10-12 inches wide -- makes it perfect for planting along the edge of a bed. Additionally, its silvery-blue foliage works with every garden style.

Learn more about blue fescue.

Low-Growing Japanese Forestgrass

The unique growing habit of Japanese forestgrass makes it ideal for planting underneath taller, upright shrubs such as 'Hellmond Pillar' barberry.

Japanese forestgrass grows best in shade and often turns shades of red, pink, and orange in autumn.

Foliage Favorite: Zebragrass

Plant zebragrass for a fun twist in the landscape. Its variegated foliage features creamy-white or yellow horizontal stripes up and down the leaf blades. This specimen adds height to a garden and is ideal for creating a flowing privacy screen with its tall plumes.

Graceful Fountaingrass

Soften the edge of your garden bed with free-flowing grasses that have arching foliage, such as fountaingrass. Its thin blades and colorful late-summer plumes make for a gorgeous addition to the garden.

Learn more about fountaingrass.

Flaming Switchgrass

Varieties of switchgrass such as 'Shenandoah', 'Cheyenne Sky', and 'Ruby Ribbons' sprout in the spring with varying tones of blue-green blades. Come fall, their blades transform into a fiery red that makes a strong statement in the garden.

Learn more about switchgrass.

Grasses in the Border

Create a mixed border with varying heights, colors, and textures by combing ornamental grasses such as purple fountaingrass, feather reedgrass, and dwarf fountaingrass. Add in complementary perennials for a balance of foliage and flowers.

Strong, Upright Feather Reedgrass

The wheat-color plumes of feather reedgrass look stunning in nearly every landscape style, and the easy-growing plant tolerates a range of growing conditions.

Erosion-Controlling Clumps

Retain your hillside or create a unique pathway with a mixture of clump-forming Mondo grasses and decorative stones.

Complementary Colors

Create a dramatic display in your garden by partnering contrasting foliages such as purple smokebush, Japanese forestgrass, and 'Palace Purple' coralbells.

Learn more about Japanese forestgrass.

Container-Loving Fountaingrass

The perfect specimen to stand-alone in any container: purple fountaingrass. Three attributes make this plant ideal for your garden: heat-tolearant, late-summer flowing plumes, and gorgeous dark burgundy foliage.

Learn more about fountaingrass.

Contemporary Curves

Talk about a statement in the garden! Combining plants with burgundy and chartruese foliage such as Japanese forestgrass, Mondo grass, and 'Angelina' sedum creates a knockout look. Boost impact even more by creating contrasting geometric lines that carry the eye through the landscape.

Fall Combo

Pair frost-tolerant, textural flowering kale with the flowing blades of 'Evergold' sedge to create a beautiful fall container garden display.

Poolside Miscanthus

Add height poolside with warm-season miscanthus varieties such as variegated 'Morning Light'. Allow them to stand through winter to keep the landscape looking interesting.

The Beauty of Ornamental Grasses

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