Ornamental%20Grasses

1
Ornamental Grasses

• Steve Chaney
• Extension Horticulturist
• Tarrant County

2

• Big Muhly GrassMuhlenbergia lindheimeri
• Evergreen ground cover
• Attributes
• Texas nativedeer resistantxeriscapicsalt
  tolerant
• Foliage Persistence evergreen
• Annual or Perennial? perennial
• Exposure
• full sun
• Flower Color Silver
• Blooming Period
• summerfall
• Height 4 feet Width
• Heat Tolerance
• very high
• Water Requirements low Additional Comments
  Tolerates a lot of salt spray and salty soil, but
  not a lot of storm winds.

3

• Blue FescueFestuca ovina 'Glauca' Poaceae
  (Gramineae)
• Blue green tufted grass starburst effect from
  terminal panicles of slender spikeles.
• Plant Form or Habit rounded
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color
• Blooming Period summer
• Height 6 - 10"
• Width 8"
• Foliage Texture fine

4

• Big Blue Lily TurfLiriope muscari Liliaceae
• Dark green, grass-like blades.
• Flowers in spikes.
• Plant Form or Habit spreading curved
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use groundcover beds borders
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement medium low
• Flower Color white, lavender
• Blooming Period spring
• Height 12"
• Width spreading
• Foliage Texture fine
• Heat Tolerance medium
• Water Requirements medium
• Additional Comments Good in any soil but does
  best in light shade cut off old leaves in spring
  to encourage new foliage.

5

• Black Mondo GrassOplismenus planiscapus
  'Arabicus' Poaceae (Graminae)
• Ornamental grass that had very dark foliage
• in low growing clumps.
• Plant Form or Habit rounded
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use groundcover
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color Purple
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 8-10"
• Width same
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance medium
• Water Requirements medium
• Additional Comments Dark foliage looks best in
  full sun. Plant is not as dependably hardy as
  some other closely related materials.

6

• BuffalograssBuchloe dactyloides Poaceae
  (Graminae)
• Fine textured blue-green foliage. Plants are
  dioecious,
• seed borne in burrs.
• Plant Form or Habit spreading
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use groundcover
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color beige
• Blooming Period summer
• Height 8" Width spreading Foliage Texture fine
  Heat Tolerance very high high Water
  Requirements low Additional Comments Rapid
  growth but under high fertility and irrigation
  cannot compete with bermuda grass good for home
  lawns new selections green-up earlier and have
  less summer browning winter color is an
  attractive gold color.

7

• Feather GrassStipa tenuissima
• Filimentous wiry leaves loose plume like
  inflorescences.
• Plant Form or Habit upright spreading curved
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use beds bordersornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high medium
• Flower Color silvery
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 12 - 24"
• Width spreading
• Foliage Texture fine
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments Short lived on irrigated
  sites provides movement in the landscape can be
  invasive subject to both drought and cold
  dormancy.

8

• Feather Reed GrassCalamagrostis acutiflora
  'Stricta' Poaceae
• Ornamental grass with finely pointed blades
• leaves are rough to the touch.
• Flowers are in erect panicles.
• Plant Form or Habit upright
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use cutflowers ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color Beige
• Blooming Period spring summer
• Height 3-5 ft Width spreads Foliage Texture
  coarse Heat Tolerance high Water Requirements
  medium low Additional Comments Grows well in
  most soils including heavy soils. Performs in
  both wet and well drained soils.

9

• Fountain GrassPennisetum setaceum Poaceae
  (Gramineae)
• Linear, mild-green foliage.
• Bottle-brush-like flowers
• composed of spikelets.
• Plant Form or Habit upright
• Plant Type annual
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement medium
• Flower Color beige
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 4' Width 2'
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments Generally trouble free.
• No serious pest problems. Can become invasive.

10

• Giant ReedArundo donax Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Large, woody stems with 3 - 4" long blue green
  leaves showy many branched panicles.
• Plant Form or Habit upright
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation seed division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color beige, cream
• Blooming Period fall
• Height 12 - 16' feet Width spreading
• Foliage Texture coarse
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments Can be invasive bamboo-like
  appearance 'Versicolor' is a striped leaf
  variety.

11

• Japanese Blood GrassImperata cylindrica Poaceae
  (Gramineae)
• Bright red grass-like foliage in early spring to
  late fall.
• Plant Form or Habit upright
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement medium
• Flower Color
• Blooming Period
• Height 18 - 24 "
• Width spreading
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance medium
• Water Requirements medium
• Additional Comments
• Much misidentification of desirable cultivars.
• Not dependably hardy in zone 7.

12

• Variegated Japanese SedgeCarex morrowii
  Cyperaceae
• Clustered, flat, thick leaves with golden stripes
  down center.
• Plant Form or Habit curved
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use groundcover ornamental grasses
  Propagation division
• Light Requirement low
• Flower Color not important
• Blooming Period
• Height 12 - 18 inches
• Width 12 inches
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance medium
• Water Requirements medium
• Additional Comments Needs well-drained soils.

13

• Japanese Silver Grass, EulaliaMiscanthus
  sinensis Poaceae (Graminae)
• Ornamental grass that forms a large clump of 3-4'
  long leaves that are sharply serrate Terminal
  panicles form above the foliage.
• Plant Form or Habit upright
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color Beige
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 4-5' Width equal
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance very high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments
• Most soils are suitable.
• Full sun maintains the best plant form.
• Fairly low maintenance.

14

• Lemon GrassCymbopogon citratus Poaceae
  (Gramineae)
• Clumping grass of long leaves with scabrous
  margins loose very compound panicles rarely
  flowers perennial grown as annual.
• Plant Form or Habit upright curved
• Plant Type annual
• Plant Use container plantingsherbs
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color
• Blooming Period
• Height 3 - 6' Width 2 - 3'
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments Used in oriential cooking
• sheathing leaf bases look bulbous
• source of lemongrass oil.

15

• Lyme Grass or Blue Wild RyeElymus glaucus
  Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Bluish-colored grass-like foliage in stiff
  clumpts.
• Plant Form or Habit upright
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use groundcover
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color beige
• Blooming Period summer
• Height 2 - 3 feet Width 18 inches
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments Used for naturalistic
  plantings.

16

• Maiden GrassMiscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
  Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Large grasses with clumps of narrow foilage.
• Leaves turn brown in fall. Silver midribs.
• Fan-shaped flowers on 1-8 ft pannicles.
• Plant Form or Habit upright
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color white
• Blooming Period fall
• Height 5 - 7 feet
• Width 2 - 4 feet
• Foliage Texture fine
• Heat Tolerance medium
• Water Requirements medium
• Additional Comments Grows best in warm but not
  humid weather. Use as background, specimen, or
  hedge grasses.

17

• Mondo Grass,
• Monkey GrassOphiopogon japonicus Liliaceae
• Foliage consists of dense clumps of grass-like
  leaves flower are in spikes.
• Plant Form or Habit spreading curved
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use groundcover
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement medium low
• Flower Color blue
• Blooming Period summer
• Height 10-12" Width 6-8'
• Foliage Texture fine
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments No serious disease problems
  but does experience damage from snails and slugs
  best if protected from hot aftenoon sun a dwf.
  cultivar is available that provides a tight neat
  cover and works very well in between stepping
  stones/

18

• Northern Sea OatsChasmanthium latifolium Poaceae
  (Gramineae)
• Flat, thin, glabrous leaves with rough margins
• flowers in drooping 5-10 inch long panicles.
• Plant Form or Habit upright
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement medium low
• Flower Color dark green
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 2-3 ft
• Width spreading
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments Valued for use in dried
  arrangements
• self sows winter foliage is an attractive

19

• Bulbous OatgrassArrhenatherum elatis bulbosum
  Gramineae
• Semi-deciduous variegated grasslike foliage in
  small clumps.
• Plant Form or Habit spreading
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use groundcover
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement medium
• Flower Color not important
• Blooming Period
• Height 12-18" Width same
• Foliage Texture fine
• Heat Tolerance medium
• Water Requirements medium
• Additional Comments Cold tolerant propogate by
  division of bulbs.

20

• Oriental Fountain GrassPennisetum orientle
  Poaceae ( Graminaeae)
• 2-3' long green leaves inflorescences have a
  cottony appearance.
• Plant Form or Habit upright curved
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high medium
• Flower Color pink
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 2 - 3'
• Width 2 - 3'
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements medium
• Additional Comments Very attractive flowers
  good for the southern garden.

21

• Pampas GrassCortaderia selloana Poaceae
  (Gramineae)
• Tufted grass with leaves in large clumps
  feathery panicles which are attractive.
• Plant Form or Habit upright curved
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color Beige, pink
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 5 - 12' Width 4-6'
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance very high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments Pest and disease free too
  large for most gardens adaptable to many
  different conditions heat and drought tolerant
  foliage is a maintenance liability due to the
  sharp edges.

22

• Perennial Fountain grassPennisetum alopecuroides
  Poaceae (Graminaceae)
• Ornamental plants with a nice mounding habit.
  Bottle brush spikes are attractive.
• Plant Form or Habit curved
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color Beige
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 2-4 ' Width Equal
• Foliage Texture fine
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments Not dependably hardy in
  northern areas. Nice for cut arrangements but
  shatter when dry.

23

• Purple Fountain GrassPennisetum setaceum
  'Rubrum' Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Annual grass with dark purple foliage and
  inflorescenes.
• Plant Form or Habit upright curved
• Plant Type annual
• Plant Use
• beds borders ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high medium
• Flower Color purple
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 3-4' Width 3 - 4'
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements medium
• Additional Comments Grow as hedge,
• specimen or back of border plant
• rapid growth allows this annual to be useful in
  the landscape.

24

• Ravenna GrassErianthus ravennae Poaceae
  (Gramineae)
• Stiff, narrow, light green foliage 3' in length.
  Showy panicles held high above the foliage.
• Plant Form or Habit curved
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color beige
• Blooming Period summer fall
• Height 7 - 14 ' Width 5'
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments
• Use as a tall accent plant or screen
• needs a well drained soil.

25

• Ribbon GrassPhalaris arundinaceae var. picta
  Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Foliage is grass-like and roots at nodes leaves
  are pale green with cream variegation spike
  flowers.
• Plant Form or Habit spreading
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use groundcoverornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high medium
• Flower Color striped pink and white
• Blooming Period summer
• Height 2 - 3' Width spreading
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements medium
• Additional Comments Good for erosion control
• mowing late summer will promote new attractive
  growth.

26

• Zebra GrassMiscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'
  Poaceae (Gramineae)
• 2-3 ft long leaves, 1 inch wide with yellow
  horizontal strips. Flowers are feathery, showy,
  and on panicles.
• Plant Form or Habit upright curved
• Plant Type perennial
• Plant Use ornamental grasses
• Propagation division
• Light Requirement high
• Flower Color beige, pink
• Blooming Period fall
• Height 6 - 8 feet Width spreads
• Foliage Texture medium
• Heat Tolerance high
• Water Requirements low
• Additional Comments
• May be invasive so use underground barrier
  material
• useful as a screen.

27

• Seep Muhly
• Muhlenbergia reverchonii
• Found on seasonally moist erosion benches of
  harder limestone in limestone hills of the Fort
  Worth Prairie down into the Hill Country. Hardy
  to Zone 6, drought-tolerant, blooms in the fall
  with a straw and mauve, fine-textured head which
  fades to straw colored in the winter. Neater and
  more formal in appearance than Gulf or Hairyawn
  Muhly, but equally delicate. height to 2 feet,
  bunch form, warm-season plant for full sun.

28

• Little Bluestem
• Schizachyrium scoparium var. frequens
• A warm-season bunchgrass, often (not always)
  blue-tinted in summer and cinnamon (not always)
  in winter. Prefers well-drained, sunny soils and
  no irrigation after establishment. Our blue
  product selected for silver-blue summer color and
  enduring cinnamon winter color for a strong,
  wind-loving winter presence. Hardy to zone 4,
  height 2.5-6 feet, depending on culture. Beware
  of selections originating on acid soils if to be
  planted on alkaline soils, they suffer!

29

• Weeping Lovegrass
• Eragrostis curvula
• The cultivar 'Ermello' has been certified by the
  SCS (NRCS) for use over most of Texas, from the
  pineywoods to eastern New Mexico, without
  irrigation. This bunchgrass tolerates irrigation
  over well-drained soils in full sun to light
  shade. Erosion control on slopes, very rapid
  spring grow-out with green, fine-textured,
  weeping foliage that streams over rocks and
  curbs. Becomes silvery in winter, but shimmers in
  wind. Hardy to zone 4. Gray-green, lacy panicles
  produced in late spring to 3 feet, foliage to 1.5
  feet.

30

• Lindheimer Muhly
• Muhlenbergia lindheimeri
• A warm-season bunchgrass of effusive, arching,
  blue-green foliage to 3 feet tall, topped by a
  halo of feathery heads in fall to 6 feet. Enjoys
  moist, heavy clay soils and full sun to light
  shade. Needs occasional irrigation. Hardy to zone
  7.

31

• Gulf Muhly
• Muhlenbergia filipes
• A warm-season bunchgrass suited to full sun and
  well-drained soils. Occasional irrigation.
  Fine-textured, mauve heads in fall fade to sandy
  in winter, retain structure. To 2.5 feet, clip in
  late winter. Hardy to zone 7.

32
Splitbeard Bluestem
33
Cosmopolitan Miscanthus
34

• Big Bluestem
• Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii
• Characterized by large, bird's-feet seedheads
  scattered along the upper half of the stalks,
  height 4-9 feet depending on culture, soil.. Full
  sun to light shade, well-drained clays or sands,
  best if established and then not watered.
  Silver-blue form has aggressive rhizomes, turns
  sandy in winter. Green Purple form gains
  increasing amounts of purple on stems, heads and
  foliage during the year, climaxes with intense
  purple display in fall, bunch form. Mow in
  winter, hardy to Zone 4, warm-season plant.

35

• Blue Grama
• Bouteloua gracilis
• Provides lush, fine-textured, drought-tolerant
  foliage in a tight bunch (1 foot height) under
  dancing "eyebrow" seedheads (2 feet). Very
  graceful among rocks, dry soils, water only to
  establish, mow in winter. Hardy to Zone 4,
  warm-season.

36

• Hooded Windmillgrass
• Chloris cucullata
• A warm-season bunchgrass suited to full sun and
  arid soils. Tolerates irrigation ONLY
  occasionally, or will rot. 3" windmills on
  vertical stalks to 3 feet tall, with blue-tinted
  foliage, fading to sandy in winter but retaining
  structure. Great in rock gardens. Hardy to zone
  5.

37

• Purple Threeawn
• Aristida purpurea
• A warm-season bunchgrass suited to extremely dry,
  bony, full-sun locations. Extremely fine-textured
  foliage topped by arching, purpled heads forming
  a vase, to 2.5 feet. Main season April-May, but
  new heads produced until frost. Best when
  backlit. After spring color fades, the character
  remains in the dried seedheads for months after.
  Hardy to zone 4.

38

• Sideoats Grama
• Bouteloua curtipendula
• A warm-season grass, we market scientific variety
  cespitosa (bunch form). Named for habit of
  producing seedhead branches on only one side.
  Ascending heads to 3 feet, very drought-tolerant,
  state grass of Texas. Unusual character of plant
  adds diversity to xeriscapes. Hardy to zone 4.

39

• Broomsedge Bluestem
• Andropogon virginicus
• Excellent orange winter color. Tight bunch, green
  in summer, full sun, to 4 feet tall moist,
  well-drained soil. Warm-season, hardy to Zone 5,
  mow in winter.

40

• Bushy Bluestem
• Andropogon glomeratus
• Stout, cinnamon stems to 5 feet for striking
  winter color. Green in summer, warm-season
  bunchgrass, likes moist, well-drained soils near
  water or irrigated. Full sun, hardy to Zone 5,
  mow in winter.

41

• Eastern Gamagrass
• Trypsacum dactyloides
• A warm-season bunchgrass with short rhizomes
  resembling caterpillars. Deep, thick roots suited
  to heavy, moist clays. Excellent foliage
  production plus roots gives control against
  washout in waterways. Dwarf form gets to 5 feet,
  usually smaller. Full form gets to 7 feet. Hardy
  to Zone 5, foliage resembles a fountain, "winter
  cinnamon" form is cinnamon on foliage in winter.
  Full to part-sun.

42

• 'Adagio' Miscanthus sinensis
• A short cultivar, bunchgrass, to 3 feet, with
  full, cascading, silvery foliage topped by white
  heads, a standout. Full sun, well-drained but
  moist soil, continues character in winter after
  foliage fades to sandy color. Hardy to zone 6,
  more showy than 'Yaku Jima' with broader leaves
  and more robust presence.

43

• 'Morning Light' Miscanthus sinensis
• A short bunchgrass with ascending, narrow foliage
  with linear variegation on both edges giving a
  ghostly effect. Red heads totalling 3 feet,
  forming a graceful, ghostly mound in maturity.
  Full sun to part shade, well-drained but moist
  soil, hardy to zone 5.

44

• 'Undine' Miscanthus sinensis
• To 6 feet, a mounding bunchgrass with silvery
  foliage topped by striking white heads. Full sun,
  moist but well-drained soil, hardy to zone 5.

45

• Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny
• Very short bunchgrass, to 1 foot, with vivid
  green foliage topped by white heads resembling
  rabbits' feet. Slow to grow out, needs irrigation
  on well-drained soils in full sun, hardy to zone
  6.

46

• Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Moudry
• A short bunchgrass with luxuriant, heavy, green
  foliage topped by vividly purple bottlebrush
  heads in late summer. Briefly turns cinnamon in
  late fall, then falls apart during winter. Hardy
  to zone 6, irrigate on well-drained soils in full
  sun, will tolerate overwatering if soils
  well-drained.

47

• Willmann's Lovegrass
• Eragrostis superba
• A drought-tolerant bunchgrass needing little
  irrigation, prefers well-drained soils in full
  sun and neglect. Medium-coarse foliage to 2 feet
  topped by upright, bangled heads in great
  profusion. Hardy to zone 6.

48

• Silver Plumegrass
• Saccharum alopecuroideum
• A warm-season bunchgrass notable for extreme
  height (to 12 feet or more) in wet soils, topped
  in fall by silver-purple heads. Excellent dried,
  resembling a feather duster. Becomes a bronze
  column in winter, as a winter focal point or
  accent. Full sun, hardy to zone 7.

49
Little Bluestem
50

• Hairyawn Muhly
• Muhlenbergia capillaris
• A warm-season bunchgrass suited to full sun and
  well-drained soils. Occasional irrigation.
  Fine-textured, mauve heads in fall fade to sandy
  in winter, retain structure. Same appearance as
  Gulf Muhly, only 6" to 1 foot taller. To 2.5
  feet, clip in late winter. Zone 6-7.

51

• Indiangrass
• Sorghastrum nutans
• A warm-season, rhizomatous species suited to full
  sun and well-drained soils. Occasional irrigation
  OK. Foliage varies from drooping and green to
  stiffly upright and blue, yellow tassels in fall
  to 5-8 feet. Fades to sandy in winter, mow then.
  Hardy to zone 4. Control rhizomes with bottomless
  5-10-gallon pot.

52

• Southwestern Bristlegrass
• Setaria scheelei
• A warm-season bunchgrass noted for bristly,
  pyramid-shaped heads to 3 feet tall. An excellent
  seed source for wildlife, full-sun to part-shade,
  dry soils to occasional irrigation. Excellent
  dried ornamental. Hardy to zone 5.

53

• Texas Bluegrass
• Poa arachnifera
• A cool-season, rhizomatous grass noted for very
  early seedheads waving gently on delicate stalks
  to 2 feet tall and appearing wrapped in
  spiderwebs. Full sun to part-shade, well-drained
  soils, tolerates irrigation. Excellent in
  perennial beds, finished blooming as
  early-blooming perennials bolt, does not choke
  them. May suppress crabgrass germination. Hardy
  to zone 4.

54
Karl Foerster
55
Ornamental Grasses

• These are but a few of the ornamental grasses
  that do well in our area, dont require much care
  and add so much back to a landscape.
• Questions?