9 Easy-Care Grasses To Grow [Slideshow]
New ornamental grass varieties are sweeping the market with their eye-catching foliage, textural blooms and excellent fall color. Best of all, they are easy to care for in both the landscape and containers. Here are nine of the newest varieties to try out.
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Graceful Grasses 'Sky Rocket' from Proven Winners
Graceful Grasses ‘Sky Rocket’ has a green and white variegation and a strong, arching habit. It is slightly more vigorous than other Graceful Grasses and will add a strong fall interest to any landscape. It is terrific when used in a mass planting, or in use as the thriller in a mixed container. Expect ‘Sky Rocket’ to reach a height of 24 to 30 inches with a spread of 18 to 24 inches. Best in full sun.
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Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Munchkin' from Plants Nouveau
‘Prairie Munchkin’ is a sturdy grass that will make a perfect 3-inch hedge. Its steel-blue foliage persists throughout the heat of the summer. Once the flowers appear, the foliage slowly turns a shade of strawberry blonde, then to a tawny brown for the remainder of winter. Perfect for poor soils and dry gardens.
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Miscanthus sinensis 'Oktoberfest' from Walters Gardens
This improved miscanthus is renowned for its beautiful fall color, turning deep shades of purple and red in late summer to early fall. Its shimmering burgundy to copper inflorescences mature into fluffy, creamy tan seed heads in fall. ‘Oktoberfest’ is an earlier bloomer than ‘Gracillimus,’ making it a better selection for northern climates. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.
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Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails' from PanAmerican Seed
‘Pony Tails’ is a compact perennial grass with fine, needle-like green foliage. Silky green flowers appear in July and mature to a golden blonde for show-stopping autumn color. ‘Pony Tails’ grows to 91 inches and performs in a well-drained soil with sun exposure. It is part of PanAmerican Seed’s Fantastic Foliage and ColorGrass collections.
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ColorGrass Flashlights (milium) from PanAmerican Seed
The eye-catching chartreuse foliage of Flashlights brightens shady areas. The plant’s mounding, semi-arching habit makes it a standout in the garden, or as a premium filler accent for shade, mixed-combos and landscape borders. Shows the best color in Spring. Flashlights is part of PanAmerican Seed’s Fantastic Foliage and ColorGrass collections.
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Panicum virgatum 'Cape Breeze' from North Creek Nurseries
North Creek’s newest switchgrass selection is the result of a collaboration with Paul Miskovshy, owner of Miskovshy Landscaping. Flowering a bit earlier than other varieties, ‘Cape Breeze’ exhibits outstanding late-season rust resistance. It also demonstrates remarkable adaptability, excellent salt and drought tolerance and a strong capacity to control erosion while remaining upright.
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Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation' from North Creek Nurseries
'Standing Ovation' is a warm season grass that does well in poor, dry soils. It keeps a tight, upright habit through the entire season. Spikey bluish-green stems and leaves transition to a sizzling display of oranges, reds, yellows and purplish-browns in the autumn. Also provides winter interest before cutting back in early spring to make way for new growth.
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Luzula sylvatica 'Solar Flair' from Jelitto
‘Solar Flair’ is the perfect companion for mixed perennials. Bright golden-yellow leaf blades arranged in dense rosettes provide a drought tolerant, slow-growing groundcover for partially shady areas. Straw-colored arching flower spikes add visual interest in April. Foliage is evergreen. Hardy in Zones 5 to 8.
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Andropogon gerardi 'Dancing Wind' from Intrinsic Perennial Gardens
‘Dancing Wind’ is a native ornamental grass selected for its excellent fall color. Leaf tips and nodes begin to turn red during the cool nights of August. They contrast nicely against fresh green stems topped with burgundy-red flowers. As September progresses, plants turn almost entirely scarlet red. ‘Dancing Wind’ reaches 6 feet in height and prefers a well-drained soil in full sun. Hardy in Zones 3 to 9.
View all
Graceful Grasses 'Sky Rocket' from Proven Winners
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Munchkin' from Plants Nouveau
Miscanthus sinensis 'Oktoberfest' from Walters Gardens
Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails' from PanAmerican Seed
ColorGrass Flashlights (milium) from PanAmerican Seed
Panicum virgatum 'Cape Breeze' from North Creek Nurseries
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation' from North Creek Nurseries
Luzula sylvatica 'Solar Flair' from Jelitto
Andropogon gerardi 'Dancing Wind' from Intrinsic Perennial Gardens
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Janeen Wright is former Editor for Greenhouse Grower. . See all author stories here.