Plants in family poaceae
Muhlenbergia dubia
Muhlenbergia dubia is a drought-tolerant ornamental grass native to North America. It forms a symmetrical mound and produces narrow plumes on stalks in late August to fall. The plumes emerge purple and fade to tan, adding texture and color to gardens.
Cenchrus setaceus
Cenchrus setaceus, commonly known for its dark burgundy-red foliage, is an ornamental grass that produces one-foot long red plume-like inflorescences. It grows up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, thriving in full sun and well-draining soil. This plant is moderately drought and heat resistant, making it suitable for USDA zones 9-11. Its foliage turns tan-bronze in fall and winter, adding seasonal interest to gardens. The airy purple-tan plumes provide a soft, feathery texture to landscapes.
Diarrhena americana
Diarrhena americana is a North American ornamental grass found in rich, moist savannahs and open woodlands. It forms a 2-foot tall clump topped with floral spikes in midsummer. This drought-tolerant grass is endangered in some states and thrives in both sun and shade.
Sphaerocaryum malaccense
Sphaerocaryum malaccense is an ornamental grass known for its tiny flowers that give way to seeds and shimmery panicles. It is excellent for use as a cut-flower bouquet filler and for drying.
Sporobolus heterolepis
Sporobolus heterolepis, a native perennial bunchgrass of central North America, forms a mound of fine-textured leaves that reach 1 to 2 feet high. Its flowering stems can grow up to 3 feet tall, producing airy panicles from late July to mid-September. The foliage is green in summer and turns golden in fall, adding seasonal interest. This resilient grass grows in both moist and dry conditions and serves as a larval host for the Poweshiek skipper. It is often used in ornamental plantings, green roofs, and prairie restoration projects.
Calamagrostis arundinacea
Calamagrostis arundinacea is an ornamental grass that forms a 2-foot tall by 2-foot wide clump, topped with pink plumes in September. The plant's color changes to bronze in fall, and it tolerates hot summers and part sun to shady conditions. It is also excellent for dried arrangements.
Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum is a Dutch heirloom wheat known for its superior blue color and long black awns. While it is edible, it is primarily grown for ornamental purposes due to its beautiful seed heads and durable stems. This wheat is ideal for flower arrangements and crafts.
Oplismenus hirtellus 'Variegatus'
Oplismenus hirtellus 'Variegatus' is a versatile plant that grows in sun to partial shade, with a temperature tolerance ranging from 35 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It reaches a height of 6 to 8 inches, making it suitable for ground cover or container planting.
Andropogon glomeratus
Andropogon glomeratus, commonly known as bushy bluestem, is an ornamental grass reaching up to 6 feet tall. It features large, fluffy cream-colored inflorescences and blue-green leaves that turn coppery-red in fall. This native grass is suitable for moist soils and full sun.
Sporobolus wrightii
Sporobolus wrightii is a perennial bunchgrass native to the United States, known for its tall stems and long leaves. It grows in plains, desert grasslands, and wetlands, providing erosion control and forage for wildlife. The plant is drought-tolerant and forms a clump of grey-green foliage with golden-bronze flower panicles.
Cenchrus americanus
Cenchrus americanus, formerly known as Pennisetum glaucum, is a heat- and drought-tolerant plant with deep purple, corn-like leaves and an 8-12 inch purple flower spike. It is a multi-stemmed plant that grows 3-5 feet tall and was awarded the All-America Selections Gold Medal in 2003.
Muhlenbergia rigens
Muhlenbergia rigens, also known as deer grass, is an ornamental grass native to the Southwest US. It forms a 3-foot tall clump of grey-green foliage with narrow plumes reaching 6 feet. This drought-tolerant plant is suitable for xeriscaping and provides cover for wildlife. It is used for erosion control and restoration projects.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio' is a dwarf ornamental grass known for its slender, silvery blades that turn yellow in fall. It produces tiny white-pink plumes in mid to late summer, which transition to creamy white by fall, providing interest into winter. This clump-forming grass is tolerant of a wide range of soils and is deer resistant, making it a versatile choice for gardens. It grows up to 3-4 feet tall and wide, adding texture and movement to landscapes. Its salt tolerance makes it suitable for coastal gardens.
Cortaderia selloana
Cortaderia selloana, commonly known as pampas grass, is a popular ornamental grass with oversized arching foliage and creamy white feathery plumes. It is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant but can be invasive in mild-winter areas.
Fargesia murielae
Fargesia murielae is a large, clump-forming evergreen bamboo native to the mountains of central China. It grows up to 10-14 feet tall with canes that are about 0.5 inches in diameter. This bamboo is hardy to 5°F and thrives in USDA zones 5 through 9. Its new shoots are light blue with tan sheaths, maturing to yellowish-green, and it prefers afternoon shade. Notably, it is non-invasive and has a monocarpic life cycle, flowering once before dying.
Eragrostis curvula
Eragrostis curvula, native to South Africa, is a clump-forming grass with narrow, powder-blue foliage and airy plumes. It grows up to 3 feet tall and is used for erosion control and livestock forage. This grass is invasive in some regions and prefers well-drained soil with full sun exposure.
Zea mays ssp. everta
Zea mays ssp. everta is a type of popcorn known for its 2-3 inch long ruby red, strawberry-shaped ears. The compact 4-foot stalks produce kernels that turn white when popped, making it a unique choice for fall decor and culinary use.
Bouteloua gracilis
Bouteloua gracilis, known as blue grama, is a heat- and drought-tolerant native grass of North America. It features feathery foliage and golden brown inflorescences, providing habitat for skipper butterflies. This perennial grass is valued for its adaptability and use in erosion control and native landscaping.
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri is an ornamental grass native to northern Mexico and Texas. It forms clumps of erect stems with purplish inflorescence and provides graze for cattle and horses. This drought-tolerant grass is effective as a specimen or in mass plantings.
Nassella tenuissima
Nassella tenuissima, also known as Mexican feather grass, is a delicate ornamental grass native to the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and Argentina. It forms wispy clumps of narrow foliage and produces tan plumes that reach up to 2 feet tall in late spring. While it is a popular choice for gardens due to its graceful appearance, it is considered a major threat to native ecosystems in Australia. This grass is drought-tolerant and can self-seed, making it a low-maintenance option for xeriscaping.
Cymbopogon citratus
Cymbopogon citratus, commonly known as lemongrass, features long, slender blades with a rich green color and a distinct lemony scent when crushed. Native to Maritime Southeast Asia, it grows 2-3 feet tall and wide, thriving in USDA zones 9-11 with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. This tropical grass is widely used in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine.
Miscanthus sinensis
Miscanthus sinensis, commonly known as Zebra grass, is an ornamental grass with arching, striped green and white foliage. It forms a 4-foot wide mound and produces tan plumes in late summer, remaining attractive into early spring. This grass is native to eastern Asia and is popular for its graceful appearance and ability to thrive in a variety of garden settings.
Sporobolus airoides
Sporobolus airoides, commonly known as alkali sacaton, is a perennial bunchgrass native to western North America. It thrives in a variety of habitats, particularly in alkali soils, and can grow up to 6 feet tall. The plant features long, spreading inflorescences with yellow spikelets that have purplish bases. Known for its drought and salt tolerance, it is often used in habitat restoration projects, especially in arid regions like the Mojave Desert. Its grey-green foliage forms a dense clump, and it blooms from midsummer to early fall with golden bronze flower panicles. This grass is valuable for its ability to produce abundant seeds and its adaptability to extreme conditions, making it a resilient choice for challenging environments.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
This ornamental grass features fine narrow foliage with white midribs that turn bronze in autumn and silvery white in winter. It grows 4 to 7 feet tall and produces tassel-like blossoms in fall. The plant is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and suitable for full sun to part shade. It is hardy in USDA zones 5-9 and can be invasive.
Miscanthus sinensis 'My Fair Maiden'
Miscanthus sinensis 'My Fair Maiden' is an ornamental grass with tall, upright stems reaching 6-8 feet. It produces fluffy white flowers in late summer and its leaves turn gold in autumn.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus is a compact, clump-forming perennial grass known for its finely textured dark green foliage and small, feathery plumes that appear in summer. This drought-tolerant grass thrives in various soil types and is deer resistant, making it a versatile choice for gardens. It attracts birds and is ideal for small or rock gardens due to its dwarf size, staying under 8 inches tall. The plumes, which rise just above the foliage, add a delicate touch to its appearance. Developed as a sterile ornamental hybrid, it requires full sun for optimal foliage color. The grass forms clumps that can reach up to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, with plumes that transition from violet pink to silver. Its extended flowering season, due to sterility, provides interest from midsummer into fall.
Harpochloa falx
Harpochloa falx is a tussock grass native to South Africa, characterized by fine, glaucous-green leaves and early summer seed heads resembling caterpillars. This fire-adapted species grows up to 18 inches tall and 3 feet wide, dominating competitors in the absence of regular burns.
Zea mays
Zea mays, or sweet corn, is known for its large, tender ears that are resistant to stalk-lodging. Developed from 'Luther Hill' and 'Painted Mountain' corn, it is adapted for short growing seasons and germinates well in cool, wet soils. This variety features a kaleidoscope of rainbow kernels and is rich in anthocyanins.
Arundo formosana
Arundo formosana is a dwarf version of the giant reed grass, native to Taiwan, and grows up to 8 feet tall. It spreads by thick rhizomes and produces airy plumes in late summer. This ornamental grass is suitable for sunny locations and adds a vertical element to garden landscapes.