Plants in family poaceae
Arundo donax 'Golden Chain'
Arundo donax 'Golden Chain' is a UK selection of giant reed grass, forming 7-foot tall upright stalks with medium green leaves edged in gold. This plant holds its color all season and is smaller and less vigorous than its parent variety, Arundo donax 'Versicolor'.
Phalaris arundinacea 'Luteo Picta'
Phalaris arundinacea 'Luteo Picta', commonly known as ribbon grass, is an ornamental grass characterized by its striking yellow and green striped foliage. This plant is known for its vigorous growth and can become slightly invasive, particularly in sandy soils. 'Luteo Picta' is a versatile plant that can be used in both sun and light shade, making it suitable for a variety of garden settings. Its foliage fades to green in late summer, providing a dynamic visual interest throughout the growing season. This grass is a popular choice for adding texture and color to perennial borders and garden beds. Its adaptability to different light conditions and its bold foliage make it a valuable addition to any garden looking to incorporate ornamental grasses. Despite its potential invasiveness, its striking appearance and ease of care make it a favorite among gardeners.
Muhlenbergia 'Pink Flamingos'
Muhlenbergia 'Pink Flamingos' is a hybrid grass known for its narrow glaucous foliage and pink plumes that appear from September to November. This 3-foot tall clump is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, making it a resilient choice for gardens.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Tiger Cub'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Tiger Cub' is a dwarf ornamental grass known for its zebra-striped foliage. The patterns appear early in the growing season, and the plant produces sparse plumes. It is suitable for sunny to partially sunny locations and attracts butterflies.
Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition'
Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' is a North American native grass, notable for its unique tan, eyelash-like seed heads that turn bronze. It forms clumps about 3 feet tall and wide, and is tolerant of drought, alkaline soils, and soil-borne salts. This grass is not suited for highly acidic or damp soils.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Kirk Alexander'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Kirk Alexander', also known as dwarf zebra grass, is a compact ornamental grass with striking tan plumes in the fall. Discovered by Kirk Alexander, this plant is known for its unique foliage pattern and ability to attract butterflies. It is suitable for sunny locations and can be used in rain gardens or as a rabbit-resistant plant.
Panicum virgatum 'Squaw'
Panicum virgatum 'Squaw' is a sturdy, upright grass with dense, compact clumps reaching 40 inches tall. It features tan flower plumes in late summer, and the foliage tips take on a reddish bronze appearance in cooler weather.
Borinda boliana
Borinda boliana is a clumping bamboo known for its impressive size, reaching up to 50 feet tall with a basal spread of 15 feet. It features arching blue-green culms and is deer-resistant. This bamboo thrives in heat above 100°F and recovers quickly from cold damage, making it a dramatic addition to large landscapes.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gold Breeze'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gold Breeze' is an ornamental grass that forms a 7-foot tall clump with heavily banded foliage. In late summer, it is topped with flower spikes that open in a reddish-purple hue. This plant is known for its striking appearance and is suitable for a variety of garden settings.
Andropogon gerardii
Andropogon gerardii, a tallgrass prairie native, is a dominant grass in Midwest prairies known for its seasonal color change from gray to blue-green to reddish bronze. It grows 4-6 feet tall and is wildlife-friendly, drought and fire-resistant, and tolerant of salt and deer browsing. This low-maintenance grass prefers full sun.
Fargesia robusta 'Ping Wu'
Fargesia robusta 'Ping Wu' is a heat-tolerant clumping bamboo that forms an 8-foot tall by 2-foot wide clump. It is deer-resistant and spreads to 9 feet wide, making it an elegant specimen for gardens. Despite its name, it is not as cold-tolerant as some myths suggest.
Phalaris arundinacea 'Feesey'
Phalaris arundinacea 'Feesey' is a variegated ornamental grass that forms an 8-foot wide groundcover, reaching 2 feet tall in 5 years. It spreads faster in moist, rich soils and features white and green striped leaves with a pink overlay in cool weather. This grass is semi-dormant in very hot climates and produces short bronzy plumes in midsummer.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Sarabande'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Sarabande' is an ornamental grass known for its extremely narrow leaves and fine texture. It produces better plumes and lacks seedlings, making it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners. This grass is native to China and Japan and thrives in sunny locations, adding movement and texture to garden landscapes. Its unique foliage and graceful form make it a popular choice for borders and as a focal point in garden designs.
Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks'
Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks' is a striking ornamental grass selected for its dark black-purple foliage that appears in mid-summer. Growing up to 4 feet tall, it is topped with terminal flowers resembling a miniature miscanthus. This grass is a major food source for migratory bison and is ideal for adding dramatic color to landscapes. It thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant, making it a resilient choice for native plantings.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Red Silver'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Red Silver' is a warm-season grass with silvery foliage and reddish-purple flowers. It grows 4 to 7 feet tall and is cold-hardy to USDA zones 4-8, attracting birds and requiring low maintenance.
Leymus arenarius 'Blue Dune'
Leymus arenarius 'Blue Dune' is a grass known for its bright blue foliage and vigorous growth. It spreads by rhizomes and flowers from June to August. This low-maintenance plant is excellent for soil erosion control and adds a striking color contrast to gardens with its unique blue hue.
Panicum virgatum 'Hot Rod'
Panicum virgatum 'Hot Rod' is a perennial grass with an upright growth habit. Its blue-tinted foliage turns bright red in the fall, adding vibrant color to landscapes. This grass is hardy in USDA zones 4-9 and is tolerant of drought, deer, and salt. It requires pruning in early spring to maintain its shape and vigor.
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Little Bunny'
Cenchrus setosus ssp. setosus 'Little Bunny' is a compact ornamental grass known for its silvery puffball plumes that bloom from August to October. It has a fine texture and golden fall color, thriving in full sun but tolerating partial shade. This grass is deer resistant and requires well-drained soil.
Borinda angustissima
Borinda angustissima is a refined, elegant bamboo that can reach up to 15 feet tall. It features tiny green leaves with dark purple sheaths and is deer-resistant. This bamboo was first accessioned in China's northern Sichuan Province and is known for its resilience, surviving extreme temperatures. It is slow to establish but grows vigorously after the third year, making it a striking addition to gardens.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurascens'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurascens' is a perennial grass known for its striking orange-red fall color. It has bright spring green blades with a reddish tinge and red-tinged stalks with tassel-like flowers that turn creamy white. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant is cold hardy and deer resistant.
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Blaze'
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Blaze' is a hardy grass known for its strong, upright form and vibrant color transitions from blue-green to purple, pink, orange, and red. It is drought and deer tolerant, thriving in full sun and poor soils, and adds winter interest with its fluffy seed heads.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Zebra'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Zebra' is a dwarf ornamental grass with a compact mound of green foliage adorned with yellow horizontal banding. In late summer, it produces wine-purple plumes, adding a touch of elegance to gardens. This plant is butterfly-attracting and thrives in sunny locations.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Graziella'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Graziella' is a compact Maiden Grass with slender green foliage and large white blooms in late summer. Its pinkish burgundy plumes turn creamy white, and the stems display a golden orange-red color in fall.
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Blue Paradise'
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Blue Paradise' is an upright ornamental grass with silvery blue stems in summer that turn deep wine purple in fall. It is drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil, making it a resilient choice for gardens. This grass adds texture and color to landscapes, offering a striking visual element throughout the growing season.