​graceful grasses

Fall is fast approaching, and now is the time that warm season perennial grasses really start to show up and look their best in the garden. Perennial grasses are great plant pairings for flowering perennials. Beauty in the garden can’t rely on the color provided by flowers alone, as those come and go. Grasses provide texture and movement, two important elements in a comprehensive garden design. There are perennial grasses to suit any landscape size and design.

Feather Reed Grass

Karl Foerster Feather Reed grass is the tried and true grass seen planted in many home and commercial landscapes. It’s supremely easy to grow, remains upright and tidy, produces wheat-like seed heads in later summer, and provides winter interest. Foerster Feather Reed Grass grows 4-5 feet tall, 2 feet wide, and can be grown in partial or full sun.

Overdam Feather Reed Grass

The variegated foliage of Overdam makes it a stunner in the perennial garden. Growing to just 2-3 feet tall and wide there is space in every landscape for one or more of these pretty grasses. Tight, upright growth habit and wheat like seed heads keep this one attractive all season long and even into winter. Plant in partial to full sun.

Shenandoah Switchgrass

This grass is a perennial garden favorite. It’s foliage turns a deep red over time and the airy, lacy seed heads have a pinkish hue. Shenandoah grows 4-5 feet tall and about 18 inches wide. Grown in partial to full sun.

Bluestems

The Bluestem grasses are loved for, just what it sounds like, the color of their stems. As the season progresses, their stems continue to develop deeper into a dark blue or even purplish black hue. There are several different varieties of Bluestems making it easy to add and enjoy in any garden or landscape.

Big Bluestem

Also called Turkey Foot grass due to it’s three part seed head, this tall prairie grass is a native grass that turns from green to red in the fall. Big Bluestem needs full sun and can grow to be between 5 and 8 feet tall.

Blackhawk Big Bluestem

This is fairly new to the market, and has one of the darkest blade and stem colors on a bluestem. Blackhawk grows to be 5 feet tall and two feet and prefers 6 or more hours of sun.

Little Bluestem

This native prairie grass grows to be just 2-4 feet tall and blades turn a pretty bronze color in fall. Seed heads will often remain through winter, creating winter interest in the landscape. Plant in full sun.

Standing Ovation Little Bluestem

This exceptionally pretty grass has blue-green stems through the summer that turn red and orange in the fall. Standing Ovations maintains an upright, tight growth habit, making it an excellent choice for both summer and winter interest. Grow in full sun.

Blue Heaven Little Bluestem

Soft blue foliage turns red in the fall. Couple that with upright, golden plumes and this grass a stand-out in the perennial bed. Plant in full sun. Grows 2-4 feet tall.

Japanese Forest Grass

The All Gold Japanese Forest Grass is a perfect choice for gardens that get less sun. This low growing, mounding grass brightens shadier spots with it’s bright, chartreuse foliage. This grass is worth adding for the movement it creates, few other grasses respond to the breeze the way Japanese Forest Grass does. Grows to be about 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide. Grow in partial sun to shade.

Add perennial grasses to the landscape and gardens to increase the overall aesthetic and add movement, texture, and even sound into the landscape.