Ornamental grass gives you almost nonstop performance, visual impact, and strength. Unlike turfgrass or lawn varieties, ornamental grasses are meant to be grown instead of mowing or cutting them as part of your landscape. You’ll be amazed by how many varieties are available when you dive into these grasses, and they come in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors. We’ll outline a few popular varieties for you below.
1. Mexican Feather Grass
With this ornamental grass, the seeds are at the very tips of the feather-like blades, and they move in very gentle winds. It can spread and show up all over your yard, including in sidewalk cracks and in your neighbor’s yard. It does well in dry conditions and with being cut back, and it can be invasive. It grows best in zones 6 to 10 in full sun to part shade. The soil should be loamy, well-drained, and acidic for it to grow strong.
2. Zebra Grass
This grass is also called porcupine grass, and it has green and pale yellow strips on each blade. It’ll die back in the winter months before coming back in the spring, whether or not you trim it. It can get up to five feet tall and five feet wide, and it can lend a very tropical, exotic look to your space. It does well planted near-tropical, broad-leafed plants with colorful flowers like hibiscus, ginger, or canna. Plant it in zones five to nine in full sun. It does well in any soil type, from chalk or clay to loam or sand.
3. Purple Fountain Grass
This ornamental grass has a fountain-like, striking form with a reddish-purple color. It also produces feather-like flowers that allow you to view it from a distance, and you’ll grow it as an annual in cold-weather areas where it freezes. It’ll get between two and five feet tall and two to four feet wide at full maturity. It’s considered to be a low-maintenance addition, and all you have to do is cut it back to a foot high in the fall when it dries out. Plant it in zones 9 and 10 in full sun to partial shade. The soil should be well-drained and medium moisture.
4. Japanese Blood Grass
This ornamental grass grows in upright clumps that spread underground using runners. It does best if you plant it in rich, damp soil, and it likes more moisture during the hotter parts of the day. If the soil gets too dry, the plant will wilt and eventually die. It’s also considered to be invasive in some areas due to the rapid growth habit. You’ll get the best results if you plant it in zones five to nine in full sun to partial shade. The soil should be moist but drain very well after you water it.
Contact Us
If you want to know more about ornamental grasses for your yard, contact us. Our staff is ready to help discuss your options, pick out a few types of grass, and ensure they do well in your yard.
Those low-maintenance ornamental grass plants are amazing! I will totally vouch for them, especially if your sprinkler system waters them for you, it’s just such a nice piece to just about any yard. Thanks for sharing these options, great stuff!