Ornamental Grass

Gardening Guide

Ornamental Grass

Mexican Feather Grass

Nassella (Stipa) tenuissima
A native Texas ornamental grass with hair-like, bright green foliage. Cream-colored plumes at leaf tips last into winter. Great in dry, loose soils. Heat and drought tolerant. Great large scale groundcover. Fast growing perennial.

2' tall x 2-3' wide

Full sun

Zone 7 / Hardy to 10ºF

Pink Muhly Grass

Muhlenbergia capillaris
Very drought tolerant ornamental grass with very narrow foliage. Pinkish flower plumes provide an airy effect to the landscape beginning late summer and continuing into fall. Tolerates heat, dry sites and poor soils. Fast growing perennial.

3' tall x 3' wide

Full sun

Zone 7 / Hardy to 10ºF

Pampas Grass

Cortaderia selloana
Large ornamental grass with long, arching leaves that form a large clump of foliage. Showy, creamy-white flower plumes stand above the foliage beginning late summer. A great specimen plant or is perfect for screening when planted in groups. Fast growing perennial.

6-8' tall x 6-8' wide

Full sun

Zone 7 / Hardy to 10ºF

Ivory Feathers® Dwarf Pampas Grass

Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila’
Showy feathery white plumes are the summer attraction on this compact version of pampas grass. It is just as tough and durable, but somewhat more cold hardy, than the standard variety. Nice in borders or in groups. Fast growing perennial.

4-6' tall x 4-5' wide

Full sun

Zone 7 / Hardy to 10ºF

Piglet Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Piglet’ PP19074
Finely textured compact clumping grass that provides nearly year round interest. Pale fuzzy spikes appear in summer above the foliage. Excellent choice for borders, containers or mass plantings. Fast growing perennial.

18" tall x 24-30" wide

Full sun

Zone 6 / Hardy to 0ºF

Princess Caroline™ Purple Fountain Grass

Pennisetum purpureum ‘Princess Caroline’ PPAF
Brilliant, purple-foliaged grass that stands up well to heat and humidity. Provides a great color and textural contrast to the landscape. Really nice effect when planted in groups and is a great backdrop to green-leaved annuals and perennials. Fast growing perennial.

4-5' tall x 4-5' wide

Full sun

Zone 7 / Hardy to 10ºF

Princess Molly Purple Fountain Grass

Pennisetum purpureum ‘Princess Molly’
Smaller, more refined, purple-foliaged grass with a cascading growth habit that stands up well to heat and humidity. Provides a great color and textural contrast to the landscape. Fast growing perennial.

14-24" tall x 18-24" wide

Full sun

Zone 7 / Hardy to 10ºF

Purple Fountain Grass

Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’
Colorful ornamental grass with purple foliage and purple flowers. Stands up well to heat, humidity and drought. Great specimen or accent plant for borders and containers. Easy to grow. Fast growing annual.

3-4' tall x 2-3' wide

Full sun

Zone 9 / Hardy to 30ºF

Evergold Japanese Sedge

Carex oshimenis ‘Evergold’
This striking sedge is noted for its arching dark green foliage with creamy gold striping. The clumping growth habit and low height make it ideal for groundcover or rock garden addition. Fast growing evergreen to perennial.

12" tall x 12" wide

Full sun to part shade

Zone 6 / Hardy to 0ºF

Variegated Sweet Flag

Acorus calamus ‘Variegatus’
Unique, glossy, golden-yellow grass-like foliage. Great vertical accent or for color contrast, especially useful in wet areas. Easy container specimen. Wonderful at the edge of a water garden or pond. Fast growing perennial.

2-3' tall x 2' wide

Part shade

Zone 5 / Hardy to -10ºF