What makes ornamental grass “ornamental?” I like to think there are two reasons, both of which are good arguments for including ornamental grass in your landscaping.
Firstly, this is not the “grass” that many of us have reluctantly been mowing since our childhoods, to contrast which with ornamental grass we might term, “functional grass.” Such functional grass serves primarily a practical purpose: namely, it forms a uniform surface on which to walk when we’re out in the yard. Outdoor carpeting, if you will. Ornamental grass, by contrast, is not meant to be mowed, is not meant to be uniform, is not meant to be tread upon.
Secondly, in terms of aesthetics, functional grass is mainly a negative space. That is, its job is not so much to be admired itself as it is to form a stage on which the yard’s actors (flowers, shrubs, trees, hardscape etc.) play their roles. Ornamental grass, by contrast, is one of the yard’s actors. The only purpose of ornamental grass is to be pretty, to be an “ornament.”
Ornamental grass is used in landscape design the way one uses flowers, shrubs, and trees. In fact, it is often mixed with such plants to fill planting beds, creating diversity in terms of your plant selection. When composing such planting beds, it is best to layer the plants, placing the tallest in the back, the shortest in the front and the rest in the middle. For this reason, I categorize the ornamental grasses below in terms of their height.
Tall Ornamental Grasses
No fall or winter landscape should be without a tall ornamental grass. Plume grass (Erianthus ravennae) is grown in most planting zones. It grows 8′-11′ (its clump has a spread of 3′-4′). This plant, with its tall, thin shafts and fluffy coiffures, exhibits a delicate structure that lends a touch of charm to the harsh winter landscape. Because of its height, a plant such as a plume grass can be used as an anchor.
Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’) is a fine choice in zones 5-9 for a tall drought-tolerant ornamental grass, as it reaches as much as 7’ in height, with a spread a bit less than that. Maiden grass (or “maiden grass”) bears coppery tassels as a seed-head in early fall, eventually growing lighter in color and adorning the plant as a “plume.” Don’t cut the clump’s stems back until after the bleakness of winter passes, since the graceful stems and puffy plumes of this plant will provide some visual interest on an otherwise barren December-February landscape.
Intermediate Ornamental Grasses
Purple fountain (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) is a tropical ornamental grass. Since we live in an area subject to harsh winters, you’ll need to treat it as an annual. The plant reaches a height of 3-5 feet with a spread of 2-4 feet. Its purplish flower spikes are succeeded by fluffy, attractive seed heads tinged with purple or burgundy. Its spiky foliage is also burgundy in color.
Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) is an ornamental grass that grows 24″-36″ high in loose clumps of green foliage. Its name derives from its seed pods, which look like oats. This deer-resistant ornamental grass is cold hardy to zone 5. Even after its leaves have dried and died, it provides visual interest to the winter landscape.
Short Ornamental Grasses
For a shorter rabbit-resistant plant, try liriope, or “lilyturf” (Liriope spicata). Lilyturf ornamental grass can be grown in zones 4-10 and reaches only about 1′ in height. Lilyturf likes water but also prefers well-drained soil. Select an area with partial shade and soil rich in organic matter for best results. This ornamental grass, too, has a spiky flower, ranging in color from white to lavender. In autumn it bears a dark berry. You’ll want to contain this plant, however, because it can be invasive.
Another short ornamental grass (around 1’ x 1’) grown in zones 4-8 is blue fescue (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’). The popularity of this clumping, drought-tolerant ornamental grass lies in the blue color of its foliage, which will beautifully complement any surrounding plants you may have with silvery foliage, such as lamb’s ears. The plant rather resembles a pincushion bristling with blue pins. As with maiden grass, cut back foliage in early spring. Divide every few years to rejuvenate.
Low-Maintenance Landscaping With Ornamental Grass and Mulch
Whether you mix ornamental grass with shrubs, trees, and flowers or let it stand alone, you’ll want to apply mulch around ornamental grass. Replacing lawn grass with a combination of mulch and ornamental grass can reduce yard maintenance requirements. While this may not be feasible for large areas, it is certainly an option for small plots of land. Remember, maintaining lawn grass goes beyond mowing time. It also includes such tasks as mower maintenance. Until next time…Happy Gardening!!
Jimmie