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Great Grasses

by Marie Hofer, Gardening editor, HGTV.com

The sky's the limit when it comes to wonderful ornamental grasses. Here are a few of expert Rick Darke's favorites:

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Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues' --photo by Rick Darke
'Dallas Blues' switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). A tall clumper with wispy panicles, switchgrass' bold presence in the garden makes this grass a great alternative to Miscanthus. May self-sow in moist climates, but it won't disrupt native habitats in the Midwest and East. In drier areas, it won't self-sow without a lot of supplemental watering. USDA Zone 4.
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'Dallas Blues' in October --photo by Rick Darke
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'Dallas Blues' in February --photo by Rick Darke
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Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) --photo by Rick Darke
Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris). This very ornamental clump grass generates a mass of frothy pink flower panicles in September to November. Flowers hold in winter. Drought-tolerant. Three feet tall, USDA Zone 6.

  • Miscanthus 'Purpurascens'. The flower heads aren't the only draw. In fall the foliage turns red-orange. Blooms early but rarely self-sows. USDA Zone 4.
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    Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' --photo by Rick Darke
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    Schizachyrium scoparium --photo by Rick Darke
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    Carex 'Silver Sceptre' --photo by Rick Darke
  • 'Karl Foerster' feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'). A lovely upright grass that's tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Narrow, vertical flowers begin appearing in early summer. The seeds are generally sterile, so self-sowing is rare. USDA Zone 4.

  • Little bluestem. Schizachyrium scoparium. A prairie grass that's used for forage, little bluestem varies from green to gray-blue, turning rusty, tan and dark orange-red in fall. 'The Blues' offers glacous gray-blue foliage that's streaked with pink and magenta, making this grass a sparkling addition to a collection of other grasses or to a pastel garden. Two to four feet tall. USDA Zone 3.

  • Carex morrowii 'Silver Sceptre'. In sedges, flowering is usually insignificant, but it's the foliage that rules this huge family. 'Silver Sceptre' is one of many attractive variegated cultivars; it has creamy-white leaf margins. Tolerant of a wide range fo soils. 12 inches tall. USDA Zone 6 (5).

    Well-behaved varieties of Miscanthus and Pennisetum

    • Resources
    Timber Press Pocket Guide to Ornamental Grasses
    by Rick Darke
    Timber Press, 2004
    Order this book from the HGTV online store.
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