13 Terrific Tall Grasses

Frost grass brings a bamboo-like look to the garden with horizontal leaves, which take on purple to burgundy tints in fall. Plants grow 4 to 5 feet tall. Give this grass sun to light shade in fertile, well-drained soil on the moist side. Hot, dry conditions kill frost grass. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.

‘Northwind’ combines classic switch grass color of olive- to blue-green leaves with a narrow footprint to create a strong, tall grass clump. Leaves top out around 4 to 6 feet. Flower plumes appear in midsummer, bringing the total height to 7 feet. Plumes linger through winter. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.

You'll recognize this ornamental millet, Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Majesty,' by its large, cattail-like plumes and dark purple foliage. Use this All-American Selections Gold Medal Winner for cut flowers, as a backdrop for shorter plants or in large, mixed containers.

Need a grass for wet soil? Check out ‘Karl Foerster’. This feather reed grass forms tight clumps 12 to 18 inches wide with leaves 3 to 5 feet tall. Seedheads emerge in early summer and take the plant height to 6 feet. Flower plumes start purple-green and ripen to gold in autumn. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.