Smith's Gardens, Inc. - Ornamental Grass Profile

Ornamental Grasses
Bouteloua, Calamagrostis, Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum, & Schizachyrium

Sun exposure: full sun (6 or more hours of sunlight a day)

Soil: performs best in average to poor soils

Traits

Special Care Instructions
Ornamental grasses are a care free addition to any sunny garden. They require little maintenance while providing year-round interest. In early spring, cut grasses back to 4-6" tall for a neater appearance.

Flowering Time
Ornamental Grasses have large, showy plumes. These can be seen from June to October, depending on the variety.

Characteristics, Uses, and Fun Facts
Ornamental Grasses are divided into two basic groups - Cool Season and Warm Season. Cool season grass will start to grow early in the spring. They grow better and have a cleaner appearance when temperatures are cool, and must be given sufficient water during the heat of the summer. If not watered during drought, they tend to go dormant resulting in brown foliage. Warm season grasses do better during warmer times of the year and look great even when temperatures are high and moisture is limited during the peak of summer. Warm season grasses do not begin to grow until the weather becomes stable and the soils warm, (mid-May in the Midwest). The previous seasons growth usually browns out in the fall requiring the cutting back of plants to about 4-6" in the spring. Grasses are very adaptable and even grow in poor soils. Once established, they are fairly drought tolerant and ignored by most pests and deer.
Ornamental grasses are so versatile, they can find a spot in any garden. Use them as a privacy "hedge" to keep out nosey neighbors, plant in mass for a low maintenance groundcover, or use them in groups of three to add height and structure to your garden.

Varieties

Growing Conditions

Deer Resistant

Good Cut Foliage & Plumes

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass 3-4' tall
(Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')

•	Fast growing, cool season grass for full sun or light shade.
•	Clumping habit with stiff, upright growth.
•	Produces wide green flowers in June which dry to narrow, upright, tan spikes that look like wheat seed heads and persist into fall.
•	Perennial Plant of the Year in 2001!

Overdam Feather Reed Grass 30-42" tall
(Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam')

•	A brightly variegated, cool season grass with dark green leaf blades that have white edges.
•	Clumping habit with stiff, upright growth.
•	Produces fat green flowers in June which dry to narrow, upright, tan spikes that look like wheat seed heads and persist into fall.
•

•	Airy, chartreuse flowers float horizontally amidst blue-green foliage from mid-summer into fall.
•	Seed heads extend the season providing unique winter appeal.
•	Extremely cold hardy and adaptable to various soil types, use in sweeps for a dramatic effect.
•	Midwest Native

•	Attractive summer foliage, fall flowers, and superb winter interest.
•	A dwarf variety with fine textured, gray-green leaves that holds its August borne flowers well above the foliage.
•
•

Adagio Japanese Silver Grass 4' tall
(Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio')

•	Forms a clump of tall of linear, arching, dark green leaves (to 1" wide) variegated with creamy white stripes.
•	Copper-colored plumes appear above the foliage in early fall, age to a cream color on stems that blush pink as they mature.
•	A bold accent or focal point for the garden.
•

•	Broad green leaves are accented with bold white stripes along the leaf blade.
•	This bright grass is smaller and more compact than Miscanthus 'Variegatus'.
•	Small bronze tassels form above the foliage in summer and continue through fall.
•

•	A graceful, fine bladed grass that has silvery-white flowers 4-6 weeks before other Japanese Silver Grass.
•	One of the most popular!
•
•

•	Selected for its early display of very full, burgundy colored flowers in mid-August and slightly shorter stature.
•	Our favorite Japanese Silver Grass!
•
•

•	Broad green leaves are boldly banded with gold and its habit is a bit more upright, but not stiff.
•	Attaining half the height of Miscanthus 'Zebrinus', better proportioned for today's smaller yards and landscapes.
•	Produces bronzy flowers in early fall.
•

•	A great dwarf grass for groups and mass planting!
•	Fine textured, mid-green leaves and a soft arching habit.
•	Flowers in late summer, producing abundant greenish-cream, bottlebrush-like seed heads.
•

•	Intense, smoky-rose flowers starting in mid-summer and continuing until fall.
•	Larger growing than Pennisetum 'Hameln' with a more upright habit.
•	Good drainage, especially over winter, is needed for best performance.
•

•	An early flowering form of red-flowering Fountain Grass.
•	Deep purple buds mature to smoky red plumes that measure 3" wide and 8-10" long.
•	The foliage is thick and dark green in summer turning a rich gold in the fall.
•	Great for mass planting and low screens.

•	Selected for its light blue summer foliage that changes to hues of deep pink and burgundy starting in late summer.
•	Blooming in late summer, this native is tolerant of harsh, drier sites once established.
•	It has an upright habit that sways gracefully in the wind, remaining ornamental well into the winter.
•

•	A bold, upright native grass!
•	This variety is noted for its wide, colorful foliage and large flower heads.
•	The foliage is a bright blue-gray in summer and turns a rich golden-russet in the fall.
•	Starting in August, plants produce exceptionally large flower heads, up to 2' long, of a rich purple color.

Japanese Silver Grass used as a backdrop for a patio and pergola

Provides Winter Interest

Blonde Ambition Grama Grass 18-24" tall
(Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition')

Graziella Japanese Silver Grass 4-5' tall
(Miscanthus sinensis 'Graziella')

Cabaret Japanese Silver Grass 6' tall
(Miscanthus sinensis 'Cabaret')

Huron Sunrise Japanese Silver Grass 5-6' tall
(Miscanthus sinensis 'Huron Sunrise')

Rigoletto Japanese Silver Grass 3-5' tall
(Miscanthus sinensis 'Rigoletto')

Super Stripe Japanese Silver Grass 3-5' tall
(Miscanthus sinensis 'Super Stripe')

Hameln Fountain Grass 2-3' tall
(Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln')

Karley Rose Fountain Grass 2-3' tall
(Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose')

Red Head Fountain Grass 3-4' tall
(Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head')

Dallas Blues Switch Grass 5-7' tall
(Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues')

Blue Heaven Little Bluestem 3-4' tall
(Schizachyrium scoparium 'MinnBlueA')