10 Ornamental Grasses for Your Landscape

One of the biggest trends in landscaping today is the use of ornamental grasses. There are many different varieties of ornamental grassesI love using a combination of real and artificial plants in my landscape. All ornamental grasses fall into one of two categories, warm season and cool season grasses. If you are too scared to try one of these real ornamental grasses, opt for one of our artificial versions. They look just like the real thing but are maintenance free.

Artificial Grass Arrangement

1. Fountain Grass (Perennial)
   Fountain grass is one of my personal favorites, not just because it is popular in the south, but because it is so beautiful and eye-catching. This clump forming grass measures anywhere from a foot to three feet tall and when it blooms, it is very colorful with shades of purple.
2. Ribbon Grass
   Although ribbon grass is beautiful, it is also very invasive and can spread rapidly. For this reason it is a great choice if you have a large space you are looking to fill but it is a poor choice if you don’t want it to overrun other plants in your landscape.
3. Switchgrass
   If you are looking for a particularly large ornamental grass to use along the rear borders of your property, switchgrass is an excellent choice. This spreading grass is very tall, standing anywhere from 3 to 7 feet in height. This grass may also bring more birds and animals to your yard because they love living within it.
4. Blue Oat Grass
   Blue oat grass has a bluish silver color that is a welcomed addition to any landscape. This clump-forming grass won’t overrun your flower bed but it will offer height and width, both of which can be anywhere from 2 to 3 feet. This is a deer resistant plant that loves to be planted in the sun.
5. Japanese Forestgrass
   If you are looking for something to brighten up your garden, Japanese forest grass is an excellent selection. The bright lime green color breaks up the monotony of darker foliage in a landscape. This grass loves the shade and can be used either in containers or as ground cover, depending upon how many you plant. This grass measures roughly 18 inches both tall and wide.
6. Maidengrass
   Businesses and commercial properties flock to maiden grass for its size and beauty. This large clumping ornamental grass grows to anywhere from 3 to 5 feet wide and is often twice as tall as it is wide.
7. Zebragrass
   This Japanese ornamental grass is a favorite for landscapers. The stripes of dark and light green give this plant it’s name. This perennial grass looks beautiful all year long and it is a good thing, because this show-stopper is a whopping 6 feet tall.
8. Blue Fescue
   Blue fescue is a stunning ornamental grass that forms well-shaped mounds. This perennial grass measures between 6 and 18 inches tall, making it a great option for the foreground of your flower bed. To successfully grow this plant you will need well-drained soil and live within hardiness zones 5 through 9.
9. Feather Reed Grass
   Feather reed grass brings both beauty and height to a landscape. This tall grass forms a clump and stays very well contained but does grow to a height of 3 to 5 feet. This grass is particularly attractive in the fall, when the tall flowers are a festive beige color.
10. Plume Grass
    Plume grass is another large grass that loves the sun. Standing anywhere from 6 to 12 feet tall, this beautiful green grass is a great plant to use when you want to add privacy to your backyard space.