Ornamental grasses are popular additions to home landscapes. They are easy to grow, require little maintenance, are long-lived, and are relatively pest and disease-free. They also provide multi-season interest.
The attractive features of ornamental grasses include color, texture, form, growth habit, movement, and sound. Foliage colors range from shades of green to blue, yellow, tan, and reddish purple. Textures vary from fine to coarse. Plant forms range from low, mounding plants to tall, upright plants. Many ornamental grasses add movement and sound to the landscape as they gracefully wave and rustle in the wind. In the home landscape, ornamental grasses can be utilized as ground covers, specimen plants, background plants, and screens.
Several species of ornamental grasses can be grown in Iowa landscapes. Many are native to Iowa and much of the Midwest. Find the right ornamental grass for your garden in the list below.
Big Bluestem | Blue Grama | Feather Reed Grass | Northern Sea Oats | Japanese Silvergrass | Giant Miscanthus | Switchgrass | Perennial Fountain Grass | Little Bluestem | Indian Grass | Prairie Dropseed | More Information
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Big bluestem was often the most common plant species of the tallgrass prairie. Plants grow 4 to 6 feet tall in dry sites, 6 to 8 feet tall in moist soils. The foliage of big bluestem is green with a bluish cast in summer, often turning reddish bronze in fall after frost. These North American native plants bloom in August and September. The purplish flower clusters are divided into three, finger-like parts, giving rise to the additional common name of turkey foot.
Notable cultivars include:
- Blackhawks - grows 5 feet tall; leaves are green in spring but turn to dark burgundy to purple by late summer.
- Dancing Wind - grows 6 feet tall; leaves are green with reddish purple accents in spring and early summer, eventually turning to dark scarlet to purple by late summer.
- Indian Warrior - upright plants grow 5 to 6 feet tall; green foliage develops purple tones in fall.
- Red October - grows 6 feet tall; deep green leaves in spring and early summer turn to reddish-purple to burgundy in late summer, foliage eventually becomes scarlet red after the first frost.
Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)
Blue grama is a short, clump-forming grass that is found in the drier areas of the tallgrass prairie. In Iowa, blue grama is native and mainly found in the northwestern counties and the Loess Hills. Plants have narrow, bluish-gray leaves that turn golden brown in fall. It grows 1 to 2 feet tall. Blue grama produces purple-tinged flowers in early to mid-summer. Seed heads consist of short spikes that droop from one side of the seed stalk, resembling a human eyebrow or a comb.
Notable cultivars include:
- Blonde Ambition - grows 2 to 3 feet tall; produces chartreuse flowers which develop into blonde-colored seed heads, the seed heads remain intact and attractive into early winter.
Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora)
Feather reed grass is a sterile hybrid between Calamagrostis arundinacea and C. epigeous. This European native is an erect, narrow plant that ranges from 2' to 4' tall. Its foliage changes from a green spring/summer color to gold in the fall. Feather reed grass is one of the longest "blooming" ornamental grasses, with airy purple-tinted flowers starting in mid-June, changing to tan-colored, erect seed heads by mid-August, and remaining attractive over the winter. The tan seed spikes have a tight, wheat-like appearance. It is tolerant of a wide range of cultural conditions, including dry, wet, or heavy soils, although it prefers moist, rich soil in full sun. Although it will tolerate partial shade, it may not flower as well and the normally erect stems may flop over.
Notable cultivars include:
- Karl Foerster - possibly one of the most popular ornamental grasses in gardens. Very upright growth habit
- Overdam - green and white-striped (variegated) foliage.
- Avalanche - yellow-variegated foliage
- Lighting Strike - bright, clean variegation down the center of the leaf
- El Dorado - golden variegated foliage
Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Northern sea oats is an upright-narrow to upright-arching grass. It grows about 3 feet tall. Flowering occurs in summer. The flat, green seedheads, along with the foliage, turn brown to bronze in the fall. The seedheads persist through the winter, dangling in the wind. The brown seedheads are also suitable for dried flower arrangements. Plants grow in a wide range of conditions, including tolerating part-shade well. This North American native grass can spread quite aggressively in the garden.
Japanese Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)
Within the genus Miscanthus are several highly attractive ornamental grasses. These grasses come in a wide range of colors, textures, and sizes. This Asian native species is tall and clump-forming. Most bloom late into the season, and occasionally winter arrives before flower plumes can form. Flower plumes are silvery white and become tan and remain throughout the winter Plants grow best in full sun and moist soils.
Notable cultivars include:
- Gracillimus - Often called maiden grass and makes an excellent screen plant, medium green color, grows up to 6' tall.
- Siberfedher or Silverfeather - feathery silver flowerheads
- Zebrinus - often called zebra grass this cultivar has unique, golden-striped or banded leaves, can be floppy
- Strictus - has leaves similar to 'Zebrinus', but is more upright.
- Morning Light - narrow green leaves have three white stripes running the length of the blade
- Variegatus - green and white varigegated leaves with white being the prominent color
Silver Banner Grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus)
Often confused with Japanese silvergrass, silver banner grass (also called Amur silver grass or pampas grass) is not the same species. This Asian-native species spreads aggressively by seed and runners, especially in wet areas such as roadside ditches. This invasive grass is not recommended for home landscapes, despite its attractive, feathery silver plumes and its winter hardiness in all of Iowa.
Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus ‘Giganteus’)
This giant species is one of the tallest ornamental grasses for the Iowa landscape. Plants may grow 10 to 12 feet tall. The long, bamboo-like leaves turn tan in the fall. The large leaves rustling in the wind provide a soothing sound and gentle movement in the garden throughout the fall and winter months.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Switchgrass was one of the dominant grasses of the tallgrass prairie. This North American native is a vigorous, clump-forming, upright grass. Plants often remain standing upright well into winter. Switchgrass grows 4 to 6 feet tall. It tolerates a wide range of soils, from dry to wet. The medium-green foliage turns yellow in the fall, fading to tan in winter.
Notable cultivars include:
- Cheyenne Sky - grows 4 feet tall; upright plants have blue-green foliage, leaves turn to deep wine red in summer.
- Cloud Nine - upright, arching plants grow 6 to 7 feet tall; blue-green foliage turns to golden yellow in fall.
- Dallas Blues - plants grow 6 feet tall; the 1-inch-wide foliage is blue-green in summer, yellow in fall, and tan in winter.
- Heavy Metal - upright plants grow 5 feet tall; metallic blue foliage turns yellow in fall, foliage is tan in winter.
- Northwind - narrow, erect plants grow 4 to 5 feet tall; olive green leaves turn yellow in fall before fading to tan in winter; 2014 Perennial Plant of the Year.
- Ruby Ribbons™ - plants grow 3 feet tall; blue-green foliage gradually changes to ruby-red in summer.
- Shenandoah - erect plants grow 3 to 4 feet tall; bluish green leaves turn to burgundy in summer.
Perennial Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
This stunning grass ranges from 2' to 3' tall and grows in the form of a mound. Its foliage is dark green, which turns to a golden brown in the fall. Fountaingrass prefers full sun and a moist, well-drained soil. This grass, native to eastern Asia and Australia, can occasionally reseed in the garden.
Many species of fountain grass are available to gardeners, but not all are winter hardy in Iowa. Perennial fountain grass is winter hardy in Zones 5-8. Other species are best used as annuals.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Little bluestem is the dominant grass in the mixed-grass or midgrass prairies in North America. Little bluestem and side oats grama (Bouteloua grama) are the two most common grasses of the Loess Hills in western Iowa. Little bluestem grows 2 to 4 feet tall. It has blue-green foliage. In fall, its foliage turns bronzy orange. Little bluestem is a tough and easy-to-grow plant. It performs well in dry and poor soils.
Notable cultivars include:
- Blaze - plants grow 3 feet tall; blue-green leaves turn to shades of orange, red, and purple in fall.
- Blue Heaven™ - erect plants grow 3 to 4 feet tall; blue-green foliage turns to burgundy red with pink and purple tones in fall; University of Minnesota introduction.
- Carousel - upright, compact plants grow 2 to 3 feet tall; blue-green leaves turn to copper, orange, and mahogany in fall; plants don’t lodge or flop over.
- Jazz - upright plants grow 2 to 3 feet tall; silvery blue-green leaves turn to burgundy red or purple in fall; plants don’t lodge.
- Prairie Blues - grows 3 to 4 feet tall; gray-blue foliage turns to shades of orange and red in fall.
- Prairie Munchkin - compact, upright plants grow 2 to 3 feet tall; blue-green leaves become a mix of orange and purple in fall.
- Standing Ovation - rigid, upright plants grow 3 to 4 feet tall; has silvery blue-green leaves, foliage varies from maroon to purple in fall.
- The Blues - grows 3 to 4 feet tall; silvery blue-green leaves turn to shades of orange and red in fall; plants tend lodge or flop over in summer.
Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Indian grass is common throughout the tallgrass prairie in North America. Plants typically grow 4 to 6 feet tall. Indian grass has blue-green foliage. In the fall, the foliage turns orange-yellow. Six- to twelve-inch-long, yellowish flower heads rise above the foliage in late July and August. Indian grass tolerates a wide range of soils and is easy to establish.
Notable cultivars include:
- Indian Steel - upright plants grow 4 to 5 feet tall; blue-green leaves turn yellow in fall.
- Sioux Blue - upright plants grow 5 to 6 feet tall; metallic blue foliage turns yellow in fall; showy yellow flower panicles in summer.
- St. Louis - plants grow 6 feet tall; blue-green leaves turn orange-red in fall.
Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
Prairie dropseed is a fine-textured grass which grows in fountain-like clumps. Clumps are 1½ to 2 feet wide and about 3 feet tall. Feathery flower panicles appear in late summer (August and September). Its tiny flowers produce a distinctive fragrance. The fragrance has been compared to buttered popcorn or coriander. Prairie dropseed foliage takes on a golden hue in fall. Prairie dropseed tolerates a wide range of soils, but prefers dry, rocky soils. This North American native plant is easy to grow, but tends to be slow to establish.
Notable cultivars include:
- Tara - plants grow 1½ to 2 feet tall; fine-textured green leaves are upright rather than arching; orange-red fall color.
More Information
- Ornamental Grasses for the Home Landscape
- Fall-Blooming Perennials
- Perennials with Winter Interest
- Late-Season Perennial Flowers (PDF)
- Perennials with Fall Color
- Perennials for Sun (PDF)
Photo credits: 1: Aaron Steil; 2: Aaron Steil; 3: Aaron Steil; 4: Aaron Steil; 5: Olivia Neuhaus AdobeStock; 6: Grazyna AdobeStock; 7: Cindy Haynes; 8: Aaron Steil; 9: nickkurzenko AdobeStock; 10: Cindy Haynes; 11: MOLLY SHANNON AdobeStock; 12: Marek AdobeStock; 13: Cindy Haynes; 14: Aaron Steil; 15: Aaron Steil