Grass-like flowers are a great way to add delightful greenery and interesting textures to your garden beds and borders. Many also produce delicate plumes, spikes or panicles that sway gracefully in the breeze. These grassy plants come in a wide range of sizes, forms, and foliage colors to suit any landscape need.
Bluestem (Andropogon)
This tall prairie grass native to North America is perfect for the back of a sunny border Bluestems grow in clumps with arching stems and interesting seed heads. The blue-green foliage often turns rich shades of red and purple in fall. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) are popular ornamental varieties They grow 3 to 5 feet tall.
Fescue (Festuca)
Fescues are fine-textured grasses with tidy foliage. Dwarf blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is a favorite edging plant thanks to its icy blue leaves. It forms dense 8 to 12 inch mounds that combine nicely with other perennials Taller varieties like sheep fescue (Festuca ovina) work well in meadow gardens
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)
One of the showiest grass-like flowers fountain grass charms with fluffy plumes dancing above the foliage. It brings movement and texture to garden beds in zones 5 to 10. For full sun areas go with the 3 to 5 foot tall purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum). ‘Hameln’ and ‘Little Bunny’ are two dwarf fountains grasses that grow just 1 to 2 feet tall.
Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra)
Here’s a graceful grass that thrives in shade. Japanese forest grass forms lush mounds of arching grassy foliage around 1 to 2 feet tall. Look for varieties like ‘All Gold’ and ‘Aureola’ with pretty golden or yellow striped leaves. Plant it under trees or at the front of a shady border.
Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis)
A favorite for adding drama to the fall garden, maiden grass shoots up 6 to 8 foot tall stalks topped with silvery plumes. The arching leaves often turn vibrant shades of red, orange and gold in autumn as well. Since it spreads aggressively, plant this grass away from natural areas. Popular compact varieties include ‘Little Kitten’ and ‘Yaku Jima’.
Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia)
In late summer, airy clouds of tiny pinkish-purple flowers appear above the fine foliage of pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris). This North American prairie native grows just 2 to 3 feet tall, making it perfect for the middle of a sunny border. Plant white muhly grass (Muhlenbergia reverchonii) for similar see-through plumes in a cool shade garden.
Oat Grass (Chasmanthium)
For lightly shaded areas, few grasses can compete with the delicate oat-like spikelets of inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium). This grass has gracefully arching stems that flutter in the slightest breeze. Northern sea oats (C. latifolium) offers wheat-colored seed heads on 2 to 3 foot tall plants.
Reed Grass (Calamagrostis)
Upright plumes rising above sharply pointed leaves give reed grass a bold, architectural form. ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) is a popular variety thanks to its vertical habit and tan plumes that last into winter. Look for the pink-tinted plumes of Korean reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) to brighten up shady spots.
Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
A native prairie grass, switch grass handles a variety of soils, even wet areas. Use it in masses or as a screen thanks to its 5 foot tall size. Red switch grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’) shows off burgundy-red tips while cloud nine switch grass (P. virgatum ‘Cloud Nine’) features a more open form with light blue leaves.
The fine textures and graceful movement of grassy flowers make them excellent choices for any garden. Use clumping varieties in perennial beds and borders or massed as groundcovers. Plant a few different grassy plants together for a meadow effect. Just be sure to give spreading types like maiden grass plenty of room. With the wide selection available, you’re sure to find beautiful grass-like blooms perfect for your landscape.
Frequency of Entities:
hgic.clemson.edu: 1
bhg.com: 1
flowers that look like grass: 5
Andropogon: 2
Festuca: 3
Pennisetum: 3
Hakonechloa macra: 2
Miscanthus sinensis: 1
Muhlenbergia: 2
Chasmanthium: 2
Calamagrostis: 2
Panicum virgatum: 2
