Landscaping Ideas with Tall Grasses: 15 Stylish Ways to Use Them

Tall grasses can make stunning additions to landscaping, providing unique texture, graceful movement, and autumn interest With the right choices, they are also low maintenance, drought tolerant, and stand up well to both summer heat and winter cold Read on for 15 creative ways to incorporate eye-catching tall grasses into your yard.

Provide Privacy with Tall Screening Grasses

One of the most popular uses of tall grasses is to create living screens for privacy. Planted in groups, many ornamental grasses grow to 6 feet or more in height, blocking undesirable views and sounds. Good choices for screens include:

• Big bluestem – Native grass with reddish-bronze foliage that turns rich crimson in fall. Grows 5-8 feet tall.

• Maiden grass – Graceful arching leaves and showy plumes. Clump forms reach 6 feet tall.

• Moor grass – Blue-green foliage and purplish flower spikes Grows to 6 feet

For best privacy, space plants 2-3 feet apart and choose evergreen varieties in warmer climates Remember grasses will be cut back in early spring before regrowing, so combine with hedges or trellises that provide winter screening

Soften Hardscaping with Ornamental Grasses

The soft texture of grasses helps tone down the hard lines of walls, fences, paths and other landscape structures. For example, transplanting clumps along a retaining wall turns it into a focal point. Or edging a pathway with low grasses like blue fescue creates a pleasing border. Some medium grasses that work well:

• Fountain grass – Pink, white, or purple airy plumes reach 3-4 feet tall.

• Feather reed grass – Delicate, upright foliage and creamy plumes grow 3-5 feet tall.

• Maiden grass – Fine texture and gracefully arching stems grow up to 5 feet tall.

Add Height and Drama in the Landscape

Make a bold statement by using ornamental grasses as specimens or in clusters. Taller varieties planted among shorter perennials, shrubs, and flowering plants make stunning accents. Some dramatic choices include:

• Switch grass – Architectural shape, golden fall color, and 5 foot height.

• Pampas grass – Large white plumes on grass that grows 6 to 10 feet tall.

• Giant reed grass – Bamboo-like foliage on grass that reaches 15 feet tall.

• Maiden grass – Airy plumes float atop stems that grow 5 to 7 feet tall.

Position taller grasses towards the back or center of beds so they don’t block views and pathways. Repeat the same grass in a few spots to unify the landscape.

Edge Landscape Beds and Borders

Create a clean edge along planting beds, tree rings, and borders with a ribbon of low-growing grasses. Some compact varieties that make great edging plants include:

• Blue fescue – Grass with icy blue foliage that grows 6 to 12 inches tall.

• Dwarf mondo grass – Dark green straplike leaves form 12 inch clumps.

• Lilyturf – Evergreen grasslikes with arching leaves under a foot tall.

• Carex – Low sedges in green or variegated foliage 4 to 12 inches tall.

Plant them 6 to 12 inches apart in a line. Many spread slowly to fill gaps. Trim any straying blades to keep the edge neat.

Grow Ornamental Grasses in Containers

Don’t limit grasses to in-ground plantings. Many types also thrive in pots, adding their distinctive shapes, forms and colors to patios, balconies, and decks. Good container choices include:

• Dwarf fountain grass – A12 inch mound with airy blooms.

• Japanese forest grass – Arching green leaves with red tips in fall.

• Blue grama grass – Delicate seed heads on clumps to 18 inches tall.

• Carex – Low evergreen sedges in green or variegated foliage.

Use thriller, filler, spiller principles to design attractive container combos. Grasses often work best as thriller plants, combined with trailing plants and smaller perennials.

Create a Prairie-Style Landscape

Achieve a natural, meadow-like look by converting part of the yard into a prairie planting, using native grasses. Combining mid-height wildflowers and ferns creates an ethereal effect. Good grasses include:

• Big bluestem – 5 feet tall with reddish seed heads.

• Little bluestem – Steel blue blades turn reddish orange in fall. Grows 2-4 feet tall.

• Switchgrass – Erect, vase-like shape grows 3-5 feet tall.

• Indiangrass – Delicate seed heads top stems 4-7 feet tall.

• Prairie dropseed – Fountain-like foliage and fuzzy gold seed heads. Grows 2-3 feet tall.

Mow a winding path through the grasses to create the feeling of wandering through a meadow.

Grow Low-Maintenance Groundcovers

Replace tedious lawn care with easy-going grasses in low-traffic areas or under trees and shrubs where turf struggles. Good groundcover options include:

• Lilyturf – Evergreen grass with white flowers. Grows 6-12 inches tall.

• Wild rye – Native bunchgrass 1-3 feet tall with blue-gray foliage.

• Creeping red fescue – A low-growing turf alternative growing under a foot tall.

• Pennsylvania sedge – Forms spreading mats of green foliage 4-8 inches tall.

Groundcover grasses choke out weeds, require little mowing or watering, and let you relax instead of wrestling the lawn mower!

Accent Shady Landscapes

While many grasses require sun, a few varieties thrive in part to full shade. Use them to lighten up dark areas of the yard. Good choices for shade include:

• Japanese forest grass – Graceful mounds with green leaves flushed red in fall. Grows 18-24 inches tall.

• Variegated Japanese sedge – Creamy white and green striped foliage. Grows 12 inches tall.

• Pennsylvania sedge – Fine-textured spreading mats grow 6-8 inches tall.

• Sweet woodruff – White spring flowers on mounds 8-12 inches tall that spread by runners.

Plant shade grasses under trees, on the north side of structures, or anywhere sunlight is limited to bring texture into those dim spaces.

Complement Architectural Plants

The refined texture of grasses balances and highlights succulents, bold foliage, and other plants with architectural shapes. Good pairings include:

• Switchgrass with yucca
• Fountain grass with cordyline
• Japanese forest grass with hosta
• Feather reed grass with ferns

Play with combining different colors and forms. For example, upright grasses complement mounded succulents while airy grasses offset spiky plants.

Provide Movement and Sway

Grasses come alive in any breeze, adding kinetic energy and graceful movement to landscapes. Plant airy, delicate grasses where they can sway in the wind. Prime spots include:

• Surrounding seating areas
• Near entries and walkways
• Bordering patios or decks
• Around pools, spas, or water features

The meadow-like motion brings soothing natural style. Some breeze-loving varieties include moor grass, northern sea oats, purple fountain grass, and stipa tenuissima.

Attract Birds and Butterflies

Both garden birds and pollinators appreciate grasses. Species with showy plumes offer long-lasting seed heads for birds to snack on during winter. Early flowering varieties supply crucial pollen and nectar resources. Some wildlife-friendly grasses:

• Little bluestem – Food source for many bird species. Grows 2-4 feet tall.

• Switchgrass – Seed heads eaten by gamebirds and songbirds.

• Indiangrass – Catbirds and bobwhite quail feed on the seeds.

• Purple fountain grass – Butterfly nectar plant with pink plumes. Grows 3 feet tall.

Include several wildlife-friendly native grasses to create an inviting habitat.

Grow Striking Specimens

Certain ornamental grasses make eye-catching standalone specimens perfect for planting in a place of prominence. Some good choices include:

• Giant reed grass – Massive grass growing 10-15 feet tall.

• Giant Chinese silver grass – Arching green blades with silvery plumes reaching 10 feet tall.

• Big bluestem – Reddish foliage and branched seed heads on plants 5-8 feet tall.

• Pampas grass – Huge white plumes topping grass 6-12 feet tall.

Situate specimens where the grasses can develop their full form and grandeur. Use them to terminate views or as living focal points.

Add Winter Interest

Many grasses shine in late fall and winter when the rest of the garden fades. Plume seed heads persist into winter and foliage often turns vibrant colors like orange, red, and burgundy. Late season standouts include:

• Switchgrass – Foliage turns golden yellow in fall. Tan seed heads last into winter.

• Little bluestem – Reddish-bronze fall foliage and fluffy white seed heads.

• Indiangrass – Foliage turns yellow in fall before wheat-colored seed heads emerge.

• Maiden grass – Tan flower plumes remain attractive all winter.

Leave ornamental grasses standing over winter for seasonal interest before cutting them back in early spring.

Create Flower Arrangements

Harvest ornamental grass stems and plumes to add intriguing texture to floral displays. Cut them while the heads are still fresh and vibrant. Good picks for arrangements include:

• Purple fountain grass
• Pampas grass
• Giant reed grass
• Feather reed grass
• Switchgrass

Play with combining grasses, branches, dried materials, and garden flowers for stunning bouquets. Grasses also make long-lasting dried arrangements on their own.

Style Up Indoor Spaces

Bring the beauty of ornamental grasses inside by growing them in containers indoors. Small species like Japanese forest grass, carex, and Korean feather reed grass are low maintenance houseplants. Or cut stems to stand in vases and pitchers.

With so many choices, it’s easy to find grasses that fit your style and growing conditions. No matter your landscape vision, incorporating ornamental grasses is sure to add beauty, texture, movement, and low maintenance appeal.