Ornamental grasses add drama and motion to any garden with their elegant plumes and graceful foliage. Best of all, there are many varieties that stay compact under 2 feet tall – ideal for small spaces or tucking into beds and borders. Let’s explore 10 fantastic choices for dwarf ornamental grasses guaranteed to elevate your landscape design.
1. Blue Fescue
Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is a favorite for its striking icy blue foliage. This clumping grass forms neat mounds 10-12 inches tall and wide, with fine blade-like leaves. The color is outstanding all season, making it perfect for rock gardens, borders and containers. Blue fescue thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s low maintenance and drought tolerant once established. Zones 4-8.
2. Dwarf Mondo Grass
A lush groundcover that grows 4-6 inches tall, dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nanus’) bears narrow dark green leaves that resemble miniature lilyturf. Delicate purple flowers arise in summer. Mondo grass does well in shade and moist well-drained soil. Use it as an underplanting or edging. Zones (6)7-11.
3. Hameln Fountain Grass
Delicate and gracefully arching, Hameln fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’) displays bottlebrush-like, lightly tan blooms on stems about 18 inches tall. The narrow green leaves have excellent fall color. Fountain grass thrives in full sun and average soil. It overwinters well in zones 5-9.
4. Blue Sedge
Blue sedge (Carex flacca) is a clump-forming semi-evergreen sedge grass with fine, threadlike blue-green leaves. Growing just 6-12 inches tall, it makes a lovely edging for paths or beds. Blue sedge tolerates partial shade and is quite drought tolerant when established. Use in borders, rock gardens, or containers. Zones 6-10.
5. Japanese Forest Grass
A graceful standout, Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) sports arching mounds of slender green leaves striped in white, pink or yellow depending on variety. ‘All Gold’ and ‘Aureola’ glow bright golden yellow in part sun or shade. Plants reach 12-18 inches tall. Japanese forest grass thrives in moist, organically rich soil. Zones 5-9.
6. Dwarf Zebra Grass
A compact ornamental grass perfect for containers, dwarf zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Zebra’) grows an elegant 2-3 feet tall and wide. The striped green and cream foliage takes on rich fall color. Airy pink plumes appear in late summer. Dwarf zebra grass is easy to grow in full sun or part shade. It overwinters well in zones 5-9.
7. Blue Oat Grass
With striking steel blue foliage, blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) is neat and petite at 1-2 feet tall and wide. Plant it en masse or along walkways and paths where its spiky flower heads can be appreciated. Blue oat grass thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Cut back foliage in late winter before new growth emerges. Zones 4-9.
8. Dwarf Crested Iris
A herbaceous perennial, dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata) displays lavender-blue spring flowers amid sword-shaped green leaves growing 4-8 inches tall It spreads moderately via rhizomes, performing well in part shade with well-drained soil. The low care, drought-tolerant plant looks fantastic along woodland paths Zones 3-9.
9. Variegated Lilyturf
An easy evergreen perennial variegated lilyturf (Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’) bears arching grassy foliage striped in cream and green. Clump-forming it grows just 6-12 inches tall. Showy purple flower spikes arise in late summer. Variegated lilyturf thrives in part sun or shade and tolerates drought and salt spray. Use along walks, as edging or in containers. Zones 5-10.
10. Creeping Red Fescue
A durable turf-type grass perfect for lawns, creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra) forms dense mats of fine-textured green foliage 4-8 inches high. It tolerates light foot traffic, requires little mowing, and thrives in sun or moderate shade Creeping red fescue stays evergreen in mild winter climates For best performance, provide ample water and fertilizer. Zones 2-7.
Whether you need durable groundcover or just want to add visual appeal, these charming dwarf ornamental grasses fit small spaces beautifully. Look for varieties with attractive foliage, interesting shapes and graceful plumes tailored to your specific growing conditions and design needs.
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