Ornamental grasses are some of the best choices for our perennial gardens. They’re deer-resistant, adaptable to clay soils, and extremely easy to care for. They also provide stunning fall color, fanstatic winter structure, enhancing the landscape long after other seasonal interest has faded. With so many varieties to choose from, here are some of our top recommendations
fountain grass
Pennisetum
Easily recognized by their bottlebrush-like inflorescence and fine-textured foliage, these grasses add soft texture and a unique, fountain-like structure to the landscape. Most varieties also offer rich fall color, making them an eye-catching addition to middle borders and containers alike.
Full Sun | Drought Tolerant | Height: 1-4′ | Width: 1-3′
switchgrass
panicum
This native family grows upright and is incredibly reliable in the landscape. Tolerant of both wet and dry conditions, it thrives where others might struggle. Its golden fall color and airy seedhead inflorescence add fine, delicate texture later in the season—perfect for fall and winter interest. Bonus: The seadheads provide a fantastic food source for Kansas’ winter birds!
Full Sun | Moisture Tolerant | Ohio Native/Nativar | Height: 3-6′ | Width: 1-2′
Blue Gamma Grass
Bouteloua gracilis
is a popular, low-maintenance, drought-tolerant ornamental grass, featuring unique chartreuse, horizontal seed heads that turn blonde and offering year-round color, texture, and winter
Part to Full Sun | Moisture Tolerant | Drought Tolerant | Height: 2-3′ | Width: 1-3′
blue fescue
festuca
One of the smallest families, Blue Fescue produces soft tufts of spiky-looking mounds. Its wheat-like inflorescence adds a touch of movement to the otherwise straight, spiky habit. The cool, silvery-blue color offers striking contrast in sunny, well-drained areas, making it ideal for rock gardens and low borders.
Full Sun | Drought Tolerant | Height: 6-12″ | Width: 12-18″
japanese silver grass
miscanthus
This iconic family, also known as Maiden Grass, is easily identifiable by its whisk-like inflorescence. It offers the largest breadth of varieties in different shapes, sizes, and habits, making it a versatile choice for both large landscapes and smaller garden spaces. With its showy blooms and tall, graceful form, and stunning fall color, Miscanthus creates a striking visual interest for three seasons in the garden.
Sun to Part Shade | Drought Tolerant | Height: 2-10′ | Width: 1-3′
little bluestem
schizachyrium
Compact and colorful, this grass matures from a purple cast to deep russet, creating a striking backdrop for its delicate, silvery-white seedheads. Its deep, native roots allow it to thrive in poor soils and provide excellent erosion control. Ideal for adding vibrant fall color and offering habitat for wildlife, it’s a resilient choice for stabilizing slopes and beautifying the landscape.
Full Sun | Drought Tolerant | Height: 2-5′ | Width: 1-2′
japanese forest grass
hakonechloa
Hakonechloa adds elegant, cascading structure to the landscape with its short, arching habit. The bamboo-like stalks produce vibrant lemon-lime foliage providing a pop of color to the shade. It’s a reliable choice for brightening shaded areas, and works well as a groundcover, low border, or accent in containers.
Part Shade to Shade | Moisture Tolerant | Height: 1-2′ | Width: 2-3′
sedge grass
carex
These small, mounding, semi-evergreen grasses are perfect for low borders in the shade. They grow in a variety of colors and textures and can handle a little more shade and moisture than most. Their fine foliage and compact habit add a graceful touch to woodland gardens or a polished look that softens edges and fills gaps between larger, shade-loving plants.
Part Shade to Shade | Moisture Tolerant | Height: 12-18″ | Width: 12-18″