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8 Spectacular Grasses to Energize a Fall Garden
Dancing in the autumn wind or flowing along a flower bed, these ornamental grasses bring wonderful movement and color to the landscape
Houzz Contributor. I'm a landscape designer and freelance garden writer living in hot and humid Austin, Texas. I co-authored "Indoor Plant Decor: The Design Stylebook for Houseplants" (St. Lynn's Press) with Kylee Baumle. Follow me on Twitter @MulchMaven or on my Facebook page, J. Peterson Garden Design.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a landscape designer and freelance garden writer... More »
It's hard to beat what ornamental grasses have to offer: incredible texture, sublime colors and seed heads that sway and provide movement in the garden. As autumn begins, these spectacular plants move out of the background to claim our attention in ways that other plants simply can't. With their wide range of sizes, forms and colorations, you are sure to find an ornamental grass that is suited to your outdoor space.
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by Shirley Bovshow
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| Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) Muhly grass offers one of the most stunning colorations of all the ornamental grasses. It starts out as a neat green mound of fine foliage, and by summer's end it begins developing a mauve-pink spray of seed heads. This grass blends in beautifully with other ornamental grasses and flowering perennials. USDA zones: 5a to 10b Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Full to partial sun Mature size: 4 feet tall Planting tips: Plant in fall or spring, and prune down to 12 inches in late winter or early spring. |
Feather Reed Grass
(Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')
Gardeners looking for a taller grass for their autumn gardens should take a look at feather reed grass. Its longer, upright seed heads make a dramatic appearance in the fall garden, and it combines well with other grasses and flowering perennials. Some parts of this plant are known to be poisonous if ingested, so use caution if you have young children or pets.
USDA zones: 5a to 9b (find your zone)
Water requirement: Average
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: 6 feet tall
Planting tips: Plant in fall and cut grass down to 12 inches in late winter or early spring.
(Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')
Gardeners looking for a taller grass for their autumn gardens should take a look at feather reed grass. Its longer, upright seed heads make a dramatic appearance in the fall garden, and it combines well with other grasses and flowering perennials. Some parts of this plant are known to be poisonous if ingested, so use caution if you have young children or pets.
USDA zones: 5a to 9b (find your zone)
Water requirement: Average
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: 6 feet tall
Planting tips: Plant in fall and cut grass down to 12 inches in late winter or early spring.
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by Gaile Guevara
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| Japanese Blood Grass (Imperator cylindrical) Looking for a striking red-hued grass? Check out Japanese blood grass. With its ruby red foliage, this grass stands out like no other in the garden, making it a perfect addition in front of tamer-color plants, walls and fences. USDA zones: 6 to 9 Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 18 to 24 inches tall Planting tips: Plant in fall or spring; prune in late winter or early spring. |
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| Mexican Feather Grass (Stipa tenuissima) This is one of those perfect midsize grasses that seem to find their way into many gardens. Its soft texture and lighter green color set it apart from other grasses, and its low-maintenance needs endear it to many gardeners. It's known to be invasive on some parts of the American West Coast, so check with your local nursery before planting it. USDA zones: 6 to 10 Water requirement: Average to low once established Light requirement: Full to partial sun Mature size: 18 to 36 inches tall Planting tips: Plant in fall or spring and pop out any unwanted pups when they spring up. It's not necessary to cut this smaller grass back, but use your hands to comb out any dead growth from around the perimeter of the plant at any time. |
Maiden Grass
(Miscanthus sinensis)
Here is another of those versatile grasses that work well in many gardens due to their size and low-maintenance requirements. It features slender green foliage in the spring and summer, with wheat-like seed heads making an appearance in late summer into fall.
USDA zones: 5 to 9
Water requirement: Average
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 5 to 8 feet tall, depending upon variety
Planting tips: Plant in fall and prune to 12 inches in late winter or early spring.
(Miscanthus sinensis)
Here is another of those versatile grasses that work well in many gardens due to their size and low-maintenance requirements. It features slender green foliage in the spring and summer, with wheat-like seed heads making an appearance in late summer into fall.
USDA zones: 5 to 9
Water requirement: Average
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 5 to 8 feet tall, depending upon variety
Planting tips: Plant in fall and prune to 12 inches in late winter or early spring.
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| Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) Sea oats provides a more unusual look in the fall garden, with oat-like seed heads atop green foliage. Its ability to thrive in less-than-perfect soil and water conditions makes it a favorite among gardeners, and its low-maintenance needs are widely appreciated. Plant it in sweeps or tuck it into perennial beds and borders. USDA zones: 5a to 9b Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Sun to partial shade Mature size: 36 inches tall Planting tips: Plant in spring or fall; remove or prune out any dead foliage when it appears. Photo by Eric in SF via Wikimedia Commons |
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| Bamboo Muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa) This is an excellent choice for gardeners wanting a grass with a fine texture and lacy foliage. Its fluffy texture and arching form make for a soft background plant in xeriscape gardens. Planted in sweeps or displayed in large containers, bamboo muhly gives an Asian look to gardens without "real" bamboo. USDA zones: 7 to 10 Water requirement: Low, once established Light requirement: Full to partial sun Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall Planting tips: Plant in fall or spring; prune off or rake out any dead foliage that appears. |
| Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) Blue fescue is the ornamental grass solution for gardeners seeking a low-growing and unusually colored plant. It's a small grass with striking icy blue-gray foliage, and it's perfect for massing at the front of a perennial border, naturalized meadow plantings or rock gardens. USDA zones: 4 to 11 Water requirement: Average Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 8 to 12 inches tall Planting tips: Plant in spring or fall; remove old foliage as new growth emerges in late winter or early spring. More: 8 Knockout Flowers for a Fall Container Garden |
Ideabook updated on Sept. 6, 2012.
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Great website with lots of good ideas. Keep it up.