They're excellent for low-maintenance landscaping.
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Envisioning a lush garden often brings to mind flowers, shrubs, herbs, and even fruit trees or vegetables—but what about ornamental grasses? Indeed, ornamental grasses can enhance any backyard landscaping. Unlike a sprawling lawn, these types of grass are low-maintenance and require no mowing.
The best ornamental grass types add texture and volume, filling in blank spaces and giving garden beds a touch of rewilding. Many types enjoy full sun, though some can thrive in shadier conditions. They provide sun coverage to delicate flowers and shrubs, making garden beds look livelier in the off-season. Their density also makes them ideal for adding privacy and creating natural boundaries, such as around a pool or patio. Ornamental grasses also look stunning when dried for long-lasting floral arrangements.
As long as you choose the right ornamental grass for your USDA Hardiness Zone, they're fairly hands-off: Most types are hearty, requiring minimal maintenance and watering. Typically, they only need to be pruned once a year in winter to regrow stronger in the spring. Ahead, we highlight the 20 best ornamental grasses, what you need to know about them, and even where to buy them.
Unlike traditional grasses, this ornamental switch grass features a blueish, almost silver hue, perfect for cold-weather landscaping. Growing to nearly four feet tall (and wide!) at full maturity, this type of ornamental grass does best in full sun or partial shade.
Size: Large
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
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Named for its similar shape to baby bottle cleaners, bottlebrush grass is a willowy, yellow ornamental grass. It prefers partial to full shade but can be grown in the sun with enough water.
Size: Medium
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
Wispy and wide, purple love grass (also known as Eragrostis spectabilis) features stunning fuchsia fronds. Drought-tolerant, this plant prefers sandy, coarse soils. This ornamental grass is great for incorporating color into Southwestern climates and desert-like landscaping.
Size: Large
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
The zebra maiden grass gets its name from the white and green striped leaves. This type of grass grows both tall and wide, up to four feet tall and three feet wide. Zebra maiden grass prefers full sun to partial shade.
Size: Large
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Drought-tolerant and hardy, the dramatic purple majesty millet grass prefers moderate watering and sandy soil. Plant this ornamental grass among evergreens for a high-contrast combination.
Size: Medium
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9 and 11
This red switch grass is a fast-growing ornamental grass that continues to provide color all year long. The red tips are the new growth, and the grass can be trimmed down to your desired height. With a narrow base, this grass is best planted in groups.
Size: Small to medium
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
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For a pop of color, opt for the beautiful little bluestem. This type of grass boasts long, narrow leaves that fade from firey reds and rich purples down to green at the base. This plant prefers the cooler temperatures of late summer into early fall.
Size: Small
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Tall and skinny, feather reed grass gives the appearance of, well, tall feathers. You can plant this ornamental grass in groups for a thick privacy screen. This is a cold-hardy plant that can withstand temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Size: Medium
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
All-gold Japanese forest grass boasts a stunning, neon green hue. This type of grass grows wider than it does tall, making it great for ground cover. This plant prefers partial to full shade as too much direct sun will scorch the leaves.
Size: Medium
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
With wiry leaves that tower three to four feet tall, sand cord grasses are narrow and best planted in groups. This type of ornamental grass is an evergreen perennial and requires a regular watering schedule for the best growth.
Size: Large
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10
The perennial pampas grass is known for its feather-like blooms. Just be sure to trim it back each winter to allow for new growth the following spring.
Size: Large
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11
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Dark-colored ornamental grass is a striking, sophisticated landscaping addition. The black mondo grass instantly adds depth and drama to any garden.
Size: Small
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 10
Narrow and tall, prairie dog grass grows nearly straight up, so this ornamental grass is ideal to fill a small blank spot in your garden that's too tight for a rose bush or sapling.
Size: Medium
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
With its signature stripes, gold bar grass is great for adding an unexpected pattern to your garden. Plant it among solid flowers for a dynamic look.
Size: Small to Medium
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Identified by its signature magenta hue, this purple ornamental grass looks amazing when tucked in among greenery for a spark of contrast.
Size: Medium
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 10
For those who live in a cold climate or experience harsh winters, blue oat brass is a great bet for year-round color and interest. It never loses its silver-blue hue.
Size: Large
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
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For a bright pop among pine-colored evergreens and rich green lawns, plant an abundance of Everillo carex, also known as lime green sedge grass. Home stagers and sellers take note: This type of ornamental grass grows long and fast, so it's great when you need immediate impact.
Size: Small
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
While it may not look it at first glance, this ornamental grass grows to have stunning pale pink fronds as it gets larger. Plant for a pleasant surprise come springtime.
Size: Medium
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
For those who want both height and volume, blue fescue grass delivers. The spikes on this ornamental grass offer stunning color variation and dramatic height.
Size: Large
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Despite its menacing name, Japanese blood grass is actually named for its blood-red tips, not its spiny look. Plant it among red roses and pink peonies for a striking color contrast.
Size: Small
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
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