Ornamental Grass Varieties

Grasses have been nature's choice for landscapes of the Earth. These are low maintenance tough plants that require little care. With their fluffy panicles and variegated leaves, some of these grasses serve good as ornamental plants that can be used as borders, hedges and in landscaping. Now a popular choice of people with love for gardening, there are a numerous ornamental grass varieties to choose from. Some common ornamental grass types are discussed below.

Ornamental Grass Types

Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina var. glauca)
The long, narrow leaves with their subtle blue/grey color makes the Blue Fescue a good choice for borders, xeriscapes and rock gardens. The blue fescue is a low growing clumping ornamental grass variety that grows 4" to 10" high. Its needle like leaves are tough, although soft to touch. This type of ornamental grass prefers well drained soil and grows best in full sunlight, although it would tolerate some shade as well.

Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica)
A perennial, this ornamental grass variety needs regular water and grows well in full to partial sunlight. It is a clumping grass with erect leaves, the top half of which bear a rich, blood red color. The Japanese blood grass is an excellent choice for borders as the blades allow sunlight to reach other garden plants through them. It remains dormant under the ground during winters and spreads through underground runners.

Red Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum var. rubrum)
The red fountain grass with its striking color is one the most beautiful types of ornamental grass. The fluffy flower heads and the foliage that give the grass a cascading appearance, add to the charm of the red fountain grass. This is a good choice for xeriscape gardening or landscaping where there is abundant sunlight. This grass is not a fussy one at all. Once established, it requires little watering.

Evergold Sedge (Carex ohoshimensis)
Evergold sedge is mounded grass that grows up to 8 to 12 inches tall and has a spread of 12 to 14 inches on maturity. It requires moist, rich and well drained soil and partial sun. It bears evergreen leathery leaves that have a scream colored stripe running down the center. This grass is a good choice for one's rock garden or for edging. It can also be considered for container gardening. It makes a good option for gardening ornamental grasses.

Karley Rose Grass (Pennisetum orientale)
The Karley rose grass is known for its flowers that bloom into rose-purple colored smoky clouds in the month of June. This is a hardy grass that is low-maintenance. It is resistant to most insects and pests and requires little or no pruning. It just requires a well drained soil. Once planted, the Karley rose grass adds to the beauty of the garden from early spring right to the winters.

Little Bunny Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
The smallest member of its family, the little bunny fountain grass or just the little bunny (as it is popularly called) grows to a height of just 8 to 10 inches. On maturity its spread measures 12 to 24 inches. As far as its moisture requirements and soil type is concerned, the little bunny is one of the most adaptable ornamental grass varieties. It grows best under partial to full sun and is an ideal consideration for rock gardens.

Rabbit's Tail Grass (Lagurus ovatus)
This ornamental grass gets it name from its flowers that are white fuzzy panicles that look like the tail of a rabbit when in full bloom. It is an annual that grows to a height of 2 feet. This type of ornamental grass prefers a sunny spot and grows best in well drained soil. These can be easily grown from seeds and look the best when grown in clusters.

Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Notorious for being invasive, yet the ribbon grass deserves mention for it is one the oldest varieties of ornamental grass and are known to survive on land in which no other plants seems to grow. The two popular cultivars of the ribbon grass that are preferred because they are less invasive are the Picata and Feesey's Form. These grasses are easier to control when grown in shade than when exposed to full sunlight.

Read more on:

• Gardening Ornamental Grasses
• Poisonous Ornamental Plants

Most ornamental grass varieties are perennials, although a few are annuals too. They come in large variety of sizes, colors and textures. The flowers and seed heads are equally diverse. In short, the various ornamental grass types give a wide range of choice for us to enhance the beauty of our gardens and landscapes in a modest but emphatic way.