One of my favorite fall plants is ornamental grasses. They are low maintenance, easy to grow plants that add motion and color to the fall and winter garden.
Ornamental grasses come in many different shapes and sizes. There are low growing mounded selections such as ‘Blue Fescue’ grass that only grows a few feet tall up to tall arching types, such as Eulalia grass, that can reach 10 feet tall! I like using the tall ornamental grasses as backdrops in my perennial garden or as a way to screen out an unsightly view. It’s beautiful to watch the flower heads almost magically appear this time of year. In late fall the birds love to harvest the seeds and the flowers gentle swaying motion in the breeze makes my garden seem to come alive.
You have to be careful which varieties you choose because some are not reliably hardy this far north. Also, don’t dig up any attractive roadside grasses, such as the common reed grass or Phragmites, for your garden. These can be very invasive. Here are some of my favorite ornamental grasses to grow.
Feathered reed grass or Calamagrostis is beautiful for its vertical standing leaves and flower stalks. The flower heads start out white and fade to a buff color. The plant stands 3 to 5 feet tall and is tolerant of a wide variety of soils.
Japanese Silver grass or Miscanthus sinensis grows 3 to 6 feet tall in tightly packed clumps. The flower heads are pink or red depending on the variety. Some selections such as Zebra grass and Porcupine grass have green and yellow bands on the leaves. However, certain miscanthus grasses may be marginally hardy in some areas.
Northern Sea Oats or Chasmanthium has unusual flat, green flower heads that turn rusty brown in fall. The plant only grows 2 to 3 feet tall in clumps, but can tolerate growing in part shade. The flower heads make interesting cut flowers, but the seeds can self-sow readily.
While some ornamental grasses are clump forming and don’t easily spread, switch grass or Panicum has rhizomes that spread vigorously. This is the same grass that’s gotten attention as a potential biomass energy source in Vermont. The airy flower heads stand 3 to 7 feet tall and produce reddish seed. The flower heads turn bronze in fall. Because of the aggressive nature of this grass, it’s best planted where it can be contained.
For the best growth, plant grasses in a full to part sun location on well-drained soil. Amend the soil with compost when planting and mulch to reduce weed competition. Leave the flower heads in winter to enjoy or cut them for indoor arrangements. In late winter cut the whole clump back to the ground. After 3 to 4 years you may have to divide the grasses to reinvigorate them.
Enjoy the soft airy nature of these grasses as they provide life to a garden going dormant.