Grasses
All Gold Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold'
All Gold Japanese Forest Grass
Autumn Red, Flame Grass, Autumn Flame
Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurascens'
Autumn Red, Flame Grass, Autumn Flame
One of the very best Miscanthus cultivars available today. Its fantastic fall color, upright habit, early flowering time, and extreme cold hardiness have certainly earned it this recognition.
Avalanche Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Avalanche'
Avalanche Feather Reed Grass
A stunning variegated form of 'Karl Foerster' brought to us from Steve Schmidt of American Ornamental Perennials. The reverse variegation of C. 'Overdam', this selection has deep green leaves with a wide white stripe down the center. The variegation remains distinctively appealing throughout the growing season. This is the perfect plant to use as a screen or backdrop in your garden due to its distinctly upright and clumping habit.
Beyond Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca 'Casca11'
Beyond Blue Fescue
Beyond Blue forms a dense mound of intense powdery blue foliage that remains vibrant all season without browning out. Finely textured. Clump forming.
Big Bluestem, Big Blue
Andropogon gerardii
Big Bluestem, Big Blue
'Indian Warrior' forms a tall, strictly upright clump of green foliage that begins to take on dusky purple tones as early as midsummer.
In late summer, glossy deep purple, three-branched inflorescences that vaguely resemble a turkey's foot (hence the common name) are produced on reddish stems. When they first open, tiny bright red-orange pollen sacs dangle from the flowers and are quite visible even from a distance.
As the cooler weather arrives, the foliage transitions from green to a deep smoky purple with red highlights, becoming enrobed in a shroud of purple by mid-fall.
Blue Eyed
Sisyrinchium Bellum
Blue Eyed
This plant is a member of the Iris family, NOT Grass family. However, we have it listed under both.
Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) can be a shy, retiring plant at times. They are small perennials, only 4-12" tall, with leaves to 1/8" wide. They start opening their eyes in early June and continue to look around all through June.
Each pretty blue eye sheds a tear when it is finished blooming, in the form of a small round seed capsule filled with tiny black seeds. Perhaps they are tears of happiness or perhaps they are tears of sorrow. This plant is also known as Star Grass by some people because the flowers are distinctly star shaped. Blue-Eyed Grass is actually not a true grass, but a member of the Iris family, closely related to Blue Flag or Wild Iris (Iris versicolor).
Blue Oat Grass
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Blue Oat Grass
Clump forming, dense tuft of upright silver-blue foliage. Delicate infloresecence in late spring on 2' slender, arching, stems. Cool season grass, reduced flowering when hot and humid; good container plant. Combine with other grasses or mix with shrubs and perennials.
Graceful fountains of silver-blue blades form neat ornamental clumps that combine well with other grasses. Beige to light brown terminal panicles appear June through August. Reliable and attractive accent or specimen, perfect for rock gardens. Evergreen perennial.
Boulder Blue
Festuca glauca 'Boulder Blue'
Boulder Blue
Regarded by some as the bluest blue fescue, this plant forms compact, cascading mounds of foot-tall, intensely blue, narrow leaves that are attractive in all seasons.
Blooms are generally secondary to the foliage, but this cultivar blooms more heavily than most, with spikelets in summer. This cultivar is long-lived and very hardy. Grow in groups in a border or rock garden, or as a groundcover.
Noteworthy Characteristics: Foliage is very blue. Drought and heat tolerant.
Care: Tolerant of drought, heat, and poor soil. Grow in dry, well-drained soil of poor to moderate fertility in full sun. Divide every few years.
Propagation: Divide in spring, or sow seed in a cold frame in spring, fall, or winter.
Problems: Ergot, powdery mildew, rust, smut, brown patch, leaf spot, net blotch, pink snow mold, anthracnose, eye spot, and summer blight can affect plants.
Dallas Blues Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues'
Dallas Blues Switch Grass
'Dallas Blues' is a switch grass cultivar that is noted for its grayed blue-green foliage, dense habit, unusually large flower panicles, late flowering and rich winter foliage color. It is a clump-forming, warm season grass that typically grows in a dense, upright, vase-shaped clump to 5' tall. Grayed blue-green foliage is wider than most panicums, and foliage turns attractive shades of rust brown to warm tan in winter. Stems typically retain vertical form without flopping throughout the growing season and into winter. Foliage clump is topped in early September by large, finely-textured, purple-tinged flower panicles that hover over the foliage like a cloud. Seed plumes persist throughout winter, providing visual interest as well as food for birds.
Dixieland Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Dixieland'
Dixieland Maiden Grass
(Maiden Grass) Miscanthus 'Dixieland' presents graceful variegated leaves of creamy-white and green that almost glow in the landscape. 'Dixieland' has a strong arching habit that stands up to wind and rain, unlike other variegated Miscanthus which often flop over. A wonderful specimen grass for all season appeal.
Dust Devil Switch Grass
Panicum Virgatum 'Dust Devil'
Dust Devil Switch Grass
(Switch Grass) Neither wind or rain can knock down Panicum 'Dust Devil' PPAF.Switch Grass 'Dust Devil' PPAF grows well under less than ideal garden conditions. The blue-green to green foliage forms an upright, dense clump that flushes with a hint of deep purplish red in the fall. Wine purple flower panicles appear in late summer. 'Dust Devil' PPAF with it dense and durable foliage provides an important cover for birds during the coldest days of winter. This Switch Grass makes an excellent addition to Proven Winners® Perennials.
Dwarf Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
Dwarf Fountain Grass
More compact and shorter than the species, 'Hameln' has finely textured leaves that are especially lovely when back lit by the early morning or late afternoon sun. Soft, greenish-cream colored panicles begin to appear in midsummer, a few weeks earlier than the species.
El Dorado Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'El Dorado'
El Dorado Feather Reed Grass
A sport of 'Karl Foerster'. Green leaves have a bright golden yellow midrib and golden flower stems. Upright, clumping form. Feathery plumes appear in early summer and persist all season.
Elija Blue, Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'
Elija Blue, Blue Fescue
'Elijah Blue' is a short-lived, low-growing, semi-evergreen, clump-forming ornamental grass noted for its glaucous, finely-textured, silver-blue foliage. Foliage forms a dome-shaped, porcupine-like tuft of erect to arching, needle-like blades radiating upward and outward to a height of 6-8" (flower stems typically bring total clump height to 10-14"). Light green flowers with a purple tinge appear in terminal panicles atop stems rising above the foliage in late spring to early summer, but are not very showy. Flowers give way to buffy seed heads which some gardeners find attractive but others find detractive to both the symmetry of the plant and the foliage color. 'Elijah Blue' is one of the best of the blue fescues.
Far East Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Ferner Osten'
Far East Maiden Grass
This grass is referred to as 'Far East Maiden Grass', or 'Ferner Osten'. Both are the same.
Tall erect green foliage with a silvery white midrib which turns copper red in autumn. Spectacular wine red plumes which darken to brown then fade to beige in the autumn.
Short, narrow, green leaves arch gracefully on upright stems, forming a tight clump
Leaf blades are not as dense along the main stems, as most other miscanthus cultivars
Foliage turns a golden-tan in the fall, remaining through the winter
Flower Type: feathery panicles
Flower Color: reddish-purple turning to silver-white
Bloom Time: September to October
Giant Chinese Silver
Miscanthus 'Giganteus'
Giant Chinese Silver
Deciduous clumping grass desired for its heavy foliage and tall silvery plumes. Reaching heights of 10' to 14', it tends to be the largest of the Miscanthus species. Flowers appear in August or September. Prefers full sun, fertile, moist and well drained soils.
Gracillimus, Maiden Grass, Eulalia, Japanese Silver
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
Gracillimus, Maiden Grass, Eulalia, Japanese Silver
Beautiful, rounded mounds of fine, silver-veined, green leaves with an arching habit. Fan-like plumes emerge with a reddish tint, then age to a soft silvery-white and remain all winter.
Graziella Maiden Grass, Silver Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Graziella'
Graziella Maiden Grass, Silver Grass
Recommended Miscanthus for northern gardens. Noted for its early bloom time and copper red fall foliage. White flowers appear on tassel-like plumes above the foliage in late summer turning to silvery white showy plumes. Straw-beige winter foliage and white plumes persist to provide pleasing winter interest. Picture-perfect with sunshine highlighting the silky plumes.
Hakone
Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
Hakone
An intriguing grass for the shade which is perfect for the formal or informal gardens. Excellent where sunlight is minimal. Variegated but nearly all yellow, the leaf blades have narrow green stripes, mostly near the margins. Tiny, inconspicuous flower spikes appear in airy clusters from late summer through mid-fall.
Heavy Metal Blue Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
Heavy Metal Blue Switch Grass
Its metallic blue leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. Beginning in late summer or early fall, delicate pink panicles dance above the foliage.
Huron Solstice
Panicum virgatum 'Huron Solstice'
Huron Solstice
Similar to the popular Panicum 'Prairie Fire' , this new selection has blue-green foliage that turns a deeper shade of wine-purple beginning in early summer. This grass is strictly upright from top to bottom, unlike 'Prairie Fire' whose leaves curl at the top. In late summer, deep purple panicles are produced.
Indian Grass, Yellow Indiangrass, Indiangrass, Indian Steel
Sorghastrum nutans
Indian Grass, Yellow Indiangrass, Indiangrass, Indian Steel
This Indian grass cultivar is a clump-forming perennial grass with an upright, open habit typically growing 3-5' tall but occasionally taller. Features slender blue-green leaf blades which turn yellow in fall and retain some gold color throughout the winter. Narrow, feathery panicles of tan-yellow flowers appear well above the foliage in late summer to early fall. Panicles turn bronze in fall and continue to provide interest into early winter.
Karl Foerster
Calamagrostis acutiflora
Karl Foerster
This is a cool season, clumping grass with a compact, erect growth habit. It is especially prized in the north where the magnificent, wheat-like seed heads appear in late spring and last all season long.
Korean Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis brachytricha
Korean Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis brachytricha is a clump-forming, warm season grass with bright green leaves reaching about 2 feet. In late summer blooms emerge with a pink tint and reach 3 to 4 feet. The feathery flowers fade to cream in fall and finish in a straw color in winter. A graceful addition to the shade or part shade garden! One of the few flowering grasses that is happy in the shade. Wonderful for cut flowers.
Little Bluestem, The Blues
Schizachyrium scoparium
Little Bluestem, The Blues
Bright gray-blue foliage and red-orange fall color. Fluffy, silver seed heads. Narrow, upright habit. Grows in hot, dry areas where other plants cannot survive.
Malepartus Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinesis 'Malepartus'
Malepartus Maiden Grass
An early bloomer (well before frost in our area) makes this a great choice for colder areas. With foliage of more than a meter in height and blooms at 2 meter tall, 'Malepartus' can be a strong focal point in a landscape.
Morning Light Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinensis Morning Light
Morning Light Maiden Grass
An especially refined and elegant ornamental grass. Fine leaf blades are green with clean, paper-thin, white margins that give the plant a silvery cast when viewed from a distance. This plant is luminous when backlit by the early morning or late afternoon sun. It is prized for its rounded habit that never flops.
Northern Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
Northern Sea Oats
Native to the wooded slopes and damp forests of SE North America. A clumping grass with showy, drooping flowers and unique bamboo-like foliage. Has a tendency to reseed. Seed heads can be harvested for bouquets.
Northwind Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Northwind'
Northwind Switch Grass
'Northwind' is a tall ornamental switch grass cultivar which features one of the best vertical forms of any of the many panicum cultivars currently available in commerce. Olive-green to bluish-green foliage forms a compact, narrow, erect, 4-5' tall clump of foliage which is topped in late summer by finely-textured, yellow flower panicles which hover over the foliage like an airy cloud. Flower panicles typically bring total plant height to 6'. Panicles turn beige as the seeds mature in fall with the seed plumes persisting well into winter. Foliage turns yellow-beige in fall and provides good winter interest.
Overdam Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis acutiflora
Overdam Feather Reed Grass
'Overdam' has variegated foliage that starts out with bright creamy-white margins which then fade to white with a pink flush. The upright clump of foliage will remain under 2' tall. In late spring,strikingly erect, feathery plumes with sand-colored seed heads appear,reaching up to 5' tall.
Porcupine Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'
Porcupine Grass
Distinctive yellowish-white, horizontal banding on the leaves of this cultivar distinguish it from nearly all other grasses. These irregularly spaced marks seem to glow when backlit by the early morning or late afternoon sun.
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Prairie Dropseed
Refined native prairie grass with a soft, fountain-like look. Threadlike, green leaves turn golden orange in fall. Surprisingly fragrant, pinkish brown flowers appear atop tall, thin, arching stems. Heat and drought tolerant.
Prairie Fire Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Fire'
Prairie Fire Grass
A spectacular switch grass with sturdy, upright, blue-green stems and wine-red leaves. In the spring, the foliage is blue-green, but by early summer the leaves begin to turn a stunning shade of deep red. Most red switch grasses do not begin to turn color until late summer, so this grass is quite remarkable in that it changes color so early in the season. In late summer, a bouquet of rosy panicles is displayed just above the foliage. When in bloom, the leaves curl slightly, which gives the impression of red ribbons woven throughout the flowers.
Prairie Sky switchgrass
Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky'
Prairie Sky switchgrass
Prairie Sky is an excellent ornamental grass for desert landscapes. The one-inch wide, blue leaves provide a striking color contrast with green or silver foliage. Prairie Sky grows to about 4-5 feet tall and wide. It sometimes exhibits a floppy form in wetter habitats. In late summer, profuse, airy light silvery-pink flower spikes create a misty cloud above the foliage, drying to tan in the fall. Clump forming.
Priarie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Priarie Dropseed
Prairie dropseed is a clump-forming, warm season, Missouri native perennial grass which occurs in prairies, glades, open ground and along railroads throughout much of the State. Fine-textured, hair-like, medium green leaves (to 20" long and 1/16" wide) typically form an arching foliage mound to 15" tall and 18" wide. Foliage turns golden with orange hues in fall, fading to light bronze in winter. Open, branching flower panicles appear on slender stems which rise well above the foliage clump in late summer to 30-36" tall. Flowers have pink and brown tints, but are perhaps most noted for their unique fragrance (hints of coriander). Tiny rounded mature seeds drop to the ground from their hulls in autumn giving rise to the descriptive common name..
Raven Grass
Erianthus ravennae
Raven Grass
Has an upright to open habit with large, white plumed flowers. Flowers appear in fall from late September to late October. Because of its large size it is very effective as a specimen plant or screen. It forms large clumps up to about five feet in diameter. It is often used as a substitute for pampas grass in northern growing areas. The stems are weaker than pampas grass and have a tendency to break in high winds. It performs best in as sunny site in moist, well-drained soils. Wet sites shorten its life considerably and leads to extensive winter injury.
Red Baron Japanese Blood Grass
Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'
Red Baron Japanese Blood Grass
An unusual and dramatic grass, slowly forming a low clump. Leaves are green at the base, with red tips that become more intense over the summer and fall until they appear to glow. Effective as an edging, in the rock garden, and especially when mass planted. Although this prefers moist soil, plants require good drainage, especially in winter. Remove any all-green shoots if they appear. Clumps may be easily divided in the spring. Seldom flowers.
Red Silver Miscanthus, Japanese Silver Grass, Red Silver Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Rotsilber'