Grasses
Autumn Red
Miscanthus 'Purpurascens'
Autumn Red
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
Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Avalanche'
Avalanche
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 'Beyond Blue'
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
Andropogon
Big Bluestem
'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 Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Blue Grama
Warm season (greens up in June) bunchgrass with blue-green foliage. Delightful purplish comb-shaped flowers look like eyebrows; useful for borders and on very dry sites.
Blue Oat
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Blue Oat
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.
Cheyenne Sky
Panicum virgatum PRAIRIE WINDS
Cheyenne Sky
'Cheyenne Sky' forms a tight, vase-shaped clump of blue-green foliage that begins turning wine red in early summer. By late summer, nearly the entire clump is drenched in color and is topped by matching wine-red flower panicles held just above the foliage. It makes a dynamite specimen plant and is even more eye-catching when planted en masse.
Elijah Blue
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'
Elijah Blue
Soft powdery blue, spiky foliage that keeps its color all year round makes this grass a top pick. One of the more durable and longer-lived varieties, 'Elijah Blue' is a small, clumping grass with a rounded habit. In early summer, wheat-like seed heads are produced on tall,spiky stalks in great numbers.
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
Flame Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurascens'
Flame Grass
Also call Autumn Red Grass.
Spectacular fall color and cold hardiness make this Miscanthus stand out. Foliage shows maroon wash turning reddish orange in fall - contrasting nicely with the feathery white plumes. Reddish-tinged flowers appear on tassel-like plumes above the foliage in late summer and in fall gradually become creamy white. Burgundy foliage and creamy white plumes remain long into winter. Picture-perfect with sunshine highlighting the silky plumes.
Fountain
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Fountain
A clumping selection with finely textured, glossy, bright green foliage. Turns gold in fall. Plumes emerge reddish-brown, then mature to tan.
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.
Golden Variegated Sweet Flag
Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'
Golden Variegated Sweet Flag
A mounded, non-invasive rhizome grass-like perennial. It is great for containers, edging or as a ground cover. Fragrant, butter yellow sword-like blades create a striking contrast. Rich golden yellow foliage.
Gracillimus
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' - Maiden Grass
Gracillimus
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.
Grass Blackhawks Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks'
Grass Blackhawks Big Bluestem
Add drama to naturalized areas, urban landscapes, or even container plantings with this native selection of big bluestem. Blackhawks begins to show its dark side - in a good way - as early as August or when the nights begin to cool. The dark green foliage and nodes turn shades of purple as the burgundy inflorescences emerge and open to resemble turkey feet in mid to late summer. The color eventually intensifies to deep shades of rich purple that is nearly black by late September. Tolerant of a range of conditions, full sun will ensure the best color and habit. Excellent drought tolerance. A seedling of A. gerardii ‘Red October’, introduced by Intrinsic Perennial Gardens.
Graziella
Miscanthus sinensis 'Graziella' - Maiden Grass
Graziella
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.
Hameln Dwarf f Fountain Ornamental Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'
Hameln Dwarf f Fountain Ornamental 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.
Heavy Metal Ornamental Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
Heavy Metal Ornamental 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 Ornamental Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Huron Solstice'
Huron Solstice Ornamental Grass
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 Steel Ornamental Grass
Sorghastrum nutans 'Indian Steel'
Indian Steel Ornamental Grass
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.
Kakone Gold Variegated
Hakonechloa macra 'Aureloa'
Kakone Gold Variegated
Golden Variegated Hakone features gold-variegated, green grass reminiscent of bamboo foliage. The leaves turn a pink-hued, tan color for fall. Its delicate, arching nature presents an elegant appearance even without pruning, and is relatively low maintenance.
Hakone is not only an attractive grass for your home, but its long-lived nature makes it a great investment. Under optimal conditions, it will live fifteen years so you can count on it bringing you enjoyment for years to come.
Karl Foerster Ornamental Grass
Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Karl Foerster Ornamental Grass
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
Calamagrostis 'Feather Reed'
Korean Feather Reed
Feather Reed is a cool season grower with dark green, shiny foliage that appears in early spring and lasts until late fall. The flowers appear in June - earlier than many other ornamental grasses.
At first they are loose, feathery and pinkish in color, then, through the summer, they become very narrow, gradually turning a tan wheat color that lasts through the fall.
This is a cool-season grass, which allows planting or transplanting in spring or fall. It truly has year-round beauty.
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 Ornamental Grass
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Blues'
Little Bluestem Ornamental Grass
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.
Long Beaked Sedge
Carex Sprengelii grass 'Long Beaked Sedge'
Long Beaked Sedge
Pretty greenish-yellow leaves form a dense arching clump. Delicate pendulant seedheads rise on long stems above the foliage mid-summer. Long Beaked Sedge requires partial shade. Clump forming.
Malepartus
Miscanthus sinesis 'Malepartus'
Malepartus
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 Ornamental Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'
Morning Light Ornamental 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 Ornamental Grass
Chasmanthium latifolium
Northern Sea Oats Ornamental Grass
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 Ornamental Grass
Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Overdam'
Overdam Ornamental 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.
Panicum Huron Solstice
Panicum 'Huron Solstice'
Panicum Huron Solstice
'Huron Solstice' is a switch grass cultivar. It is perhaps most noted for its blue-green foliage that darkens to wine-purple in summer. This is a warm season grass that typically grows in a dense, narrow, erect clump to 4' tall. Stems retain good upright form throughout the growing season. The foliage clump is topped in early September by large, finely-textured, purple flower panicles that eventually fade to beige in fall. Seed plumes often persist throughout winter, providing visual interest as well as food for birds.
Porcupine Ornamental Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus'
Porcupine Ornamental 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 Ornamental Grass
Sporobolus heterolepis
Prairie Dropseed Ornamental Grass
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 Ornamental Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Fire'
Prairie Fire Ornamental 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 Ornamental Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky'
Prairie Sky Ornamental Grass
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.
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