Ornamental grasses became popular in the last decade or so because they are so easy to grow and are generally pest free. The added bonus though is that an ornamental grass is an asset to winter gardens. The large white plumes, or colorful seedheads, that are maintained on the plant throughout the snowy winter season look just as magnificent on crisp fall mornings too.
As a general guide the larger grasses fall into two sorts. The ones with plumes and the ones with seed heads. Color can also be a factor. For maximum winter interest look for grasses that will be above your average snow line. Many will grow to 5 feet or more, with plumes that rise above that.
Growing Ornamental Grasses
Grasses, like turf grass, grow in a wide range of temperature and light conditions, but do best when planted in full sun. Some grasses will tolerate very moist conditions others prefer well drained soils, even drought. Many ornamental grasses will grow as far north as zone 3, and many are native too.
Miscanthus: The maiden grasses, Miscanthus sinensis, were probably the first commercially available grasses when the new grass fad came in. Miscanthus senesis also includes the attractive Japanese Silver grass cultivars. These elegant grasses grow by accruing at the base, and they should be divided on a regular basis before the crown mass becomes too big. A mature crown will need a chain saw and lots of energy to divide. Cultivars of Miscanthus include variegated and green grasses in a variety of heights from some that grow only 2-3 feet, to the enormous Miscanthus floridus which can reach 14 feet in height. It is important that you get a named cultivar rather than the species of this grass, as it is deemed to be a noxious invasive plant in some areas (notably the northeast through the Great Lakes areas). The cultivars do not generally produce seeds to crowd out the surrounding native grasses. The growth and size habit of Miscanthus has also been looked at as a potential source for alternative fuels.
Pennisetum: This is the other large group of ornamental grasses that includes many of the switch grasses and plume or fountain grasses. Many of these do produce attractive winter seeds but are not consider invasive. Many of the Pennisetums are also native to the Midwest and can be used in gardens from zones 3 through 7. Look for varieties that have different color leaves, and interesting seed heads.
The magnificent plumes of the Pampas grass, come from the warm weather plant Cortaderia selloana, which is only hardy to zone 7b/8. A similar plume though can be found on Erianthus, also known as Pampas grass or Plume grass. The Erianthus grasses are far more cold tolerant than true Pampas.
Of the native grasses, the Bluestems are perhaps the most widely known. Giant Bluestem (Andropogan) grows to nearly 6 feet, and the smaller Bluestem (Panicum virgtum) grows to a more moderate 3 feet.
So try some ornamental grasses in your garden. They will reward you with easy care, height, winter interest and food for the winter birds. Ornamental grasses can be an asset to the winter garden as well as nature.
For a comprehensive list of ornamental grasses and their traits, try this site
