Grasses for a Zen Garden

Elijah Blue

• Elijah Blue is a beautiful evergreen plant with blue leaves and spiky foliage. This ornamental grass thrives in well-drained soils and direct sunlight. It has low water needs, but requires more watering in dry conditions. Because the grass only grows 8 to 10 inches tall, you should plant it toward the front of a Zen garden to complement rocks or stones. You can plant it in-ground or within a container. The grass blooms in early to mid-summer.

Erianthus Ravennae

• Erianthus Ravennae or Hardy Pampas is an ornamental grass with grayish-green leaves and arching stems. It towers to 6 feet and works well if you have a large area and neutral light. Plant the grass in the springtime near a pond in your Zen garden or grow it in dry to moist soil. Erianthus Ravennae is easier to grow because it’s not prone to insect problems or disease. The grass blooms in summer to early fall.

Fireworks Fountain Grass

• Fireworks Fountain Grass is a low-maintenance ornamental grass with a burst of red, pink, burgundy and purple blades that arch downward. The grass grows quickly to 24 to 30 inches and requires little to average watering. You can combine it with other plants in a Zen garden or place it near a water feature in a container or in the ground. The Fireworks Fountain Grass blooms during the summer.

Hakonechloa Macra

• Hakonechloa Macra is a small, ornamental grass that’s native to Japan, growing up to 24 inches. Some varieties include All Gold, Aureola, Naomi and Nicolas. Each comes with beautiful foliage that highlights shady areas of a Zen garden. You can plant them in a container or directly in the soil. They thrive in cool, mild climates and moist conditions, but require more attention in warm, dry conditions. The Hakonechloa Macra blooms between late-summer to mid-fall.