Decorative Grasses for Full Sun

Short Grasses

• Several native grasses are grown as ornamental grasses, and they all prefer full sun. Northern sea oats is a warm-season grass that grows to be 2-1/2 to 3 feet tall. It has a clumping form and produces dropping clusters of reddish-bronze flowers that last throughout the winter. "Shenandoah," a cultivar of switchgrass, produces reddish-pink flowers and dark green leaves with purple tips. In the fall the leaves turn burgundy-purple. This cultivar is a good substitute for Japanese blood grass, which is an invasive plant. "The Blues," a little bluestem cultivar, produces very blue leaves that turn bright orange in the fall. It grows to be about 1-1/2 feet tall. Blue fescue grasses are popular for their beautiful blue-gray foliage, which has a fine texture. This mound-forming grass grows between 6 and 18 inches tall, and may die back when the weather's hot and dry. Blue fescue is native to Europe.

Medium Grasses

• Medium-sized ornamental grasses grow to be between 4 and 6 feet tall. Several varieties prefer full sun, including maiden grass and porcupine grass, which are warm-season grasses native to Japan, and fountain grass, which is a warm-season grasses native to China. Maiden grass is popular for its narrow leaves that sway gracefully in the smallest breeze, while porcupine grass is known for the bright yellow variegation of its leaves. Fountain grass is a clump-forming grass with bright green leaves that turn golden-brown in the fall. Its flowers, which resemble bottlebrush, don't live long, and this grass is grown for the graceful appearance of its leaves. Bamboo muhly, which is native to Arizona and Mexico, also prefers full sun. This grass produces arching stems that resemble bamboo and is a good substitute for bamboo because it's not invasive.

Tall Grasses

• Tall grasses that prefer full sun include both native and foreign species. Indian grass is a native grass that's both heat- and drought-tolerant. It has an upright form and produces dark gold flower plumes. In the fall, the leaves turn burnt orange. The "Sioux Blue" cultivar has attractive bluish-gray leaves. Pampas grass produces tough clumps that can grow up to 12 feet in height. This grass is very dramatic, with wide, arching leaves and flower plumes that grow 2 to 3 feet tall. Smaller cultivars are also available, including "Gold Band," which grows 4 feet tall and produces leaves with gold edging. Pampas grass is native to South America.

Uses

• Ornamental grasses have many landscaping uses. Short grasses, such as ribbon grass, can be used as ground cover, while dwarf forms of fountain grass and northern sea oats are used as borders between plant beds. Short grasses are the perfect size for dried flower arrangements, and they can also be used as accent plants. Medium grasses can also be used as ground cover and accent plants. In addition, they can be used as wind blocks near a seating area or in mass plantings. Tall grasses make good hedges and screens. Ornamental grasses can also be used to help control erosion.