Ideas for Landscaping With Maiden Grass

Visual Uses

• The overall habit or shape of maiden grasses is a rounded V-form with leaves gracefully billowing out and arching over. Heights listed for a particular cultivar include flower height, referred to as inflorescens, the tall feathery stalks above the foliage that is usually deep green with a white midrib. An airier presence in the garden can be achieved with deeply variegated cultivars, which have green/white horizontally striped leaves, including Variegatus, Zebrenus and Strictus. Cultivars with leaves that are prominently accented longitudinally include Rigoletto and Morning Light. Yaku Jima is similarly graceful to Gracillimus yet has a smaller, more compact habit suitable for gardens where space is at a premium.

  Heights of maiden grass vary, and mature height of any plant ultimately depends on location and how many of its growing requirements are met. Little Kitten tops out at 4 feet and Yaku Jima at 5 feet; both are appropriate in a small garden. Goliath can reach up to 12 feet under ideal conditions and is suitable for gardens with unlimited space. A tall but not gigantic maiden grass is Gracillimus, which is one of the oldest cultivars and reaches 7 feet with finely textured foliage and a rounded habit. Another 7-foot variety, Graziella is more upright with flowers held higher above the foliage. Autumn Light is another tall grower--to 8 feet, and it is hardier, to Zone 4. Roland has wider leaves and a more coarse habit, becoming a sturdy presence in the garden.

Practical Uses

• Maiden grass can be used as a garden accent or focal point amid a bed of perennials. A linear grouping is effective as a screen or dividing line between garden spaces or rooms. Replacing lawn or edging a driveway with maiden grass is sustainable because established plants are drought-tolerant and shade out weeds.

  It is widely available at nurseries. Because deer generally avoid eating ornamental grasses, maiden grass is an alternative in areas where deer are an issue. Once established, and beside the yearly spring cut back, maiden grass is a virtually maintenance-free plant.

Artistic Uses

• A non-linear grouping of maiden grasses of varying heights around an upright coniferous evergreen, such as an upright juniper, creates a display of contrasting textures. The rounded arching habit and movement of maiden grass foliage mimic the flow and motion of water, and they can evoke a dry fountain in a location where an actual fountain might be an impossibility. Maiden grass is extremely versatile. If planted correctly in full sun, its uses are limited only by lack of imagination.