Tall Grasses in Landscaping

Massed in Large Drifts

• Tall, ornamental grasses planted in masses form large drifts that undulate, flow and move in the slightest wind. Big bluestem, Japanese silver grass, prairie cordgrass, and ravenna or pampas grass grow from 5 feet to more than 10 feet tall and grow well in masses. Drifts of tall grasses make good screens for service areas such as sheds, central air units and trash collection areas. They create a prairie scene or an exotic backdrop for colorful flowerbeds.

Ornamental Display

• Display tall, grass specimens in a prominent area for focus. Small groupings of two to three tall ornamental grasses stand out in a corner of a yard or near an entryway. Backlight or spot light them at night or setting behind statues or fountains make them stand out. Different types of tall grasses planted in strategic areas allow them to be appreciated individually. Display them in large patio or deck containers, along a building as foundation plants and along a fence or property line.

Exotic Backdrops

• Tall, ornamental grasses make exotic backdrops for theme gardens. A Japanese dry garden with a back border of tall grass creates a natural, serene landscape. A minimalist landscape with a few carefully selected plants, such as roses or azaleas, against a background of tall grasses creates stylized, unusual scenery. A savanahlike landscape is easy to design with tall grasses.

Winter Texture and Movement

• Ornamental grasses in the landscape create visual focus year-round. The dried foliage and numerous seedheads of silver grass or pampas grass remain in the winter landscape, providing texture and movement. Mass plantings of tall grass look feathery and alive in winter sunlight. Tall grasses retain dried foliage that moves in the winter landscape in ways that other plants do not, making soft noise as well as graceful choreography.