Heat & Sun Tolerant Ornamental Grasses

Lemongrass

• Lemongrass is an ornamental grass native to India and Sri Lanka. This subtropical ornamental is also an edible herb and is used in Thai cooking and in flavoring teas. When broken, the grasses release the sweet citrus smell of lemongrass oil. In their native environment, they are commonly found growing in tropical grasslands throughout Asia. With a USDA plant hardiness rating of zones 10 and 11, the lemongrass is well-suited to warm temperatures and prefers bright, direct sunlight. The grasses grow in clumps that can reach six feet in height and spread to around three feet. They can survive drought conditions, but will suffer. Lemongrass is not cold hardy and can be killed by a frost and damaged by cool temperatures. This evergreen plant has an attractive blue-green color.

Citronella

• Citronella is in the same family as lemongrass, and its scent is one that's well-known by anyone who has ever smelled an insect-repelling candle. It is also used in perfumes, soaps and as an antiseptic. Native to southeast Asia, citronella is rated for USDA plant hardiness zones 10 through 12. Thriving in full sun, this grass needs a long, hot growing season and can be damaged or killed by chilly winters. Even in warm climates, citronella plants should be potted and brought indoors to weather the coldest months to make sure there are clumps to plant in the spring. Citronella's leaves are flat and about three feet long, while the stems of the grasses are thicker and round.

Ruby Grass

• Native to Africa, ruby grass is a tropical grass rated for USDA plant hardiness zones eight through 10. With a height between 1.5 to two feet, the ornamental grows in clumps up to a foot and a half in diameter. Ruby grass flowers between July and August, when the tufts of grass develop bright pink flowers that fade to white as they mature. Grasses turn to reddish-purple in the autumn months. Ruby grass is considered an annual, and seeds must be harvested in the autumn for planting in the spring. Thriving in full sun, ruby grass is well-suited to mass plantings and for filling in flower beds.

Sand Cordgrass

• Sand cordgrass gets its name from its sandpaper-like texture. Grasses grow to between four and six feet tall and bend to form round, ball-like clumps. The grasses are green in the summer and turn brown in the winter; rated for zones eight to 10, they are generally found in areas with mild winters. Found growing naturally in marshes and wetlands, sand cordgrass is often used to control erosion around water. It makes an excellent ornamental plant as well, with its unusual shape and curled, wiry leaves. It thrives in full sun and sandy soils and is an excellent addition near natural-looking backyard water features.