Asian Grass Plants for Zone 6

For Drought

• Not many Asian grasses tolerate drought, but a few thrive in dry sites once they're well-established. Japanese blood grass ("Imperata cylindrica" cv. koenigii) is hardy in zones 6 to 9. It grows in an upright form, and new foliage is green with red tips and grows 1 to 2 feet tall. Plant Japanese blood grass in sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Mature specimens tolerate some drought. Kanuro zasa ("Pleioblastus auricoma") is hardy in zones 5 to 9. A member of the bamboo family, kanuro zasa has yellow- and green-striped foliage and stalks, and grows to 3 feet tall. This grass spreads rapidly and prefers sites with sun to partial shade and moist to well-drained soil. Established plants tolerate drought.

For Shade

• Some grass species grow best in shady sites. Korean feather reed grass ("Calamagrostis brachytricha") is hardy in zones 5 to 9. This grass grows in an arching, upright clump and has lustrous green foliage that turns yellow in fall. Korean feather reed grass produces red-purple inflorescences in fall that fade to silver over the winter. Plant this grass in partial shade and moist soil. Oriental fountain grass ("Pennisetum orientale") is hardy in zones 6 to 9. This clumping, compact grass grows 1 to 2 feet tall and produces fuzzy, white to pink inflorescences through the growing season. Oriental fountain grass prefers well-drained soil and tolerates shade.

For Sun

• A few Asian grasses grow best in full sun. Taiwanese miscanthus ("Miscanthus transmorrisonensis") is hardy in zones 6 to 9. This sun-loving species prefers well-drained sites and tolerates a range of soils. An evergreen, the Taiwanese miscanthus has thin foliage and produces inflorescences on tall stalks. Taiwanese miscanthus grows to 3 feet tall. Compact zebra grass ("Miscanthus sisnensis" cv. Hinjo) is hardy in zones 5 to 9. This grass is named for its wide, yellow-striped foliage that grows in upright clumps. Compact zebra grass grows to 6 feet tall and prefers full sun and a range of soil types, including dry sites.

Adaptable

• Some grasses prefer a shifting mix of sun and shade, or tolerate varying degrees of light exposure depending on climate. Hosoba kan suge Japanese sedge ("Carex morrowii" cv. temnolepsis) is hardy in zones 5 to 8. This grass is grown for its fine, fountain-shaped green foliage. Hosoba kan suge grows in 1-foot-tall clumps and prefers light shade, though it tolerates full sun in moist sites. Hime kansuga ("Carex conica") is hardy in zones 5 to 8. This 15- to 18-inch-tall grass grows in dense mounds of thin, lustrous green foliage with white margins. An evergreen, the hime kansuga grows best in full sun in cooler climates, and in light shade in warmer climates.