Grasses for Mantel Decorating

Hardiness Zone 4

• To thrive in USDA zone 4, grasses must tolerate average annual lows to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and grows to 3 feet tall. Its airy, green-to-gold inflorescences appear in summer and are attractive when used in dried arrangements. Tufted hair grass thrives in light to partial shade and moist soil. Indian rice grass (Achnatherum hymenoides) is attractive both dried and fresh. Hardy to zone 3, this native grass grows from 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall in clumps of tufted, blue-green foliage. It produces feathery inflorescences atop narrow stems and prefers sunny sites in sandy, well-draining soil.

Zone 5

• Grasses for USDA zone 5 must be hardy to lows of minus 20 F. Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) is hardy in zones 5 to 9 and grows from 2 to 5 feet tall. Northern sea oats thrives in poor, dry and shady sites, though it grows best in fertile, moist soil. It produces pendulous, oat-like panicles atop tall stems in summer and its light-green foliage turns coppery red in autumn. Northern sea oats is attractive when used dry or fresh. Hardy in zones 5 to 10, giant reed (Arundo donax) grows to 20 feet tall and produces 2-foot-long, red-brown inflorescences that dry to silver and look attractive in dried mantel arrangements. This slow-spreading grass grows in full sun to light shade and a range of soils.

Zone 6

• In USDA zone 6, lows dip to minus 10 F. Plume grass (Erianthus ravennae) is hardy in zones 6 to 9. It grows from 10 to 20 feet tall and thrives in sunny sites with moist, well-draining soil. Plume grass produces large white-to-silver plumes in late summer that dry easily and are attractive in arrangements. Ravenna grass (Saccharum ravennae) grows to 14 feet tall and is hardy in zones 6 to 9. This upright grass produces large, feathery plumes in summer that age from pink to silver and are attractive when used both fresh and dried.

Annual Grasses

• Annual grasses only live for one growing season. Attractive species for arrangements include ruby grass (Melinus nerviglumis “Pink Crystals”), a sun-loving grass that grows from 1 to 2 feet tall. This blue-green grass produces deep pink blooms in early summer that mature to white. It is attractive both dried and fresh. Purple Majesty millet (Pennisetum glaucum “Purple Majesty”) adds color and texture to fresh mantle arrangements. This annual grows to 4 feet tall and has maroon foliage. It produces tall stalks topped with brushy flowers.