What Shades of Grass for a Cold Climate?

Green

• Several cold-tolerant ornamental grasses grow in shades of green. These grasses come in a range of sizes and shapes. Broom sedge (Andropogon virginicus) grows to 4 feet tall in a vertical, upright clump of green foliage. Hardy in zones 3 to 9, this sun-loving grass tolerates drought, clay and poor soil and turns orange in autumn. Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra) is hardy in zones 4 to 8 and grows from 1 to 3 feet tall. This arching, mounding grass has shiny, bright-green foliage. It grows best in cool, shaded sites and grows well as a container plant or as ground cover. Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is also hardy in zones 4 to 8. It grows to 15 inches tall and forms cascading mounds of lustrous green foliage. This finely textured grass tolerates drought and prefers full sun to light shade exposures.

White-Green

• A few cold-hardy grasses grow in shades of green and white; some cultivars are bred for their variegated or striped shades. Ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinacea) has green and white striped foliage and spreads rapidly. It grows from 2 to 5 feet tall and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Ribbon grass grows best in light shade and rich, moist sites. Green and white cultivars include Picta, which has striped foliage, and Feeseys, which has striped, weeping foliage tinged with shades of pink and red. Overdam feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora "Overdam") has variegated green and white foliage. It grows to 5 feet tall and prefers cool sites with well-draining, rich soil. Overdam is hardy in zones 4 to 9.

Yellow-Green

• A few cold-hardy cultivars of grass are grown for their yellow-green shades. Aureo-marginata prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata "Aureo-marginata") has glossy, variegated green leaves with bright yellow edges. This 6-foot-tall grass grows in weeping clumps. It prefers sun to light shade, tolerates a range of soils and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Golden Toup fescue (Festuca glauca "Golden Toup") grows from 6 to 10 inches tall in upright clumps of fine, yellow-green foliage. Hardy in zones 4 to 9, this grass develops the best color in full sun. It prefers well-draining, moist to dry soils.

Blue-Green

• Several cold-tolerant grasses and cultivars are grown for their blue to blue-green shaded foliage. Heavy Metal blue switch grass (Panicum virgatum "Heavy Metal") is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and grows to 5 feet tall. This upright, clumping grass has strong, metallic-blue foliage. It prefers full sun and tolerates a range of soils. Glaucous sedge (Carex firma) reaches heights of 6 to 24 inches and is hardy in zones 4 to 8. It grows best in sun to light shade and tolerates drought and a variety of soils. This grass grows in a dense clump of fine, blue-green foliage. Giant blue wild rye (Elymus racemosa) is also hardy in zones 4 to 8. It grows to 4 feet tall and has flat, metallic-blue foliage. This spreading grass grows well in sun to light shade and tolerates wet to dry soils.