Tall Grass Flowers

Zone 4

• USDA zone 4 experiences average annual low temperatures to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Flame grass (Miscanthus sinensis "Purpurascens") is hardy in zones 4 to 9. It grows to 5 feet tall and thrives in sun to light shade and well-draining soils. Flame grass produces narrow, pink flowers atop upright, gray-green foliage. In fall, this grass's flowers dry to silver and its foliage turns red, orange and maroon. Silver feather grass (Miscanthus sinensis "Silberfeder") grows to 7 feet tall and is hardy in zones 4 to 9. This grass prefers full sun and well-draining soil, though it tolerates a range of soil types. Silver feather grass blooms in late summer with large, white-to-pink flowers atop wide, arching foliage.

Zone 5

• In USDA zone 5, grasses must withstand annual average lows to minus 20 degrees. The giant reed (Arundo donax) is hardy in zones 5 to 10 and grows from 14 to 20 feet tall. This gray-green grass has curving foliage and tolerates light shade, drought and a variety of soils, though it grows best in full sun and moist, well-draining soil. It blooms with 1- to 2-foot-long inflorescences in late fall. Its puffy, red-brown flowers dry to silver. The giant miscanthus (Miscanthus floridulus) grows from 8 to 10 feet tall in a clump of slightly arching green foliage. It blooms in midsummer with large, white inflorescnces that mature to a beige tone in fall. It prefers full sun and tolerates wet to dry soils. Giant miscanthus grass is hardy in zones 5 to 9.

Zone 6

• USDA zone 6's average annual lows reach minus 10 degrees. Cabaret miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis var. Condensatus "Cabaret") is hardy in zones 6 to 9. It grows to 9 feet tall in clumps of arching, dark-green foliage with white margins. Cabaret miscanthus blooms with dark-pink to purple flowers in fall that age to a light tan. It grows best in sun to light shade and well-draining soil. Oriental fountain grass (Pennisetum orientale) grows to 4 feet tall and is hardy in zones 6 to 9. It blooms from spring through fall with light pink, slightly drooping flowers. This grass prefers well-drained soil and grows well in sun to shade. It grows in clumps of gray-green, arching foliage.

Zone 7

• In USDA zone 7, average annual lows reach zero degrees. Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is hardy in zones 7b to 10. It grows from 6 to 10 feet tall and produces large, feathery plumes in late summer that last through winter. These 2- to 3-foot-long silver-pink flower heads can be used in dried arrangements. Pampas grass grows best in sun to light-shade exposures and rich, moist, well-draining soils. Lindheimer's muhly (Muhlenbergia lindherimeri) grows to 5 feet tall and is hardy in zones 7 to 9. This heat- and drought-tolerant grass has very fine, blue-gray foliage and grows well in full sun. It blooms in fall with long-lasting purple to gray inflorescences atop upright stems.