Thin-Leafed Grasses

Zone 4

• To thrive in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zone 4, grasses must tolerate average annual lows to minus 30 degrees. Prairie droopseed (Sporobolus heterolepisis) is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. It grows to 15 inches tall and has very fine, arching, lustrous-green foliage. This clumping, warm-season grass blooms with fragrant flowers in late summer. It prefers sun to light shade and tolerates drought and a range of soils. Blue fescue (Festuca glauca or ovina) has very narrow, blue-green foliage that grows in a 12 inch tall tufted mound. This cool-season grass is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and grows well in full sun and moist to dry soil. Blue fescue produces flowers in early summer.

Zone 5

• In USDA zone 5, lows reach minus 20 degrees. Silky threadgrass (Nassella tenuissima) is hardy to zone 5. This clumping grass has fine, yellow-green foliage that grows in an erect form. This cool-season grass produces silvery seedheads and easily reseeds itself. Silky threadgrass grows well in light shade and well-draining soil and grows to 18 inches tall. Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) has narrow, green foliage that turns golden yellow in autumn. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, this warm-season grass blooms from summer through fall with purple to pink inflorescences. It grows to 4 feet tall and prefers full sun and well-draining rich soil.

Zone 6

• USDA zone 6's average annual lows reach minus 10 degrees. Adagio miscanthus (Miscanthus sisnesis "Adagio") has very fine, green fronds that turn yellow in autumn. This warm-season grass is hardy in zones 6 to 9 and grows in a dense clump. It prefers sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Adagio miscanthus reaches heights of 5 feet and produces reddish flowers in late summer. Hair grass or pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaries) has fine, blue- to gray-green foliage and grows in 3 foot tall clumps. It produces pink, red and purple inflorescences in fall. This native, warm-season grass is hardy in zones 6 to 9 and prefers full sun and well-draining, sandy soils. Hair grass tolerates drought.

Zone 7

• In USDA zone 7, average annual lows reach zero degrees. Weeping love grass (Eragrostis curvula) has very fine, green foliage that turns coppery yellow in winter. This warm-season grass is hardy in zones 7 to 9 and grows to 3 feet tall. It grows in clumps and produces lavender-gray flowers in late summer. Weeping love grass grows best in full sun and well-draining-to-sandy soil. Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) has narrow, arching green foliage and grows to 10 feet tall. This drought- and salt-tolerant grass produces large, white plumes in fall and is hardy in zones 7 to 10. Pampas grass prefers sun to light shade and moist, rich, well-draining soil.