Tall Grasses That Will Thrive in Florida

For Wet Sites

• Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora "Karl Foerster") grows to 6 feet tall with deciduous, lanceolate foliage up to 7 feet long. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 9, this spreading grass blooms in summer with pink-red inflorescences. Feather reed grass thrives in wet, boggy areas and is a good choice around ponds or water features. Feather reed grass grows in northern and central Florida. Porcupine grass (Miscanthus sinensis var. strictus) reaches heights to 8 feet. This clumping grass has upright, yellow-striped foliage and produces 10-inch-long copper-pink plumes in fall. It's hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and grows in sun to partial shade. Porcupine grass tolerates standing water and has deciduous foliage.

For Full Sun

• Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis) grows in 6-foot-tall clumps of fine foliage that creates an arching, fountain-like shape. Hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, this deciduous grass grows across central and northern Florida. A warm-season grass, maiden grass grows well in full sun and well-draining soil and tolerates drought. Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis "Silverbell") grows to 8 feet tall, forming arching clumps of yellow striped foliage. A warm-season, deciduous grass, Japanese silver grass is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and grows across north and central Florida. It prefers full sun and well-draining soil.

For Coastal Gardens

• Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) forms dramatic clumps of foliage reaching to 10 feet tall and wide. Hardy in USDA zones 5b through 11, this fast-growing evergreen grass grows across the state. It blooms with large, pink plumes in summer and fall and thrives in sun to partial shade. Pampas grass tolerates salt spray, making it a good choice for screening in coastal areas. Its leaves have sharp edges, though, so the plant is best kept away from walkways. Spartina or cordgrass (Spartina app.) grows to 6 feet tall and forms upright clumps of stiff, bright green foliage, topped with beige inflorescences in summer. Suitable for coastal regions, this grass is hardy in USDA zones 8 and 9. An evergreen, spartina has a high salt tolerance and grows in brackish planting sites. Both grasses have invasive qualities in some locations.

For Drought

• Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) grows to 6 feet tall in clumps of curving, light-green foliage. This deciduous grass is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10 and grows as a perennial across Florida, dying back in winter across the northern regions of the state. From summer through fall, this warm-season grass blooms with pale pink and purple inflorescences atop 3-foot-tall stalks. Plant this drought-tolerant grass in sunny, well-draining sites. In some locations fountain grass is invasive. Fakahatchee grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) grows to 6 feet tall and wide. This North American native grows well in full sun to partial shade. Fakahatchee grass forms clumps of evergreen foliage and blooms in spring with white, yellow, orange and red flowers that attract butterflies. This drought-tolerant grass is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10.