Types of Grasses for Wet, Shady Areas in South Carolina

Low-Growing Grasses

• Dwarf or low-growing grasses can form ground covers and fill in empty spaces. Japanese sweet flag (Acorus gramineus) thrives in consistently moist soil and tolerates wet feet. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9, this semi-evergreen grass has fine, lustrous foliage and grows to 12 inches tall. Lighten up a partially to fully shaded site with the yellow-leaved "Ogon" cultivar. Creeping broad-leafed sedge (Carex siderosticha) grows to 8 inches tall and creates a dense carpet of wide foliage. This grass thrives in partial shade and moist soil and is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. The "Variegata" cultivar has white-and-green stripes.

Small Grasses

• Plant small grasses in groups for a dramatic effect. In full shade, plant Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii). This 2-foot-tall grass grows well in moist to wet soil and has stiff green fronds with white margins. Japanese sedge is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. Another Asian native, Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii) grows to 2 feet tall and thrives in partial shade and wet soil. This grass grows in upright clumps of green foliage with red tips and is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9.

Medium Grasses

• Mid-size grasses can be used to delineate spaces within the landscape. Tufted sedge (Carex elata) grows well in partial shade and wet soil or standing water. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, this grass forms dense tufts of yellow-green striped foliage. It reaches heights of 3 feet. Reaching heights to 4 feet, variegated sweet flag (Acorus calamus "Variegatus") grows in partial shade and wet soil -- it even tolerates standing water. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10, this grass has striped yellow-white foliage and blooms with aromatic flowers.

Tall Grasses

• Tall grasses can provide privacy screening. Six-foot-tall switch grass (Panicum virgatum) tolerates wet soil and salt spray, making it a good choice for coastal South Carolina landscapes. A North American native, switch grass forms upright clumps of fine, blue-green foliage and produces red seeds in fall. It's hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 and tolerates partial shade. Another native, prairie cord grass (Spartina pectinata) grows to 7 feet tall and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. This grass has lustrous green foliage that turns yellow in fall. It grows well in partial shade and wet, loamy soil.