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Ornamental Grass for Pots for Zone 5b

Grass species and plants that resemble grasses, such as sedges and rushes, have much more to offer gardeners than humble lawns. Color, structure, continuity and even flowers are some of their contributions to garden displays. Ornamental grasses suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 5b are low-maintenance as pot plants, often requiring little more than good drainage, a sunny position and watering during dry spells. Choose foliage colors that complement your garden's palette.

  1. Gold

    • Golden grasses spilling from containers, or standing dramatically upright, enhance most garden designs. Semi-evergreen Japanese sedge grass (Carex oshimensis) has weeping, green-edged, gold foliage. Growing in a dense clump 10 to 20 inches tall, its leaves are a quarter inch wide and 10 to 15 inches long. "Gold Bar" maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis "Gold Bar") has upright, gold-striped foliage growing slowly to between 4 and 5 feet tall and 20 inches wide. Preferring a full-sun site, this ornamental grass sprouts fresh leaves in spring. Both plants are suitable for USDA zones 5 through 9 and containers.

    Blue

    • Blue ornamental grasses complement yellow or pink garden design schemes. "Elijah Blue" blue fescue (Festuca glauca "Elijah Blue"), suitable for USDA zones 4 through 8, has evergreen, powder-blue leaves. Growing in small clumps 6 to 12 inches tall and wide, it suits mixed container planting with other evergreens or bulbs. Blue sedge (Carex glauca) has silvery-blue foliage and also grows 6 to 12 inches tall and wide. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, this semi-evergreen prefers a partial-sun site.

    Red

    • Red-leaved ornamental grasses highlight hot color accents and low sunlight. "Prairie Fire" red switchgrass (Panicum virgatum "Prairie Fire") offers blue spring and yellow fall foliage as well as deep red summer leaves. Growing quickly to between 3 and 6 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide, this grass thrives in full-sun. Fox red curly sedge (Carex buchananii) has red-bronze, pale-tipped leaves, grows in clumps 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, and tolerates full sun and partial shade. Both ornamental grasses grow well in containers and are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9.

    Variegated

    • Providing interest and brightening shady spots, variegated ornamental grasses in containers integrate into most color schemes. Golden variegated sweet flag (Acorus gramineus "Ogon"), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 11, has gold and green striped blades and grows 10 inches tall and between 4 and 6 inches wide. Dwarf variegated maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis "Dixieland") is ivory- and green-striped and grows 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Suitable for USDA zones 4 through 9, this grass also bears rose, feathered fall blooms.

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Plant Basics
  1. Tall Grasses for Borders
  2. The Best Grass for Zone 6
  3. Types of Ornamental Grasses for Michigan
  4. Landscaping Ideas for Tall Grass
  5. Ornamental Trees for Pots
  6. Ornamental Grasses for Backdrops
  7. Asian Grass Plants for Zone 6
  8. Tall Grasses for Privacy Screens
  9. How to Divide Ornamental Grasses for Replanting
  10. Ornamental Shrubs for Berms
  11. How to Cut Tall Ornamental Grass
  12. Large Evergreen Shrubs for Zone 4

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