Top 7+ ornamental grasses pros swear by for year-round interest

Growing ornamental perennial grasses in your landscape serves multiple purposes. They can fill in exposed soil, reduce erosion, and attract birds to the garden while also adding colorful hues and textures. 

Perennial ornamental grasses are wonderful to grow in any yard as a border, in a meadow, or in native and rock gardens. "They are commonly utilized in naturalistic meadow plantings but are equally well-suited to more traditional garden borders and potentially even containers," says Sam Hoadley, manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center. The height and size also help decide how and where to plant them. 

Garden experts share their picks for ornamental perennial grasses to grow.

Bushy Bluestem

Bushy Bluestem is a native grass that isn't as well-known but is worth considering because it can grow in many conditions. Hoadley says that this grass will thrive in a wet area in your landscape or anywhere there is seasonal moisture, such as rain gardens and swales. "This species is right at home in moist to wet sandy soils, although it is adaptable to common garden soils as well," he says. The foliage also adds a lot of texture and color to a garden. "The clustered seed heads produced in late summer and fall are bursting with character and interest," he adds. 

• Botanical Name: Andropogon glomeratus
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Type: moist to wet, clay soil
• Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (5.5-7.0)

Lindheimer’s Muhly

A lesser-known ornamental perennial grass that makes a great ground cover and is easy to care for is Lindheimer’s Muhly. "Its blades vary in color from soft gray-green to light blue-green and maintain their graceful, fountain-like form throughout the year," says Rhonda Kaiser, author of The Vintage Farmhouse Garden and owner of Southern Home and Farm. She says it's a hardy grass and an excellent choice for Southern landscapes. Plant this grass for erosion control. If you live in an area that is prone to low rainfall, Kaiser says, 'it is low maintenance and thrives even in dry conditions."

• Botanical Name: Muhlenbergia lindheimeri
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Type: Well-draining, rocky, clay and limestone soils
• Soil pH: Alkaline 

Switchgrass

Switchgrass, also known as Tall Prairie Grass, Thatch Grass, and Tall Panic Grass, is a native plant that grows throughout many regions of the United States, including the South. It grows naturally in prairies, pastures, by the side of the road, and in brackish marshes–where saltwater and freshwater meet.

An adaptable grass, according to Steven Engel, regional account manager for PanAmerican Seed and National Garden Bureau member, it "will tolerate wet or dry areas along with sun or part shade." This is one of Engels' favorite grasses. "Fall is when this grass really shines; it has a wonderful seasonal color palette with purplish seed heads from late-summer into Fall," he says.  

• Botanical Name: Panicum virgatum
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Type: Medium, Well-draining, Rich
• Soil pH: Acidic 6.0-6.5)

Inland Sea Oats

Have an area in your yard that doesn't receive much sun?  Inland Sea Oats, also known as Upland Sea Oats, may be the answer.  Not only does it need a moist, shady environment, it also attracts birds and butterflies, says Engel. This native perennial grows well in many states throughout the U.S, including Texas and Florida. 

This grass is striking for the seed heads that dangle off the greenish-blue grass leaves. "The seed heads are very flexible and create beautiful movement to any arrangement," says Kaiser. As a former florist, she always enjoys working with this grass, both fresh and dried, she says.

• Botanical Name: Chasmanthium latifolium
• Sun Exposure: Partial Sun to shade
• Soil Type: Medium, Well-draining
• Soil pH: Acidic to Neutral (5.0-7.0)

Pink Muhly Grass

Pink Muhly Grass, also known as Gulf Muhly and Mule Grass, is a native perennial grass that grows in many regions in the United States,  particularly in the South. Experts are fans of the colorful foliage. "It has green foliage whose plumes transform into a soft pink hue in late summer and fall, creating a stunning display," says Kaiser.

Hoadley also loves this ornamental grass. "To see this grass in its full autumn glory, replete with pink airy foxtails of flowers that glisten with morning dew and glow in evening light, is to witness ornamental grasses at their finest. Engel adds that pink muhly is a great accent plant in the garden.

• Botanical Name: Muhlenbergia capillaris
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Type: Well-draining to dry soil
• Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Alkaline (6.0-8.0)

Split Beard Bluestem

Have sandy or clay soil or an area where nothing grows? Consider planting the native perennial Split Beard Bluestem. This ornamental perennial grass is hardy, preferring dry, well-drained soil and can also tolerate infertile soil. The foliage is stunning, with silvery bluish-green leaves that change hues to bronze and copper in the fall. "Split beard bluestem is a lesser-known species in cultivation that produces awe-inspiring displays of feathery seed heads in fall and winter," says Hoadley.

• Botanical Name: Andropogon ternarius
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Type: Medium, Well-draining, Rich
• Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (5.8-7.0)

Purple Love Grass

Purple Love Grass is a warm-season perennial grass that is native to the South and other regions in the United States, along with Mexico. "It is right at home in dry sunny sites beyond the reach or irrigation lines, where it happily develops into mounds about 2' high and wide," says Hoadley. He says it has a tough-as-nails constitution, making it low-maintenance. Make sure to plant it in a sunny area and well-draining soil with semi-dry conditions. 

Plant this grass in a native garden or in a meadow or to create a border. "Purple Love Grass lives up to its name in late summer and fall, producing airy yet vibrant purple to red inflorescences that glow in morning and evening sunlight," says Hoadley.

• Botanical Name: Eragrostis spectabilis
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Type: Well-draining to semi-dry soil
• Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0)