June 26, 2025 - They're ideal for a summer-autumn display in pots, borders or raised beds, in full sun, and include the variety ‘Fireworks’. ... Giant oat grass bears huge heads of open, oat-like flowerheads above a mound of green leaves. Although tall, the airy heads are ‘see-through’, so the plant can be grown anywhere in a sunny border.

June 21, 2024 - If you’re looking for a tall grass for the back of a border, there are two that I love – one is Stipa Gigantea which has stunning oat-like seed heads and the other is Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ which is an upright grass ...

August 12, 2025 - An easy-growing, non-invasive groundcover with slender, bright green leaves and creamy white margins that brighten shady borders. Spreads gently by underground stems (rhizomes) to create a dense mat of foliage. Part shade to part sun. Up to 1' tall, spreading slowly. Zones 5-9. A graceful, colorful grass for shaded borders and container gardens.

March 31, 2025 - Count on Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) to be an excellent vertical accent for your borders or an effective solution for erosion control on slopes. This grass once dominated the tallgrass prairie which covered large parts of the Midwest.

Search for easy dinners, fashion, etc. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. ... Mixing together different types of ornamental grasses always creates a visually terrific contrast in the landscape. This lovely border is a perfect example of that where decorative grasses of different colors, textures and shapes have been pleasantly combined for a long season of interest, extending to winter!

February 17, 2022 - Fountain grass, for instance, is a mid-size, warm-season, clump-forming grass that exhibits graceful, arching growth. In mid to late summer, fountain grass bears bottlebrush spikes, and its bright green foliage turns golden brown in the fall. It is because of its medium size and graceful appearance; this ornamental grass makes an excellent border plant. Medium grasses can also be used as accents among herbaceous perennials and shrubs as well as to define border areas. The taller grasses are normally used to provide structure or a backbone for borders.

August 16, 2024 - Although the backbone of this two-sided border is ornamental grasses, it is enhanced by colorful, long-blooming perennials. ‘Caradonna’ salvia and yarrow (Achillea cv., Zones 3–9) are just two notable plants that are part of the supporting cast (above). Taller grasses provide a backdrop for more-vibrant hues to stand out and also screen the property line, providing privacy to anyone strolling through—or sitting in—the garden (below).

September 25, 2024 - Japanese Forest Grass/Hakonechloa Macra – add light and structure to shade. Good in pots. ... Paul grows Golden Oat Grass (Stipa gigantea) ‘Gold Fontaene’ in his cottage garden. ‘Just because it’s a tall grass, that doesn’t mean it has to be at the back of a border,’ he says.

July 30, 2025 - Tall ornamental grasses like Miscanthus sinensis and Blue Fescue add texture and movement, creating a soft, inviting space. Pair these with low-maintenance plants and gravel for a clean, modern look that’s easy to care for.

Feather Reed Grass ‘Karl Foerster’ is the perfect tall grass plant, with golden plumes that glow from midsummer through winter—perfect for adding vertical elegance to borders and beds.

Division: Clumping grasses can be divided every few years to control their size and rejuvenate the plants. ... Focal Points: Tall grasses can be used as striking focal points in the garden. Borders: Medium and short grasses are great for defining borders or pathways.

Privacy and Screening: Taller varieties of ornamental grasses can be used to create natural screens and borders in the garden, offering a sense of privacy.

Karl Foerster reaches 4–6 feet tall at maturity, but only spreads about 2–3 feet. Blue fescue is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for dwarf ornamental grasses for borders and garden edging! It’s tidy, round clumps of foliage have an icy blue-green tint—they’re so pretty when you line them up in a row!

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' is an excellent grass for adding height and structure to the back of borders. This eye-catching grass is best known for its early summer foliage with distinctive cream bands that stripe each blade. By late summer the foliage has turned to gold, accompanied by tall ...

December 11, 2024 - In this article, we’ll list the best tall ornamental grasses for privacy so you can achieve that seclusion without the hassle of installing privacy screens or building structures. Ornamental grasses have the advantage of growing quickly, providing a swift and effective solution to your privacy needs. So whether you’re looking to shield your backyard from prying eyes, create a peaceful retreat, or simply define your property’s borders...

March 4, 2025 - For best effect, choose taller species such as big bluestem, miscanthus (shown here), and moor grass, all of which can reach about 6 feet tall when in bloom. Keep in mind that you'll cut back ornamental grasses close to the ground in early spring, ...

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) is one of the most popular border grasses. It has deep green, variegated, or black foliage, and ranges from 2 to 24 inches in height. It’s sometimes planted as a groundcover, creating a shade-tolerant lawn alternative. Mondo grass is quite often confused ...

October 1, 2025 - Ornamental grasses are true champions of the garden, offering beauty and versatility in equal measure. These adaptable plants come in various sizes and shapes, from towering varieties that create dramatic backdrops to shorter types perfect for bordering paths or filling containers.

Ornamental grasses are versatile, hardy and spectacular, bringing movement, texture and drama to gardens of all styles, nearly all year round. They can be woven through borders, used as a focal point, scattered through gravel gardens and planted in containers. Easy to grow, low maintenance and available in many beautiful shapes, sizes and styles, they are ideal for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

These flowers appear to float with the wind and are most suitable at the back of the border (with the exception of a few dwarf varieties). Pair them with evergreens to really make them standout. Giant silver grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus ‘Robusta’): This very tall grass has a bamboo-like tropical appearance, quickly forming a patch of tall, stout corn-like stems and graceful arching foliage.