Ornamental Grasses for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

This is a low maintenance perennial grass that spreads slowly. It grows vertically before arching gently at the top to create a mounded shape. The foliage is glossy and green, developing to yellow in the fall. This grass produces flowers in late summer, which take the shape of feathered silver plumes. The plumes develop to golden tan before the seeds ripen in winter; the seeds are sterile and will therefore not self-sow. This grass will tolerate almost any soil type, including clay soil. It does well in wet soils and is therefore popular in naturally moist terrain such as close to ponds and rivers.

This semi-evergreen grass forms fountain shaped clumps that are around three feet wide and equally tall. The dark green gently arching foliage transforms into shades of gold, copper, and red throughout winter, bringing brilliant color to the landscape. Some leaves will die back during winter, and these will need to be removed in spring to keep the plant looking healthy. This grass produces pink flowers in the summer that droop down to the ground. It prefers fertile and well-draining soils but will adapt to almost any soil type, including clay soils. It has become a popular accent plant and has won the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

This semi-evergreen grass is low-growing, forming dense clumps of slender blades, up to two feet in height. In early summer, stems of up to three feet tall rise above the grass, producing feathery flowers in a dark purple shade, which fade to tan in winter. It is native to North America and is a low maintenance grass that fares well in a range of conditions. Though it prefers full sun, it will also adapt well to semi-shaded positions. Once established, this grass can gain tolerance to drought, and will thrive in almost any soil type, though it prefers organic soils.

This short-lived perennial grass is native to North America. It is clump-forming and produces silky, feather-like flowers that are tinged with bright pink and purple, then fading to a light tan color. These showy, tufted flowers give the grass its common name, as they resemble foxtails. The flowers can be seen in late spring through to summer, and are commonly used in dried and fresh cut-flower displays. This grass is very low maintenance and will grow in any soil type. It is often found growing in wet, soggy soils, but will also tolerate drought equally well. While it is not fussy about soil, it does have a lighting preference and performs best in full sun.

This perennial grass is native to parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. It has flat, coarse leaves that can grow up to eight feet tall, and gently arch to create a fountain look. The leaves start out green, developing to purple, and finally gold. It forms dense clumps of grass, typically measuring between two and four feet wide. Flowers bloom in late summer through to early fall. This grass is often found growing wild in boggy conditions, alongside streams or ponds. It enjoys moist to wet well-draining soil, though it is also drought tolerant once established, making it incredibly versatile in terms of where it can be grown. It can self-seed and will naturalize easily in ideal conditions.

This perennial clump-forming grass grows in cascading mounds that look like fountains and is native to Australia and Asia. It comes in a range of sizes depending on variety, with some dwarf varieties reaching a maximum of just twelve inches, while taller varieties can grow to five foot high. The most common varieties usually sit at around three feet. This is a very easy-care grass that performs well in a range of conditions. It prefers dry soils and is considered drought tolerant once mature, though it will also grow well in wet soils, making it suitable for planting near rivers and streams. This grass produces flowers from late summer through to fall; they have a bushy fox tail look about them and can vary in color from pink to gold. This grass loves full sun and will produce the most abundant flowers in these conditions; however, it will adapt to partial shade.

This perennial grass is native to North and South America and forms dense clumps. It has a dreamy quality about it, with cotton-like foliage that sways in the most gentle breeze. The fine leaves are green in the summer, fading to light tan in the fall. At a maximum height of two feet tall, this grass works well amongst a wide range of plants, including flowering bulbs. It is well suited to container growth, as well as flower beds and borders, and wildflower gardens. This plant self-sows easily in ideal conditions and requires very little care. It can be grown from seed, or large clumps can also be divided in spring to create new smaller clumps. This grass loves full sun and performs best in fertile, well-draining soil. It likes fairly dry or slightly moist soil, but will not tolerate soggy soil conditions like some ornamental grasses.

This plant can be deciduous or perennial and forms low growing compact clumps. The foliage is long and sword-shaped, arching downwards to form a cascading mass. This plant works especially well in containers where it’s foliage can hang down below soil level, giving an almost trailing effect. Many varieties of this ornamental grass are available, with most having some kind of color variegation. These varieties produce striped lengths of foliage, in shades of green, cream, and yellow. This plant grows best in moist soil, though it is not tolerant of soggy soil, so a well-draining growing medium is essential. Once established, it will tolerate short periods of drought but should not intentionally be allowed to dry out for too long. Aim to water the grass whenever the topsoil is dry to the touch.

This deciduous ornamental grass is native to the United States. It grows in clumps varying in height from two to five feet, with graceful upright stems, which are green in the spring and summer but develop to orange in the fall. It produces flowers that turn into drooping seed heads in late summer, and become tinted with purple later in the year. This elegant grass is tolerant of wet soils, making it ideal for planting in boggy land or by the side of ponds or streams, though it prefers medium moist, well-draining soils. It is one of the most shade tolerant of all ornamental grasses and will thrive in full sun or medium shade. It is an easy-care grass, though it should be cut back to the ground in early spring to make way for the new season’s growth.

This North American native forms circular decorative tufts from narrow arching foliage and is popularly grown in groups. The foliage reaches heights of around 18 inches, but the flowers rise above at up to three feet. The leaves offer year-round interest, being bright green in spring and summer before developing to orange in the fall, and finally golden brown in the winter. The fluffy flower heads are produced in late summer and have a strong scent similar to coriander. The seeds of the flowers drop to the ground in the fall, earning the grass the common name of ‘dropseed.’ This is a drought-tolerant ornamental grass, and so is ideal for use in rock gardens, or in borders and flower beds. It is not fussy about soil type and will grow in almost any soil that drains fairly well. In spite of dropping its seeds, this grass does not self-sow easily and so is not likely to spread or become invasive.

This long-lived perennial grass is native to North America and Mexico. The upright leaves emerge in a shade of blue-green, before developing to bright green over the course of a few weeks. As they age, they become orange, sometimes with a flush of purple. Clusters of flowers appear in late summer, which take the shape of purple turkey feet, and the grass is accordingly sometimes referred to as ‘turkey foot.’ With an average height of between four and six feet, this grass works well to add architectural height to a garden, as well as seasonal changing color. It self seeds easily in ideal conditions, which is typically in a full sun position amongst poor to average soil. Soil, which is too fertile, will cause this grass to become weak. The grass is also tolerant of drought, though it won’t do well in wet conditions, so it should be grown in well-draining soil.

This semi-evergreen grass is native to Mexico and the southern United States. It grows in dense, compact tufts, of between one and two feet in height. The foliage is blue-gray in color during the summer but develops to tan in the fall. The flowers appear in late spring and persist through to fall. They rise above the grass and look like curious miniature brushes. Each flower leans over horizontally, at a right angle to the stem it is joined onto. These flowers are red at first, then fade to pale orange. The flowers give way to seeds, which will disperse and self-sow easily, though they do not tend to become problematic and are easy to keep under control. This grass loves a full sun spot and performs best in poor to average soils. It is tolerant of drought and works well as a dried cut flower.

This aquatic perennial is native to Africa and is famed for being the plant the Ancient Egyptians used to produce paper. This plant loves warm climates, though it can be grown in cooler areas and treated as an annual. It produces firm, upright, triangular stems, from which large umbels appear in an explosive fashion, looking like an array of green fireworks. Each umbel is made up of fine, thread-like strands that burst outwards to create a rounded shape. These eventually develop into brown fruits similar to nuts. As an aquatic plant, papyrus thrives in wet conditions. It can be planted alongside ponds or streams, in boggy terrain, or in a shallow tray which can be frequently topped up with water. It has a vigorous growth habit and reaches great heights quite rapidly. In its natural environment, it will grow to around twelve feet tall, whereas in home gardens, it usually tops out at between three and six feet.

This upright perennial grows natively across much of the globe, including Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. It grows from rhizomes to produce clumps of rounded, vibrant green stems, which sit vertically and very gently fan outwards. In warm climates, the bright green color remains all year round, while in colder regions, it will fade to gold in the fall and brown in the winter. As a plant which thrives in wet soils, the common rush can be grown in boggy soils alongside streams and ponds, but can also be grown in standing water with a maximum depth of four inches. It self seeds easily, and large clumps can be propagated through division in spring or early summer. Common rush thrives in full sun.

This perennial grass, also commonly known as Japanese Silvergrass, is native to eastern Asia. This grass is noted for its feathery plumes, which are produced in abundance at various times throughout summer, depending on the variety. The plumes take various colors when they emerge, including pale pink, purple, and bright red. As the seasons wear on, these airy plumes fade to silver and provide interest throughout winter. This grass is deciduous and will die back in late winter. It should be cut back to the ground in early spring, giving space for new growth to emerge. While many varieties of this grass are sterile, it has become invasive in some parts of the US, and therefore it is recommended to use it with caution unless you are sure it is a sterile cultivar. This grass is drought tolerant and prefers a full sun position in well-draining soil.