The native
Big bluestem, which can probably grow taller than you, was widespread in the tallgrass prairie that once covered parts of Ohio and other areas of the Midwest.
The blades change color throughout the year — bluish in spring, green in summer and red in fall.
It thrives in wildflower plantings or in groups as a tall screen. Purpurascens miscanthus makes a dramatic statement in a sunny border.
with them because they look similar.
Unlike grasses, which are usually drought-tolerant, many sedges need more water and like some shade — so they can thrive in environments where grasses would falter.
Forms range from sprawling to upright, and colors include green, gold and variegated.
The exotic
Hakone grass, aka Japanese forest grass, forms graceful, arching mounds and is practically a must-have in woodland or Asian-themed gardens. It’s especially
stunning next to water features, where its cascading form evokes waterfalls or flowing water.
Full sun can leave it looking fried, so give it more shade and moisture than other grasses.
The standard-bearer
Utter “ornamental grass,” and a vision of miscanthus, or eulalia, springs to many minds.
aka flame grass, is a particular standout among this group of diverse and popular types. It is versatile and low-maintenance, and the foliage turns glowing bronze-red in autumn. The mighty mite
What blue fescue lacks in stature, it makes up for in toughness. You can almost hear it giggling at harsh sun, drought and rocky soil.
Its spiky, foot-tall clumps of blue-gray blades — suggesting a terrestrial sea urchin, perhaps — make an excellent edging along a path or a focal point in a sunny rock garden.