Ornamental grasses: the go-to choice for low-maintenance landscape
It’s no surprise that, year after year, grasses are our most in-demand perennial. When you think about it, you can find a grass for nearly any site, whether it’s sunny, shady, wet, or dry. And when planted in the right location, grasses are practically no-maintenance.
One of my favorite grasses is Panicum ‘Cheyenne Sky’, a Proven Winners variety and part of the Prairie Winds® series. I like it because it bulks up much more quickly than ‘Shenandoah’ and takes on its stunning red color in early summer. It also stays relatively short and sturdy, only reaching up to 3’ tall without flowers, making it a tough grass that doesn’t get knocked over easily.
Carex pensylvanica is a great native choice for dry, shady sites. I love the texture it creates when planted en masse, and it works well as a lawn substitute where there won’t be much foot traffic. Carex ‘Ice Dance’ is another terrific choice for the shade garden. The arching foliage makes it perfect for lining a walkway. This winter was pretty mild, and our crop of ‘Ice Dance’ looked great going into spring; we didn’t even need to cut it back. It is very sensitive to overwatering, so a well-drained site is essential.
Of course, you can’t talk about grasses and not mention prairie dropseed. Kind of like the Carex pensylvanica for sunny sites, Sporobolus heterolepis was once a major part of our native Midwestern prairies. Since it’s a warm season grass, it takes a few weeks to get going in the spring, but, once established, you can’t find a more low-maintenance perennial than Sporobolus. It’s drought tolerant and, like Carex pensylvanica, makes a great lawn alternative. Sporobolus ‘Tara’ has become nearly as popular as the species. This more compact and upright cultivar is just as drought-tolerant and low maintenance, and is even featured in Lurie Garden in Millennium Park in Chicago. The only controversial thing about Sporobolus is probably the scent.
Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ is always our top-selling perennial, not to mention our top-selling grass. Since it grows up to 6’ tall, you can use ‘Karl Foerster’ as a backdrop in any perennial garden that gets consistent moisture. The biggest drawback of Calamagrostis is probably its susceptibility to rust, especially during long periods of wet weather. I also like ‘Overdam’, the variegated form of ‘Karl Foerster’, which adds just one more texture and color to the landscape and can tolerate part shade. Even though we don’t have any more for this season, I personally love Calamagrostis brachytricha: Korean Feather Reed Grass. Although it’s a warm season grass, our overwintered crop was one of the first things to fill out this spring. The arching, fountain-like foliage really makes a charming addition to the landscape, and this is one of the few large grasses that will actually flower in part shade.
Every plant has its role in the garden, but grasses are great for situations where you want to plant something and forget about it. They look great all season long, whether or not they’re in bloom, and there are many native options to choose from, especially if you are looking for a sustainable alternative to a traditional lawn. You can find grasses that look great on their own, massed, as a specimen, or as a backdrop to other perennials. This is probably why we can never have enough grasses in stock and why we plant more and more every year.
