Put your hand up if want a pretty winter garden!
Ornamental grasses can make your winter garden look good. They add visual interest to your winter landscape (aka, “winter interest”), and they’re easy to grow.
But how are you supposed to know which grasses to pick? A lot of grasses look similar, right?
In today’s tip, I want to give you a peek at 6 popular ornamental grasses — and what they look like in winter gardens in the semi-arid West. That way, you can start figuring out which ones you like.
Please note, if the conditions are right, some grasses will spread their seeds like a fairy godmother tossing pixie dust. So, there are parts of the country where some of these grasses may be considered invasive. When you buy grasses, ask the store whether they’re allowed where you live.
Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis)
These ornamental grasses have horizontal seed heads that look like eyelashes. Aren’t they so cool?
Blue grama grass tends to hold up very well to winter snowstorms.
Blue grama is the state grass of Colorado. It’s native to many states, and it’s drought tolerant. It happily grows in areas that get just 10 to 15 inches of annual rainfall. So, along the Front Range of Colorado, it shouldn’t need much supplemental watering, if any.
Blue grama grasses could be a great fit for you if:
- You have a dry, sunny spot in your landscape that doesn’t get much moisture
(like a hot, western-facing or southern-facing section of your yard) - You’re planning a low-water landscape (aka, a waterwise garden)
- You’re known to forget to water (no judgment!)
- You want to plant a native grass.
Water this grass well the first season. This helps it get established in your garden.
After that, it shouldn’t require much attention from you.
Pro tip: If your garden gets regular moisture or has a wetter area, blue grama grass may not be the right ornamental grass for you. My understanding is moisture can turn it into a happy seed spreader.
Little Bluestem Grass (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Typically, little bluestem grass grows in an upright shape. This makes it ideal for a variety of smaller settings, like compact gardens.
It doesn’t need much water to thrive, and it can handle clay soils (dirt) like a champ.
Little bluestem has a bluish-green color in the summer. But in the fall and winter, it can turn a reddish-bronze color and get airy seed heads. The winter color will vary slightly by the type of little bluestem you choose. (Some popular selections include: ‘Standing Ovation,’ ‘Blaze’ and ‘Prairie Blues.’)
This lovely grass is native to the majority of the United States, including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.
Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
Switch grass may not be the showiest grass for a winter garden. However, it can be really pretty in the summer and fall, so I couldn’t resist including it on this list. It’s also a native grass to Colorado.
Generally, switch grasses tend to prefer more moisture.
If you’d like a more drought-resistant type, look for the switch grass known as ‘Shenandoah.’ In the fall, its leaf blades turn burgundy. It gets delicate, pink seed heads in the fall. They lose their color in the winter, but they still have a lovely airiness to them.
Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis)
In my opinion, maiden grass is one of the showiest winter grasses. It also likes more water. So, if you live in Colorado, Utah or another part of the semi-arid West, look for spots in your landscape that get more moisture, like near a downspout or in a low area where water gathers.
Maiden grasses often have soft, feathery plumes. In the winter, their plumes look like fluffy feathers spilling out of a pillow. They glow in the winter sun.
Some varieties of maiden grass can grow up to 5 to 6 feet tall and nearly as wide, so plan accordingly when you’re deciding where to plant this grass.
Want a similar size grass that uses less water?
If you’re thinking, “Ooooh, I like this size of maiden grass, but I want an ornamental grass that doesn’t need as much water,” check out giant sacaton grass (Sporobolus wrightii) instead. Giant sacaton is about the same size as maiden grass (it’s big!), but it thrives with very little moisture.
Plus, giant sacaton grass is a regional native. This grass is native to states like Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and California.
Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis)
Feather reed grass is another grass that glows in a winter garden.
There is one type of feather reed grass — known as ‘Karl Foerster’ (pictured above) — that is very popular. You’ll see it in a lot of landscaping around homes and shopping centers.
Feather reed grass grows in an upright direction (like a column), making it a good grass for a smaller garden or a garden with limited space. It’s also very pretty against a darker background, like an evergreen tree or a stained fence.
If you like the look of feather reed grass but you want one that’s more unique, look for Korean feather reed grass instead. The seed plumes are soft and pretty. Korean feather reed grass can grow in partly shady conditions too. In winter, the one drawback to Korean feather reed grass is that it doesn’t stand up as well to heavy snows as some other grasses.
Hardy Pampas Grass (Erianthus ravennae)
Hardy pampas grass is a big guy! It can grow 10-12 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. To show you how tall it can grow, I asked my pawtner-in-crime to join me in the photo below. She wasn’t as excited about the photo opp as I was.
Pampas grass is an interesting grass to consider if you have:
- A big yard that could use a focal point
- A deep garden that could use some height in the back
- An area of your yard where you want to draw your eyes away from something (like an electrical pole)
If you like the look of this ornamental grass but it’s too big for your garden, there are smaller versions of pampas grass too.
Where to learn more about ornamental grasses
The Colorado State University Extension has a helpful fact sheet on ornamental grasses (PDF), including how big different grasses grow, how much water they prefer (dry vs regular irrigation), and how high they can go in elevation.
Related tips that may interest you:
- 9 easy ways to make your garden beautiful in winter
- Why ornamental grasses are a great addition to western gardens
- 3 plants that struggle in western winters (what NOT to plant in your Colorado landscape)
