Sally Scalera

Brevard County Horticulture Extension Agent
3695 Lake Drive -- Cocoa FL 32926 -- 321-633-1702

Ornamental grasses

Nov. 1, 2008

My favorite ornamental grass, commonly called muhly grass, is blooming now and, if it is backlit by the setting sun, it is gorgeous. Ornamental grasses are a wonderful addition to the landscape because they don’t require a lot of care and many of them have attractive plumes.

A popular ornamental grass used throughout Florida for years is pampas grass. Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) also makes a great barrier because the foliage has saw-toothed margins so that if you try to walk through them (or if you are working in them) they will give you tiny little cuts which will start burning if you start sweating. So, wear long sleeves and pants if you will be working in or around them. Pampas grass can grow 6-10 tall and loves a location that receives full sun. The large plumes can get 12-18 inches tall and usually start appearing in mid-summer. It can tolerate poorly draining soil and brief flooding.

Fakahatchee grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) does best in full sun but can tolerate partial shady locations. It has moderate drought tolerance and can tolerate occasionally wet soils. It can grow 4-6 feet tall with an equal spread and has moderate salt spray tolerance. The cream/orange/red/yellow flowers are really interesting as they dangle from their stalk.

‘Hameln’ fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’) is a dwarf fountain grass that grows 2-3 feet tall with an equal spread. The white blooms are produced throughout the summer and fall. You can plant them in full sun and any soil type plus,they have a high drought tolerance.

Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is a native grass which produces dense clumps that can grow 2-5 feet tall with a 2-3 foot spread. Beautiful pink plumes, which are produced in autumn, are held above the thin leaves. It can be planted in locations that receive full sun and makes an attractive mass planting when they are planted two feet apart. This grass can also handle sandy soil with a pH ranging from slightly acidic to alkaline. uhly grass can also tolerate extreme flooding as well as drought. For those of you over on the beaches it also has a high salt tolerance. Just remember, the flower heads are their prettiest when they are backlit by the sun.

Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectablilis) is another native grass that does great in full sun, dry soils and has a high drought tolerance. It also grows quickly to a height of 1-3 feet with an equal spread. This ornamental grass has small red/purple flowers all year but the peak bloom is in the fall. It actually grows best in hot, dry sites.

Sand cordgrass (Spartina bakeri) is another native grass which can grow 4-6 feet and can be used in mass plantings or as a visual screen. Sand cordgrass does best in full sun and sandy soils. For those of you living along the shore line it also has a high tolerance to salt spray. Therefore, it is wonderful for beach-front areas. Sand cordgrass produces tan flowers in the summer and can grow in brackish areas or on the dunes.

Saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens) is a native mat forming grass which can be found near rivers or on the dunes. It grows to a height of 1-2 feet but often lays down along the ground when it becomes thick or if it is growing in a windy location.

These are just a few of the ornamental grasses that can add interesting textures and color to the landscape. Whether they are used as a backdrop, screen, groundcover, or accent, ornamental grasses could make an attractive addition to any yard.