ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

Grasses are adaptable enough to thrive in a wide variety of sites. Although most prefer full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, there are ornamental grasses for shade, moist areas, slopes and sandy soil.

The best time for planting ornamental grasses is during the last two weeks of May. Late October and November is a good planting time, too. Grasses are in abundant supply during the fall giving gardeners an opportunity to make use of their line, form, texture and movement of these picturesque plants.

Grasses can be intermingled easily with trees, shrubs and other perennials. They are particularly effective when outlined by the sun, or backlit at night with special lighting.

The following chart highlights grasses suitable for full sun and partial shade.

Grasses that prefer full sun are identified by
and grasses that tolerate partial shade are identified by .

Ornamental grasses available at Pasquesi Home and Gardens:

Latin Name	Common Name	Height	Comments	Sun or shade?
Andropogon scoparius	Little Bluestem	2’-3’	Silvery-white blooms appear in late summer. Blue-green foliage turns red-bronze in fall. Performs well in dry soils.
Andropogon gerardi	Big Bluestem or Turkeyfoot	4’-6’	Blooms late summer. Bright silvery-blue foliage turns red-tones in fall. Produces red seed heads in fall. Very drought tolerant.
Brizia	Quaking Grass	2’-3’	Small, purple heart-shaped seed heads appear in spring. Foliage forms a willowy, low, green tuft. Makes an ideal cutting flower.
Calamagrostis	Reed Grass	Up to 7’ tall depending on variety.	A long-bloomer, flowering from summer to winter. One of the most attractive and versatile plants. Very hardy and requires little attention. Tolerates dry, wet or heavy soils. Look for "Overdam", a 3-4’ tall erect plant with slender variegated foliage. Its plumes change to gold from pink as it matures.
Chasmanthium	Northern Seas Oats	3’	Blooms from spring through to summer. A good cutting plant. Its clumping, bamboo-like foliage darkens if grown in the shade. Summer’s green seed heads turn copper in fall.
Deschampsia	Tufted Hair Grass	Up to 5’ tall depending on variety.	Blooms in summer with large, lacy clusters of flowers that resemble a cloud above dense, dark green foliage. Very durable plant.
Elymus	Wild Rye, Lyme Grass	2’-3’	Blooms late summer with tall, yellow flower clusters. Metallic blue-gray foliage forms vigorous ground cover. Very adaptable to all soil conditions.
Festuca glauca	Blue Fescue	6"-10"	Blooms in summer. Ideal for edging, rock gardens or mass plantings. Evenly-rounded domes of steel-blue foliage. Tolerates dry, infertile soil. Insignificant flowers
Helictotrichon	Oat Grass	2’	Blooms early summer. Clumping grass with stiff, blue-gray foliage. Retains color until fall. Insignificant flowers.
Miscanthus	Silver Grass, Maiden Grass	Up to 8’ tall depending on variety.	Blooms from August to September. Blooms retain showy plumes throughout the winter. Tolerant of most soils. Requires good drainage. Look for "Variegatus" Japanese Silver Grass with graceful cream and green, striped leaves.
Molinia	Purple Moor Grass	Up to 8’ tall depending on variety.	Tall, adaptable grass blooms in summer. Bluish-gray foliage with purple panicles in summer.
Panicum	Switch Grass	Up to 6’ tall depending on variety.	Blooms from July to August with airy, fine textured panicles that change from red to purple. Drought tolerant.
Pennisetum	Fountain Grass	Up to 4’ tall depending on variety.	Graceful, slender foliage arches to create fountain-like mounds. Blooms in late summer to fall with 5-6" tall pinkish-white flower spikes that mature to a deep rose color.
Phalaris	Ribbon Grass	2’-3’	Grown for its bright green and white striped foliage. Foliage can be cut for flower arrangements. Insignificant flowers. Tolerates wet areas.
Sesleria	Moor Grass	12"-18"	Bright yellow-green foliage. Silver spikes form from mid-summer to fall. Very drought tolerant.
Sporobolus	Prairie Dropseed	2’-3’	Narrow leafed, fragrant native grass. Very attractive in bloom and seed. Blooms in summer.

Pasquesi Home and Gardens is Chicagoland's premier resource for gardeners wanting to create a perfect atmosphere. We have a vast selection of plants, many of them rare and unusual. Our qualified, professional staff is ever-willing to share their knowledge with customers needing advice.

Pasquesi Home and Gardens is a complete resource for gardening, home and pet supplies. There are hundreds of beautiful accents for the home and out-of-doors, and Pasquesi Home and Gardens has an unrivaled collection of containers for indoors and outdoors in many different styles, materials and shapes. Both stores carry a wide range of quality garden tools and outdoor furniture.