Ornamental Grasses and Native Grass Lawns

Discover the joy and beauty of ornamental grasses and native grasses. Learn how to use these attractive plants in your garden.

Pancium virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
Item # 74531 		Pancium virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
Heavy Metal Switch Grass

each $8.79
3 to 6 $8.59
or more $8.29

Item # 99582 		'The High Mountain' Native Grass Seed Mix

each $18.95
  • Topic: Ornamental Grasses
  • Author: Mary Ann Walz
  • Keywords: ornamental grasses, native grass lawns
  • Date: April 2004

© All articles are copyrighted by High Country Gardens. Republication is prohibited without Permission.

Ornamental grasses come to us from many parts of the world. Many of our most common varieties originate in Europe and Asia. However, within the past five years or so, there has been a plethora of fantastic new native North American introductions. Native grasses are indigenous to a particular geographic area, which means they can live with the local amount of rainfall—wherever that region is. With the growing interest in native grasses, both for lawns and ornamental settings, it makes sense to use plants that are native to the location where you live.

Native Ornamental grasses such as Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ (Heavy Metal Switchgrass) or Sorgastrum nutans ‘Cheyenne’ (Cheyenne Indiangrass) are great, larger growing additions to landscapes because they provide interest nearly all year long. Grasses come in infinite varieties offering interesting texture, wavering movement, colors that change from summer to fall and a range of heights from a few inches to several feet. When selecting a either a native or adapted ornamental grass, choose a variety that meets your gardening criteria, as their toughness and durability will make them successful most areas in the country.

Ornamental grasses can be incorporated into the perennial garden with an impressive effect. A good example is the Colors and Textures Garden that Lauren Springer designed for High Country Gardens. With a bed heavily planted with different grasses and blooming perennials, it offers easy care with spectacular results.

Adapted (non-native) species can be successfully combined with native species. Grasses of different heights, foliar colors and textures should be interplanted for best effect. Planting Elytrigia elongata ‘Jose Select’ with Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Avena) and native Sporobolus heterolepsis (Prairie Dropseed). Finally, add super-blue Festuca glauca ‘Sea Urchin’ at the outside edge. Interplanting these grass clusters with tall blooming perennials such as Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mountain Penstemon) and Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) adds a splash of color to this textural potpourri of grasses.

For more on ornamental grasses see:

Native grass lawns are not as popular as they ought to be. But given the tenacity and durable nature of these grasses, coupled with an attractive growth habit, they will surely catch on. They’ve finally attracted the attention of the gardening public in the western US because of our prevailing drought. A native grass lawn requires little supplemental water once established, and it’s free of many of the problems associated with more traditional Kentucky Blue grass lawns.

Depending on the type of native grass you select, you can have a turf type lawn or a soft carpet of green with pretty seed heads in late summer. Native grasses can be mown or left uncut to create the look of a natural prairie.

The Traditional Manicured Lawn

If a more traditional manicured lawn is desired, one suggestion is the Legacy® Buffalo Grass. This is a turf-type grass that grows best in medium to heavy textured soils including gooey clay. It is a robust warm season grass that spreads quickly via runners and grows to about 4 to 6 inches in height. It is best suited to areas that receive from 10 to 30 inches of annual precipitation. In order to maintain a pretty green appearance during the heat of summer, it needs about 2 inches of water per month—nearly 75% less water than Kentucky Blue grass. Legacy Buffalo Grass is propagated from cuttings rather than seed so it’s sold in trays of plugs.

For more detailed information about planting Buffalo Grass see this page

The More Natural Prairie Appearance

If a prairie appearance is more to your taste, choose a native grass seed mix then add some perennials.

Blue Grama Grass is another warm season variety that forms a dense turf. It is suited to almost any kind of soil from clay to sand and has care requirements similar to Buffalo grass. It can be mowed but looks particularly beautiful when let go to seed. The distinctive eyelash seed heads add a unique texture and grace to the lawn.

For more detailed information about planting Blue Grama Grass see these pages:

Grasses and Wildflowers

Native grass seed mixtures that contain a variety of different grasses are ideal for landscapes where a more natural appearance is desired. Mixtures will contain grasses that vary in height, texture and color, especially in the fall. Incorporating wildflowers will add beauty and have the added benefit of attracting butterflies. Because there will be some height to this type of lawn, it’s best suited for areas that don’t need a neat appearance. Our Western Trails Native Grass Seed mix is a new introduction this year that is appropriate for most areas west of the Mississippi River.

Going native with ornamental grasses and lawns not only makes good sense from an environmental standpoint, but their easy care gives you more time for other pursuits.