Japanese forest grass, blue oat grass, and feather reed grass are some of the best ornamental grasses for Wisconsin.
Often drought-tolerant, these ornamental grasses also offer a plethora of textures, heights, and colors to your landscape, adding resilience and visual interest to Badger State gardens. Many ornamental grasses even provide winter interest when the landscape is covered in snow.
In addition to sharing the basics of each grass, I’ll also share my firsthand experience using feather reed grass in a landscape design.
Small (Up to 2 feet)
Blue fescue
Non-native to Wisconsin
Blue fescue (Festuca ovina glauca) is a cool-season ornamental grass with linear silver-blue leaves that turn more of a blue-green in summer. This plant has a clump-type habit with leaves emerging from a central crown. It grows to a height and width of 10 to 12 inches. Even in the snow, the foliage provides winter interest.
Blue fescue flourishes in full sun but can adapt to various conditions. However, plant it in a sunny spot if you’re after its blue color. Additionally, blue fescue doesn’t like wet conditions or areas with high temperatures and humidity.
Landscaping Tip: Blue fescue can be used alone or in groups in rock or rain gardens. It also looks great along flagstone or paver walkways.
Japanese forest grass
Non-Native to Wisconsin
Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) is a lovely perennial grass known for its stunning yellow-gold foliage. This grass grows in clumps up to 2 feet tall, with slender leaves ranging from 1 to 3 feet long on wiry stems (which look like bamboo leaves). These long leaves often lean in the same direction, giving the impression of a cascading waterfall.
Interestingly, the yellow foliage will remain brightest in dappled or partial shade. It will also grow in full sun, but the yellowish-gold foliage will fade. Spreading by underground rhizomes, it’s not invasive and takes a while to become established.
Landscaping Tip: When incorporating Japanese forest grass into your garden, consider pairing it with plants with a bluish hue, such as hostas, or different textures, like ferns or Mugo pine, to enhance its yellow color.
Medium (Up to 4 feet)
Blue oat grass
Non-native to Wisconsin
Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) is a clump-forming, cool-season ornamental grass with wiry, thin leaves about 1/2 inch wide that end in a fine point. This plant grows 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide and has a tall, 4-foot flower plume that grows vertically from its center. Pale blue flowers bloom in midsummer. During the Wisconsin winters, the leaves will die back.
Blue oat grass is close in appearance to blue fescue, but blue oat grass is taller, has sturdier blades, and has a steel-blue color. If you plant this in your garden, it is best used in a rock garden, lining a walkway, or in front of taller plants.
Fountain grass
Non-native to Wisconsin
Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) is a beautiful ornamental grass that comes back every year. Its long, green blades arise out of a clump and arch like a fountain. Depending upon the variety, it can grow 1 to 4 feet tall. In the fall, the leaves turn orangey-bronze and then fade to a dull beige in the winter.
Fountain grass does well in full sun. It can tolerate partial shade but won’t flower to its fullest. Once established, fountain grass is drought-tolerant and prefers dry soil.
My Tip: In your yard, fountain grass looks best when planted in odd numbers: one, three, or five. When planted alone, it is a striking focal point. When planted in groups of three or five, it creates a lush mass of texture and adds visual interest.
If you’re looking for plant material to add along the foreground of fountain grass, check out our article: “The Best Ground Cover Plants for Wisconsin.”
Little bluestem
Native to Wisconsin
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a clumping warm-season grass with silver-blue leaves that grows in mounds reaching 1 to 2 feet high. Late in the summer or early fall, this prairie native produces fluffy flowering stems that range in color from white to blue or silvery-gold and grow up to 5 feet tall (but typically only 3-4 feet).
Once little bluestem becomes established, it is drought-tolerant due to its deep roots. Interestingly enough, soils influence its behavior. In rich soil, it will grow taller. In infertile, dry soils, it is prone to flop over later in the season.
Landscaping Tip: If you want a prairie-type look in your garden, install this plant with black-eyed Susan, a summer perennial with bright yellow petals and a black center. They are both around the same height.
Tufted hairgrass
Native to Wisconsin
Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa) is a clump-forming grass with delicate, fine-textured leaves. Depending on the cultivar, it can reach 2 to 3 feet and is among the first grasses to flower in spring. This is a great ornamental if you’re searching for shade-loving grasses, as it prefers partial sun or shade.
Look for the light, airy flower clusters to arrive in late May. They are fun to watch as they shift colors — from green to yellow to gold. As for the soil, tufted hairgrass prefers moist soil. Avoid full sun as it will discolor the foliage.
Landscaping Tip: In a landscape design, consider using tufted hairgrass with hostas and ferns. The varying textures will make a visual treat for your shady areas.
Tall (Up to 6 feet)
Feather reed grass
Non-native to Wisconsin
Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) is an ornamental grass with glossy, deep green grass blades that emerge in the spring. This cool-season perennial typically grows 2 to 3 feet high and less than 2 feet wide. During early summer, it produces tall tan plumes (flower heads) that rise above the plant’s foliage, extending its total height to 5 to 6 feet.
Feather reed grass thrives in full sun or partial shade. As far as soil goes, plant it in a spot with well-drained but fertile soil. Once it is established, it is drought-tolerant. Look to this plant if your garden needs a little winter interest.
Firsthand experience: How I used feather reed grass in a landscape design
As a landscape designer, I once developed a landscape plan for parking lot islands using feather reed grass, shrub roses, and lavender. For the arrangement, I decided on a tiered layout in the center median: feather reed grass down the middle, with pink shrub roses and lavender planted in rows on either side.
The juxtaposition of the tall grass with its tan plumes and the shorter, stubbier pink roses and pale lavender resulted in a stunning and intricate arrangement.
Switchgrass
Native to Wisconsin
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a native prairie grass often used in the garden as an ornamental grass. It forms a dense, columnar habit with stiff, narrow leaves. Depending upon the cultivar, there might be variations in height, tolerance to cold, and moisture. However, they typically grow to a height of about 2 1/2 to 5 feet.
Switchgrass loves full sun but can tolerate partial shade (although in too much shade, it may flop over). It is very effective in preventing soil erosion. Providing year-round interest for the garden, it’s best planted in groups en masse and looks great towards the rear of perennial borders.
More lawn care and landscaping resources for Wisconsin
Lawn care:
- The Best Time to Dethatch Your Lawn in Wisconsin
- The Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn in Wisconsin
- The Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Wisconsin
- When Does Grass Stop Growing in Wisconsin?
- Month-to-Month Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar
- The Best Grass Seed for Wisconsin Lawns
Clover lawns:
Weeds and pests:
- When to Apply Crabgrass Preventer in Wisconsin
- The Most Common Weeds in Wisconsin
- When to Apply Weed and Feed in Wisconsin
- When to Apply Grub Control in Wisconsin
- The Best Weed and Feed for Wisconsin Lawns
FAQ
Should I cut back ornamental grasses?
Yes, it’s important to cut back the entire clump to a height of 2 to 6 inches from the ground. The best time to do this is in early spring, typically around March to April. There is a misconception that cutting back should be done in the fall because it cleans up the plant for winter. But doing this means you’ll miss the winter interest they offer and reduce winter habitat for local wildlife.
For more information, check out our article: “How and When to Cut Ornamental Grasses.”
Should I wear gloves to cut back ornamental grasses?
Yes, wear gloves when handling ornamental grasses, as their sharp edges can easily cut your hands, especially when dealing with tall, wide clumps.
What are the benefits of ornamental grasses?
Ornamental grasses offer many benefits to your landscape, including interesting textures, heights, and colors. In addition, ornamental grasses:
- Control erosion
- Are often drought-tolerant
- Provide a food source and habitat for wildlife
- Are low maintenance
- Can be used as a buffer planting in the landscape
- May offer winter interest when other plants have gone dormant
Call in the pros
Having a stunning garden filled with a variety of plants is incredibly fulfilling. The visual appeal of different plant heights, textures, colors, and the graceful movement of the ornamental grasses as they sway in the wind is truly delightful.
If you want to enhance your Wisconsin garden with ornamental grasses, hire a local gardening service to bring your landscaping ideas to fruition.
Main Image Credit: Matt Lavin | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0
