Ornamental grasses are great if you are looking to make a statement in your landscaping, or fill in some empty spaces that just need a little extra pizzazz. The below ornamental grasses are the perfect solution.

Ornamental grasses are a bold statement in your garden and landscape and add color, texture, and movement. With many varieties available for a range of growing zones it’s easy to find plants that suit your taste.

After the initial planting, ornamental grasses are usually easy to care for. They need watered when they are dry and cut back in late fall or early spring to promote new growth in the coming season.

Ornamental grasses work really well as border plants or edging. Their size and shape also lends them to filling in narrow spaces well.

If you’re looking to add some ornamental grasses to your garden or landscape here are 10 popular varieties:

Top 10 Types of Ornamental Grasses

• Bamboo
• Blue Fescue
• Blue Oat Grass
• Dwarf Pampas Grass
• Feather Reed Grass
• Japanese Forest Grass
• Maiden Grass
• Purple Fountain Grass
• Rush Grass
• Zebra Grass

Bamboo

Most people don’t consider bamboo when thinking about ornamental grasses, even though it is a member of the grass family.

It grows upright, and quickly, making it a great addition to new landscapes or gardens that warrant quick establishment.

Blue Fescue

A small ornamental grass, blue fescue is commonly used at the base of tall, leggy shrubs, as accents or edging, or as ground cover when planted in masses.

Blue fescue grows to be about 6-10” tall and about as wide.

It does well in a variety of zones but prefers full to partial sun and well drained soil. The bluish foliage looks best in early summer; trim seed heads off plants to keep them looking compact and neat.

Blue Oat Grass

The steel blue color of blue oat grass sets it apart from other ornamental grasses.

An easy to grow grass, blue oat grass has a mounded shape that gives it a unique look. Blue oat grass also won’t spread and take over your garden.

Dwarf Pampas Grass

A medium sized ornamental grass, dwarf pampas grass grows to about 4-5’ tall and produces beautiful, showy, white plumes in the late summer and fall.

Dwarf pampas grass is one of the showiest ornamental grasses, loves full sun, and is resistant to deer and rabbits.

Feather Reed Grass

One of the most popular ornamental grasses, feather reed-grass tolerates many different growing conditions. It grows to approximately 6-8’ in height, 2-3’ in width, and tends to grow upright and straight.

Many grasses arch outward so this erectness gives it an architectural advantage over some of the others. By midsummer seed-heads mature to a deep golden color and remain attractive well into the fall and winter.

Japanese Forest Grass

This graceful ground cover almost looks like a miniature version of bamboo: having bright yellow leaves with thin green stripes. As the weather cools in the fall the foliage takes on a tinge of pink.

Japanese forest grass is slow growing and is best suited for partially shaded locations. It grows to about 18-24” tall; the arching leaf blades gracefully re-touching the ground.

Maiden Grass

Growing 6-10’ tall and 3-5’ wide, these easy to grow, arching ornamental grasses are popular in landscapes.

Maiden Grass has narrow foliage that comes in a variety of colors – from green-and-white striped, to yellow striped, dark green or greenish white – and silvery plumage that catches the light.

Purple Fountain Grass

The beautiful burgundy-red foliage of purple fountain grass makes it a favorite among gardeners. Its stunning color is present all season long and blooms in midsummer.

Plants grow to about 3’ tall and do best in full sun locations with well drained soil. It is a tender perennial and is often grown as an annual in cooler climates.

Rush Grass

A perfect option for wet, poorly drained soils, rush thrives in damp conditions and produces richly colored, grass like foliage.

It does well in full sun and grows to a height of 18-24” tall.

Zebra Grass

If you’re looking for something that really stands out in your garden, zebra grass is a great option. Each blade features a series of bright yellow bands, giving it a striped appearance.

It is smaller in stature than some ornamental grasses (growing up to 5’ tall) and has an upright habit that makes it look great in borders.

It is also known as porcupine grass.

Benefits of Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses add an architectural element to garden and landscapes. Their movement, color and texture set them apart from other garden plants giving them a unique place in garden designs.

With many different colors and shapes available to choose from, it’s easy to find one that fits your garden style.

With more and more people taking it upon themselves to start an indoor garden and grow their own plants and vegetables, it’s no surprise that growing spaces are finding their place inside. At the same time people are becoming more cognizant of indoor air quality, and also designing living spaces that focus on tranquility.

This makes indoor gardening a great concept to implement: plants will recycle air through their natural processes, improving air quality and the green space they contribute to décor is attributed as being soothing and peaceful. Plus there’s the benefit of fresh produce available right in your home.

Planning an Indoor Garden

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning an indoor garden. Some of the biggest considerations to factor in are how much space is available to work with, will you be doing hydroponics, how much natural sunlight is available, and which plants you’d like to grow. Space is a severely limiting factor in indoor gardening; it’s not possible to move walls or snap your fingers and gain square footage inside the home.

We are constricted, literally and figuratively, by the walls around us. Sometimes designing an indoor garden means getting creative with the space available. If lighting is conducive, indoor containers can be placed on windowsills, on top of cabinets and the refrigerator, or placed on tiered racks to maximum vertical space.

When lights for indoor gardening aren’t optimal for plant growth it may necessitate buying specific lighting optimized for plant growth. Indoor garden lights come in many options: varying sizes and outputs, within a wide range of costs to meet almost every budget. The AeroGarden Ultra (LED) with Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit will provide plants with the correct lighting and growing environment. This will keep plants healthy and vibrant without becoming spindly or leggy from lack of sunshine.

Plants for an Indoor Garden

In terms of plants, some people choose to grow ornamental plants only; creating a lush, green space full of colorful blossoms and beautiful scents. Others mix ornamentals with herbs and vegetables. Some choose to focus solely on edible plants to reap extra benefits.

Those that are really ambitious put together indoor gardens consisting of a myriad of plants, sometimes mixing ornamentals, herbs, and veggies. With a range of plants to choose from, it’s easy to tailor an indoor garden to the specific desires of a homeowner. For someone with little to no previous gardening experience, an indoor herb garden can be a good, simple starting point.

They can be grown in small containers and require little maintenance; easy to fit on a windowsill and easy to reap the benefits. Those that are more adventurous can grow an indoor vegetable garden containing tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, beans, eggplant, broccoli, carrots, radishes, and peppers – all of these species are relatively easy to grow indoors. Squash, cucumbers and melons also grow well inside but the spreading vines will need more space than upright plants, and could easily take over a small area creating more of a jungle feel in your home than intended!

Growing an Indoor Garden

Once the types of plants (and quantity) are chosen the garden containers and potting soil can be purchased. Mix and match a variety of colors, sizes, and textures to create visual interest and compliment the home’s décor, or pick a single theme to create continuity and uniformity. The only limitation here is budget and imagination.

Use the biggest pot/pots possible to keep the soil from drying out as fast but keep in mind the larger pots will require more soil to fill them. Styrofoam can be cut into discs and placed into the bottom of pots to help fill some of the space, placing potting soil on top for the plants to grow in. Upcycling old items (wagons, wash tubs, barrels, etc.) for use as containers is a creative way to reduce supply costs and can add interest and whimsy to an indoor garden.

Make sure though, that any items upcycled for containers have drainage holes, yet will adequately hold soil. If necessary take newspapers and line the inside of containers to prevent soil from falling out.

When you begin planting, keep in mind proper plant spacing to encourage optimum growth and adequate air circulation. It’s tempting to plant seedlings/seeds closer together to maximize limited space but refrain. Giving plants the space they need will results in hardier, healthier plants and decrease the chance of diseases.

After plants are nestled securely into the potting soil, water the containers thoroughly, as often as moisture is needed. The goal is to keep the potting soil from drying out completely, stressing the plant, yet not allowing them to sit in waterlogged soil. Plants will require more frequent watering in warmer months and in dryer climates.

An indoor garden kit and self-watering systems can be purchased to help take the guesswork out of a watering schedule, and tend to plants when you are on vacation or out of town for a few days. In addition to ensuring your containers have enough sunlight and are properly watered it’s important to fertilize periodically to provide ample nutrients. Here are some tips on choosing the best fertilizer for gardens. Continuously watch for harmful pests (treating when necessary), and prune back tattered leaves and spent blooms to encourage new growth.

Being limited on outdoor space doesn’t mean having to forego gardening. With some ingenuity, it is possible to design a beautiful indoor garden space capable of purifying the air in your home, creating a serene, tranquil environment to enjoy and providing edible herbs and produce to savor.