When it comes to creating a visually stunning and low-maintenance landscape, ornamental grasses are an excellent choice. Not only do they add texture, movement, and color to your garden, but they also provide habitats for wildlife. But with so many varieties available, choosing the right combination can be overwhelming. Let’s explore some ornamental grasses that look good together, creating harmonious and eye-catching displays.
Ornamental grasses can be categorized into warm-season and cool-season types based on their growth patterns. Understanding this distinction will help you create a balanced and attractive garden that looks great throughout the year.
Warm-Season Ornamental Grasses
Warm-season grasses thrive in full sun and become most vibrant during the summer months. They add a lush, tropical feel to your garden and provide a stunning contrast to cool-season grasses.
When selecting warm-season grasses, consider their height, texture, and color to create a cohesive look. Here are two popular warm-season grasses that pair well together:
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’)
This upright, clumping grass features narrow, green leaves and showy, feathery plumes that turn a golden hue in fall. Growing up to 8 feet tall, it makes an impressive statement in the garden. Pair it with shorter grasses to create a striking contrast.
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass looks particularly stunning when planted alongside shorter, mounding grasses like ‘Blue Fescue’ (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’). The soft, blue-green foliage and compact habit of ‘Blue Fescue’ provide a beautiful contrast to the towering, golden plumes of Karl Foerster.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Switchgrass is a versatile, native grass that comes in various heights and colors. Its airy, flower-like seed heads add texture and movement to the garden, turning a beautiful golden hue in fall. Switchgrass pairs well with other native plants and can create a stunning, low-maintenance meadow when planted en masse.
For a striking combination, consider planting Switchgrass ‘Heavy Metal’ (Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’) alongside Switchgrass ‘Northwind’ (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’). ‘Heavy Metal’ features narrow, blue-green leaves and airy, silver seed heads, while ‘Northwind’ boasts wider, green leaves and more robust, golden seed heads. This combination creates a beautiful contrast in color, texture, and height.
Cool-Season Ornamental Grasses
Cool-season grasses are at their best during spring and fall, providing early-season color and structure to the garden. They often have a more delicate appearance than warm-season grasses and can add a soft, romantic feel to your landscape.
When selecting cool-season grasses, consider their growth habit, color, and texture to create a harmonious look. Here are two cool-season grasses that pair well together:
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum)
Fountain Grass is a clumping grass with arching, narrow leaves that cascade downward, creating a waterfall effect. Its airy, fluffy plumes add texture and movement to the garden and turn a beautiful golden hue in fall. Fountain Grass pairs well with other mounding or cascading plants and can add a touch of elegance to your garden.
For a striking combination, plant Fountain Grass ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) alongside ‘Blue Fescue’ (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’). The cascading, reddish-purple foliage of ‘Rubrum’ provides a beautiful contrast to the compact, blue-green foliage of ‘Blue Fescue’. This combination creates a stunning display of color and texture that looks great throughout the growing season.
Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora)
Feather Reed Grass is a clumping grass with narrow, green leaves and showy, feathery plumes that turn a golden hue in fall. It’s a versatile grass that can add texture and movement to the garden and pairs well with other grasses and perennials. When selecting Feather Reed Grass, consider its height and growth habit to create a cohesive look in your garden.
Feather Reed Grass looks particularly stunning when planted alongside ‘Blue Fescue’ (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’). The upright, golden plumes of Feather Reed Grass provide a beautiful contrast to the compact, blue-green foliage of ‘Blue Fescue’. This combination creates a striking display of color and texture that looks great in both formal and informal garden settings.
When designing your garden with ornamental grasses, don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations. Consider the height, texture, and color of each grass, and plant them in groups to create a cohesive look. By selecting grasses that complement each other, you’ll create a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that looks great throughout the year. Happy gardening!
