Grasses
Acorus americanus
Prehistoric, hydrophilic species of ancient monocot with strappy medium green foliage that emits a pleasant aroma when crushed. Spadix-like structures lacking spathes emerge between June and July. Great for bioremediation and restoration projects where soils are regularly moist or over-saturated. Deer resistant.
H: 30 Inches · S: 30 Inches · Zone: 3
Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus'
Dwarf Golden Sweet Flag is a wonderful plant for walkways as well as rain gardens and stream edges, because it is tolerant of foot traffic as well as significant moisture. The evergreen foliage is like tiny thick bladed grass tufts and when crushed, it releases an attractive sweet scent. The tufts slowly expand to make a short yellowish green mat. Although it looks like a grass, Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus' is actually more closely related to the Iris family.
H: 4 Inches · S: 8 Inches · Zone: 5
Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'
'Ogon' Sweet Flag has bright yellow stiffly upright leaves that are a vivid addition to a wet site in the shade. The clumps of Acorus 'Ogon' get larger with age. This Sweet Flag is evergreen so it provides great winter interest. Introduced into the US by Barry Yinger. Per Diane Guidone formerly of Rumson, NJ, Acorus withstood salt inundation in the recent hurricanes really well.
H: 16 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 5
Andropogon gerardii 'Blackhawks' PP27949
Reddish turkey foot inflorescences in August turn to silvery seedheads in fall. Foliage takes on deep purple hues in August and September. Important food source for song birds in fall and winter.
H: 60 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 4
Andropogon gerardii 'Red October' PP26283
'Red October' Big Bluestem is an exciting color breakthrough for this tough native grass. The leaves are tipped with burgundy and held on tall upright green stems in summer. The fall the foliage turns a bright scarlet red for several weeks after the first frost. 'Red October' also has red turkey-foot-shaped seed, particularly showy when backlit. The sturdy upright stems are an attractive tan in winter. An important food source for winter birds. Introduced by Intrinsic Perennials.
H: 60 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 3
Andropogon glomeratus
Warm season grass with silvery pink, fluffy, brush-like inflorescences and following seedheads starting in September and persisting through much of winter into February or March. Strappy blue-green leaf blades turn a nice bronzy-orange in autumn and remain colorful into the winter. Showy seedheads are good for dried or fresh arrangements. Prefers moist to wet soil conditions. Tolerant of black walnut and air pollution.
H: 60 Inches · S: 30 Inches · Zone: 5
Andropogon ternarius
Native warm-season grass that is great for adding height to a variety of landscapes. Attractive late season color. Tolerant of part shade, drought, coastal conditions.
H: 36 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 6
Andropogon ternarius 'Black Mountain'
Silver inflorescences on reddish stems in fall follow the blue green summer foliage. Very tolerant of poor soils and dry sites.
H: 36 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 6
Andropogon virginicus
Broom-sedge or Beardgrass is a tough native grass that adds great beauty to sterile, dry meadows and open fields. The green upright stems take on shades of reddish burgundy in September, as they are coming into flower. The seedheads are an airy silver displayed all along the grass stems, and are particularly stunning when backlit by afternoon light. The fall and winter color of the strong upright stems is a bright ornage tan
H: 36 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 5
Bouteloua curtipendula
Tan seedheads with pendant oat-like seeds are displayed over green blades in mid to late summer. Showy in mass and tolerant of dry sterile soils. Fall color is often attractive.
H: 30 Inches · S: 20 Inches · Zone: 3
Bouteloua gracilis
Native warm-season grass with persistent, unique looking inflorescences that remain upright from their arrival in late June and persist deep into winter. Highly drought tolerant, adaptable to poor soils, occasional mowing, and light foot traffic. Lawn alternative.
H: 14 Inches · S: 20 Inches · Zone: 3
Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' PP22048
'Blonde Ambition' Blue Grama is a lovely low maintenance native grass which has unusually shaped inflorescences. The orange to straw colored flowers are held horizontally off the stems, so that they look like tiny feathers. This is especially lovely when back lit by afternoon sun. When planted in mass, Bouteloua 'Blonde Ambition' can serve as an infrequently mowed lawn, since it does best in full sun. It was introduced by David Salman of High Country Gardens, and brought to our attention by Steve Castorani of North Creek Nurseries.
H: 24 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 4
Briza media
The beautiful seed heads of Quaking Grass start appearing in June and are a wonderful addition to cut and dry flower arrangements. Seed heads make a lovely sound in the wind. Prefers a dry, well drained site.
H: 24 Inches · Zone: 4
Calamagrostis brachytricha
Korean Feather Reed Grass has beautiful airy pinkish inflorescences in September, above strong green foliage. It is shade and moist site tolerant and blooms much later than other Feather Reed Grasses.
H: 48 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 4
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' has tan seedheads, is early blooming and has an upright habit. A 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year, 'Karl Foerster' Feather Reed Grass was named after our friend Tim Foerster's cousin, the great German nurseryman. Winter foliage is a pale tan, and 'Karl Foerster' shows excellent salt tolerance. Karl Foerster found this lovely spontaneous cross at the Hamburg Botanical Gardens.
H: 48 Inches · S: 24 Inches · Zone: 4
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam'
'Overdam' Feather Reed Grass has green and white foliage and tan upright inflorescences. Thriving in both sun and shade, this is one of our favorite grasses. Winter color is a whitish tan.
H: 36 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 4
Carex albicans
Insignificant green flower spikes emerge above thread-like arching green leaves in May. The fine semi-evergreen foliage makes a great lawn substitute for shady locations.
H: 20 Inches · S: 20 Inches · Zone: 4
Carex amphiloba
Eastern Narrowleaf sedge is an attractive green fine bladed native which thrives in both moist and dry shady sites. The habit is somewhat upright and Carex amphiloba forms a compact evergreen clump. This shiny green sedge makes an excellent substitute for Liriope; especially in gardens where "Native" is the choice.
H: 12 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 3
Carex appalachica
Appalachian Sedge is a fine-textured green clump-forming Carex that performs really well in very shady dry woodlands. The habit is arching, like a green fountain, so Appalachian Sedge is particularly attractive in mixed shade containers.
H: 12 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 3
Carex cherokeensis
Cherokee Sedge is an increasingly rare native that tolerates a wide range of conditions throughout the Southeast. The fine green foliage is fountain-like in habit, and the clumps slowly widen to make a natural looking groundcover. It tolerates dry conditions but is happiest in moist sites. Since it is deer resistant as well as at home in both sun and shade, this Carex deserves more usage. Avoid hard cutback.
H: 18 Inches · S: 12 Inches · Zone: 6
Carex divulsa
Narrow green leaves arch out from central clumps. A low maintenance alternative to grass in sun or shade. Deer resistant and tolerant of a wide range of conditions.
H: 15 Inches · S: 30 Inches · Zone: 4
Carex eburnea
Native cool season sedge perfect for adding a soft textural accent to the shady rock garden. Can be used as an accent, groundcover, or lawn alternative. Deer and heavy shade resistant.
H: 8 Inches · S: 8 Inches · Zone: 2
Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger'
'Blue Zinger' Glaucous Sedge has beautiful grayish blue foliage that is similar in color to Festuca 'Elijah Blue', but 'Blue Zinger' is much more tolerant of different sites, going from shade to full sun. Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger' spreads rapidly to make a good tight groundcover.
H: 6 Inches · S: 18 Inches · Zone: 4
