Ornamental Grasses

If you're looking for something different in your landscape, ornamental grasses can't be beat for their variety and versatility.

The term "ornamental grass" refers to true grasses, as well as other plants that have a grass-like appearance.

Ornamental grasses offer something for everyone, whether it's as groundcover, a border, or accent plants.

Ornamental grasses are either clump-forming or creeping. Clump-forming grasses are also called bunch grasses. They grow in compact tufts, with their bases gradually increasing in size. Creeping grasses are also called running and spreading grasses.

Ornamental grasses can be annual or perennial, and come in a wide range of sizes, from a few inches to many feet in height. They come in different colors and textures, and many have attractive flowers.

UF/IFAS Sites

• An Introduction to Ornamental Grass and Grasslikes for Southern Gardeners
• Aztec Grass
• Florida Plant ID: Gamma Grass
• Ornamental Grasses
• Polk County FYN: Ornamental Grasses
• Try Dressing Up Your Garden With Ornamental Grass

UF/IFAS Publications

• Considerations for Selections and Use of Ornamental Grasses
• Ornamental Grasses for Every Landscape (PDF)

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Bamboo Muhly
• Border Grasses
• Fakahatchee Grass
• Lemongrass
• Lovegrass
• Maiden Grass
• Muhly Grass
• Pampas Grass
• Pruning Ornamental Grasses
• Purple Fountain Grass
• River Oats
• Rock Gardens
• Showstopping Ornamental Grasses

Other Sites

• Grass List--Floridata.com
• Ornamental Grass--University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
• Ornamental Grasses--Clemson (SC) Extension
• Ornamental Grasses--Leu Gardens, Orlando, FL (PDF)
• Ornamental Grasses Fit in Sustainable Landscapes--eXtension.org
• YouTube: Florida-Friendly Ornamental Grasses--Polk Florida Yards & Neighborhoods