5 Great New Warm Season Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental Grasses are a mainstay of the Fall garden. With so many classic and new varieties its hard to choose between them. We say, why choose? Try them all! And for best effect, plant them in large groups or drifts. Mass planting just works for grasses.

With that said, here's 5 great new warm season grasses from Art's Nursery for Fall 2010

River Mist Northern Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium 'River Mist'

A spectacular warm season perennial grass that forms a loose tuft of loverly arching, green and white variegated foliage. Clusters of unique sparkling white seedheads arch elegantly above the foliage. Makes a wonderful cut flower and offers lovely winter interest.  Very showy in beds, boders, containers and mass plantings. Can be used in shade and water-wise gardens.
River Mist Prefers full sun to part shade in fertile, moist, well drained soil. Blooms in July-September. Grows 30-36 inches in height and is hardy in zones 5-9.

Gold Breeze Zebra Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gold Breeze'

A glorious warm season perennial grass that forms a thick clump of upright, arching green leaves heavily banded with gold. It's taller and more banded than its cousin 'Gold Bar'. Showy silvery-burgundy flowers mature to beige. Makes a nice cut flower. Is deer resistance and offers great winter interest. ;Gold Breeze' is fairly drought tolerant once established.

This grass is stunning in mass plantings, containers, borders, beds and water-wise gardens.

Prefers full sun to part shade in a wide variety of soils. Blooms in September and October and grows 60-84 inches high. Hardy in zones 5-9

Ruby Ribbons Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Ruby Ribbons'

This elegant warm season perennial grass forms a dense clump of tall, upright, blue-gray foliage that takes on a striking burgundy-red hue in mid-summer. Grows increasingly more brilliant as the season progresses. Airy pink flowers mature to a buff and last well into winter. Drought tolerant once established. Exceptionally striking in containers, borders, mass plantings and as a specimen.

Prefers full sun in moderate to low quality soils. Average, well drained soil is best. Grows from 36-48 inches in height and blooms in August and September. Hardy in zones 4-8

PennStripe Pennisetum
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'PennStripe'

This unique and elegant warm season mounding perennial grass forms a cascading mound of narrow green and white variegated leaves. Purple tinged flowers are soft and fuzzy; drought tolerant once established. 'PennStripe' makes and excellent cut flower, is deer resistance and offers nice winter interest. Striking as an accent or specimen in borders, containers, mass plantings, rock and water-wise gardens.

Prefers full sun to part shade in average well drained soils. Blooms in July-September and grows from 24-28 inches tall, Hardy in zones 6-9

Burgundy Bunny Miniature Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Burgundy Bunny'

This charming miniature warm season perennial grass forms a tight mound of narrow, fresh green foliage that is brushed with red accents in summer and turns a blazing burgundy-red in fall. Soft, small creamy-white bottlebrush flowers are held on slender stems above the foliage. Makes a nice cut flower, is deer resistant and relatively drought tolerant once established. 'Burgundy Bunny' is stunning in containers, borders, mass plantings, modern landscapes and rock gardens.

Prefers full sun to part shade in fertile, well drained soils. Grows from 10-18 inches in height and blooms in July-September. Hardy in zones 6-9


All of these ornamental grasses and many, many more are available at Art's Nursery throughout all four seasons. If you have any questions or need more information, call 604.882.1201 or visit us in person.