Full Sun, Part Shade
Medium WaterMature Size: 24”X 24”
This evergreen plant adds texture and color over the entire growing season. The stiff grayblue leaves are very striking and provide the foundation for the ornamental 4-foot-tall flower spikes that shoot up and ripen to a soft brown by mid-summer. Cut back in April to encourage vigorous new growth.
Full Sun, Part ShadeMedium WaterMature Size: 30”X 2’
Blooming Season: Spring
Seed Head Color: Pale tan
Surprisingly heat and drought tolerant for a cool season grass, the dark green color of ‘Karl Foerster’ leaves topped with its pale straw colored seed heads is a large part of the appeal of this cool season bunchgrass. Its vertical form adds exclamation points in the midst of cool, low slung flowers such as Catmint and Winecups, or amplifies the upright lines of Penstemons and Salvias.
Full Sun
Low WaterMature Size: 2’X 2’
Blooming Season: Fall
Color: Pink to red
Little bluestem is a key component of much of the prairie grassland throughout the West, where it goes unnoticed until late in the year when its strong color contrast of scarlet or pink leaves among the blond seed heads of other native grasses gives it the impact of a wash of wildflowers long after the growing season has ended. Easily grown from seed or plants, the slender upright clumps sway in the breeze.
Full Sun, Part ShadeMedium WaterMature Size: 4’X 3’
Blooming Season: Summer
Flower Color: Hazy pink-purple
There are many named cultivars of Switchgrass, all variations on the theme of tall upright leaf blades crowned in late summer with a haze of lacy seed heads. The leaves may be green or blue green in summer, changing to a range of pinks and reds as temperatures cool and the days get shorter at the end of the growing season. Switchgrass can be grouped between evergreens or stand alone as an accent. Songbirds will love you for adding it to your garden.
Full SunLow WaterMature Size: 24”X 24”
Plant this ornamental grass where a gentle breeze will sway it as the late afternoon sun shines through from behind. Stipa grows well in all kinds of soils and is very water thrifty once established. Good in wildflower gardens, this plant will readily reseed itself among its neighbors.