If you like the beauty and impact that ornamental grasses bring to a garden design, you will love the many shapes, forms, and colors that North American native species offer. Whether you need a practical ground cover, a dramatic focal point, or an airy filler to knit a matrix planting together, Danielle, Carol, and guest Paula Gross have some options that will inspire you to start your spring shopping list now.

Expert guest: Paula Gross is a horticulture educator at Central Piedmont Community College and co-author of The Southeast Native Plant Primer with Larry Mellichamp and Will Stuart.

 Danielle’s Plants

Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Zones 4–9)

‘Carousel’ little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Carousel’, Zones 3–9)

‘Northwind’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’, Zones 4–9)

‘River Mist’ northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium ‘River Mist’, Zones 5–8)

Carol’s Plants

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica, Zones 4–8)

Rose muhly (Muhlenbergia reverchonii, Zones 5–9)

Purpletop (Tridens flavus, Zones 4–9)

‘Blonde Ambition’ gramma grass (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’, Zones 3–10)

Expert’s Plants

Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris, Zones 5–9)

Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium, Zones 3–9)

Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius, Zones 6–10)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum, Zones 4–9)

Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans, Zones 4–9)