Here is a list of  ornamental grasses available in our area and their descriptions. Hardiness information is based on the results of a study done by the University of Minnesota Arboretum. Our area is located in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. If you visit the Arboretum, you will find they are growing varieties we do not offer. Of the 165 varieties they tested, they found 85 to be fully hardy and another 30 to be marginal. Grasses are listed by botanical and common name to help insure you get the variety you want.

Andropogon gerardii • Big Bluestem Native; grows to 48 inches; small clumps. Foliage: blue-green in summer, orange-bronze fall color. Leaves: narrow. Flower s: light-weight, white, matures late summer, early fall. Zone 3.

Andropogon scoparius • Little Bluestem Also classified as Schizachyrium scoparium. Native; grows 18-48 inches; clumps vary in size. Foliage: bluish in summer, red-orange in fall. Leaves: very narrow, upright. Flowers: white, maturing in late summer. Zone 3.

Arrhenatherum elatus • Tuber Oat grass Grows 8-12 inches; small clumps; slow growing. Foliage: blue-green. Leaves: wide, upright. Zone 4.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora (a.k.a. arundinacea) 'Karl Forester' • Feather Reed grass Grows 36-48 inches; forms a medium clump. Foliage: medium green in summer and tan in fall. Leaves: narrow and stiff, similar to wheat. Flowers: very narrow and upright, with pink cast and mature mid-late summer. Zone 4a.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora (a.k.a. arundinacea) 'Overdam' • Variegated Feather Reed grass Grows 12 inches; small clump. Foliage: white variegated. Leaves: narrow and stiff. Flowers: narrow, gold and 36" tall, matures late summer. Zone 4-5.

Carex glauca (a.k.a. flacca) • Blue Sedge Grows 14 inches; forms small clump. Foliage: blue-green. Leaves: narrow, stiff, arching. Flowers: unusual spiked pods, mid-late summer. Needs some shade. Will take drier soils that other sedges. Zone 4a.

Carex hachjoensis (a.k.a. oshimensis) 'Evergold' • Variegated Japanese Sedge Same as Blue Sedge, except leaves vertically striped yellow with a green margin. Tolerates moist soils. Marginally hardy; often used in containers.

Carex nigra • Black Flowering Sedge Same as Blue Sedge, except flowers very dark. Tolerates moist soil. Zone 4a.

Carex siderosticha • Siderostice Sedge Grows 12-18 inch tall and wide; clump-forming. Foliage: bright green leaves edged with clear white. Leaves: very wide. Slow spreader. Marginally hardy. Zone 5.
Chasmanthium latifolium (a.k.a. uniola) • Northern Sea Oats Grows 24-36 inches; loose clumps. Foliage: green. Leaves: narrow, upright. Flowers: seed pods similar to oats. Light shade. Very marginal. Zone 5. Often grown as annual.

Deschampsia caespitosa 'Schottland' • Hairgrass Grows 24-48 inches; medium clump. Foliage: green in summer, unremarkable in fall. Leaves: extremely fine and lax. Flowers: fine and feathery, yellow/beige, mature in late summer. Prefers light shade. Zone 4.

Festuca cinerea 'Elijah Blue' and 'Sea Urchin' • Blue Fescue Grows 8-10 inches and wide; neat mound. Foliage: very blue, almost gray in summer, holding it's color all season. Leaves: very fine and stiff. Flowers: beige, held above the foliage in mid-late summer. Zone 3. Short-lived; needs to be replanted every 3-4 seasons. Prefers well drained soil and lots of sun.

Glyceria maxima 'Variegata' • Manna Grass Grows 24-36 inches; mound. Foliage: glossy yellow green with white variegation. Leaves: narrow, arching. Zone 5.

Helictotrichon sempervirens 'Sapphire' • Blue Oat grass Grows 24-26 inches; medium clump. Foliage: blue throughout season. Leaves: fine-medium, fairly stiff. Flowers: tan, mature in mid-late summer, held well above foliage. Zone 3. Looks like a larger version of Blue Fescue. Will tolerate heavier soils than Blue Fescue.

Liriope spicata • Lily Turf Not a true grass. Grown as a 10-12 inch groundcover. Marginal hardiness.

Luzula sylvatica • Greater Woodrush Grows 12-24 inches; medium clump. Foliage: green. Leaves: narrow, upright, arching. Flowers: unusual, like a sedge. Needs shade and moist conditions. Zone 4a.

Miscanthus sinsensis A  number of  Miscanthus sinsensis varieties are suitable to our area. All form large clumps, have coarse foliage and are suitable as specimen plants or in mass planting. Hardiness varies slightly, some needing winter mulching. This group of 4 varieties grows 60-72 inches. Zone 4-5.

M. s. ''Arabesque' • Arabesque Miscanthus

M. s. ''Autumn Light', • Autumn Light Miscanthus

M. s. ''Gracillimus' • Maiden Grass

M. s. ''Graziella' • Graziella Miscanthus

M. s. ''Purpurascens' • Flame (or Red Flame) Grass Grows 36-60 inches. Foliage red in fall. Zone 4.

M. s. 'Sarabande' • Sarabande Miscanthus Grows 48-60 inches. Silvery foliage. Zone 4-5.

M. s. 'Silberfeder' • Silver Feathergrass Grows 60-96 inches. Zone 4a. A more refined plant to use like "Pampas grass".

M. s. 'Strictus' • Porcupine Grass Grows 60-72 inches. Similar to Zebra, but more upright. Zone 4-5.

M. s.'Zebrinus' • Zebra Grass Grows 46-60 inches. Foliage: green with yellow bands across the leaves at intervals. Zone 4-5.

Molinia caerulea 'Skyracer' and 'Variegated' • Moor grass Grows 60-84 inches tall, narrow clump. Leaves: narrow, upright, arching. Flowers: held well above foliage. Zone 4.

Panicum virgatum • Switchgrass Grows 48 inches; medium-large clump. Foliage: powdery, glacous blue all summer and red in fall. Leaves: narrow and arching. Flowers: red and mature in late summer to fall. Zone 3-4. Excellent specimen plant.

Pennisetum alopecuroides (a.k.a. caudatum) • Fountain Grass Grows 36-48 inches; medium-large clump. Foliage: medium green in summer and yellow or tan in fall. Leaves: medium-wide, arching. Flowers: large, fine, white as they mature in late summer. Mulching may improve its hardiness.  Zone 4-5.

Pennisetum alopecuroides (a.k.a. caudatum) 'Hamelin' • Dwarf Fountain Grass Same as above, except more compact, growing to 24-32 inches.

Phalaris arundinacea 'Feeseys Form' • Ribbongrass, Variegated aka Gardener's Garters Grows 24-48 inches; aggressive. Foliage: light green, heavy white variegation (pinkish in spring) holding color into fall. Leaves: medium wide and arching. Flowers: mid to late summer with white blooms. Zone 3. Tolerates wet soil.

Sorghastrum nutans 'Sioux Blue' • Indian Grass Grows 48-60 inches; large upright clump. Foliage: green to glaucous and bluish. Leaves: medium wide. Flowers: showy panicles with a yellow blush. Great native, very common in our prairies. Easy to grow in a wide range of soils. Foliage turns yellow in fall. Zone 4.

Spodiopogon sibericus • Silver Spikegrass Grows 48 inches; large clump. Foliage: medium to light green in summer and bronze in fall. Leaves: wide and look like bamboo. Flowers: light-weight and pinkish. Zone 4a.

Sporobolus heterolepsis • Prairie Dropseed Grows 18-24 inches; clump-forming. Foliage: green. Leaves: narrow.  Flowers: feathery, large and fragrant. Fall color: orange-red. Zone 3.

The varieties of ornamental grasses offered by Bachman's each season varies. If you need further information on any specific variety, please feel free to call or ask at our Information Desk. Varieties that are marginal should be planted by mid-season (at the latest) and mulched heavily to help insure winter hardiness.


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