North America is home to hundreds of native grass species of all varieties, and while not all of these are considered “ornamental” there are still plenty of species to choose from to suit your needs. When choosing the best ornamental grasses for your space, there are several things to consider:

Height

Ornamental grasses come in all different sizes, anywhere from low groundcover to towering stalks. Varying the height of your plants is a great way to add depth and focal points to your garden. Most grasses are very tolerant to pruning, so if they get too tall you can always cut them to your desired height. It is also good to keep in mind that not all species will grow straight up in the air; some will have floppy or wispy leaves that grow more outward than straight up and down.

Spread

For the most part, ornamental grasses grow in two distinct ways. The most common growth type when thinking of ornamental grasses is clumping or mound type growth. These grasses grow in tight clumps and while the clumps will expand outwards as they grow, they will mostly stay in the original spot they were planted. Clumping grasses make great accent plants and can work well near other plant species.

The other type is running grass. Running grasses are generally more common as turf grasses, as they will spread out quickly and can cover a large area, but there are several species of running ornamental grasses. These are great for covering large areas and are especially good at stabilizing soil in areas that may be prone to erosion. Most nurseries will label their ornamental grasses as either clumping or running, so be sure to curse the spread type that fits your application the best.

Having trouble narrowing down what ornamental grasses are best for your garden? Here are a few common varieties that are known to do well in New England:

• Little Bluestem: This grass is native to most of North America, including New England. It is a perennial, with striking blue-green foliage in the warmer months that turns bronze or red in the fall. It grows in clumps about 3 feet tall and about a foot in diameter.
• Switchgrass: Switchgrass is a versatile native grass known for its tolerance to a range of soil conditions. There is a wide variety of switchgrasses of all different sizes and various colors and leaf shapes. While switchgrasses are tolerant of many conditions, they do best in full sun areas.
• Northern Sea Oats: This grass is known for its distinctive, flat seed heads that resemble oats. Although sea oats are most common in coastal areas and do well with the salty sandy soils there, it thrives in most conditions and can add a unique texture to your garden. Northern Sea Oats prefer full sun to partial shade areas. If you need a variety that does better in full shade, opt for Inland Sea Oats instead, a similar species that does not require as much light.