Popularity, clearly labeled

The Most Popular Ornamental Grasses

The three most-saved ornamental grasses are Muhly Grass, Feather Reed Grass and Silver Grass. Among plants cataloged as ornamental grasses, these are the genera Sow gardeners save most. Each genus is represented by its most-saved matching variety.

Ranked by gardener saves
  1. Muhly Grass

    Muhly Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 18 varieties. Airy pink or cream seed heads create a luminous cloud above fine foliage.

  2. Feather Reed Grass

    Feather Reed Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 16 varieties. Early, upright plumes provide structure without the bulk of larger grasses.

  3. Silver Grass

    Silver Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 30 varieties. Tall fountains and silvery plumes provide movement and winter presence; choose sterile types.

  4. Switchgrass

    Switchgrass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 16 varieties. Upright North American native clumps carry airy seed heads and strong autumn color.

  5. Sedge

    Sedge

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 119 varieties. Sedges offer an exceptional range of textures for weaving through difficult sites.

  6. Fescue

    Fescue

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 18 varieties. Compact blue or green tufts sharpen an edge and stay effective beyond bloom season.

  7. Little Bluestem

    Little Bluestem

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 11 varieties. Blue-green prairie blades turn copper and hold sparkling seed heads into winter.

  8. Fountain Grass

    Fountain Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 10 varieties. Its representative is notable for being dry-spell tolerant and usually passed over by deer.

  9. Indiangrass

    Indiangrass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 4 varieties. Its representative is notable for being North American native and dry-spell tolerant.

  10. Fountain Grass

    Fountain Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 18 varieties. Arching blades and bottlebrush plumes create a soft, fountain-shaped accent.

  11. Dropseed

    Dropseed

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 7 varieties. Fine leaves and fragrant seed panicles form an exceptionally graceful North American native clump.

  12. Hair Grass

    Hair Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 4 varieties. A haze of fine flower stems catches backlight above a compact tuft.

  13. Plume Grass

    Plume Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 1 variety. Its representative is notable for being dry-spell tolerant and usually passed over by deer.

    Zones 5–10All 1 variety →
  14. Japanese Forest Grass

    Japanese Forest Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 7 varieties. Cascading blades flow down a slope or edge like a shaded waterfall.

  15. Grama Grass

    Grama Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 5 varieties. Horizontal seed heads hover like tiny flags above this compact prairie grass.

  16. Bluestem Grass

    Bluestem Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 8 varieties. Tall blue-green blades turn coppery and hold their shape into winter.

  17. Needlegrass

    Needlegrass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 5 varieties. Exceptionally fine blades ripple in the slightest breeze; check regional invasiveness first.

  18. Rush

    Rush

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 20 varieties. Upright or curling stems add clean geometry to rain gardens and wet edges.

  19. Ryegrass

    Ryegrass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 1 variety. Its representative is notable for being dry-spell tolerant and usually passed over by deer.

    Zones 4–10All 1 variety →
  20. Feather Grass

    Feather Grass

    Ranked by its most-saved matching variety; the full catalog includes 8 varieties. Silky awns catch light and motion, giving dry plantings an airy finish.

About this list

How was this the most popular ornamental grasses list ranked?

A plant must first match the catalog filters named in the title. Each genus is represented and ranked by its most-saved matching variety, so genera with many cultivars do not receive an automatic advantage.

When do I cut back ornamental grasses?

Late winter, before new growth — the standing foliage is winter interest and wildlife cover. Cut cool-season grasses earlier than warm-season ones.

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Save the ones you plant and get care reminders timed to your zone.

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