Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses and grass-like plants for texture and movement in Tennessee landscapes. Browse 19 entries in our identification guide.
Sweet Flag
Acorus gramineus
Field guide to Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus) — low-growing Asian ornamental for wet soils and rain gardens in Middle Tennessee, Zone 6b/7a. Aromatic foliage.
Big Blue Stem
Andropogon gerardii
Field guide to Big Blue Stem (Andropogon gerardii) — native Tennessee tallgrass prairie grass, 4–7 ft, drought-tolerant, turkey-foot seed heads, Zone 6b/7a.
Blue Grama Grass
Bouteloua gracilis
Field guide to Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis) — compact 1–2 ft warm-season grass, comb-like seed heads, drought-tolerant, best on drained soils in Middle Tennessee.
Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis x acutiflora
Field guide to Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) — sterile upright ornamental grass, 3–6 ft, feathery summer plumes, clay-tolerant, non-invasive, Zone 6b/7a.
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Field guide to Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) — native Tennessee ground-cover sedge for dry shade, 6–12 in, clay-tolerant, low-maintenance woodland alternative.
Orange New Zealand Sedge
Carex testacea
Field guide to Orange New Zealand Sedge (Carex testacea) — bronze-orange evergreen sedge, 12–18 in, best color in cool seasons, Zone 7 in Middle Tennessee landscapes.
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Field guide to Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) — native TN ornamental grass, billowing pink fall bloom, dry limestone soils, drought-tolerant, Zone 6b/7a.
Mexican Feather Grass
Nassella tenuissima
Field guide to Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima) — fine-textured ornamental grass, invasive in western states, prolific self-seeder; consider native alternatives in TN.
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Field guide to Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) — native TN prairie grass, 3–6 ft, exceptional soil adaptability, fall color, wildlife value, Zone 6b/7a.
Little Blue Stem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Field guide to Little Blue Stem (Schizachyrium scoparium) — native TN prairie grass, 2–4 ft, vivid orange-red fall color, deep drought-resistant roots, Zone 6b/7a.
Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans
Field guide to Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) — native TN tallgrass, 4–6 ft, golden fall plumes, prairie remnant species, clay-tolerant, Zone 6b/7a.
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Field guide to Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) — native TN cedar glade grass, fragrant August blooms, 18–24 in, drought-tolerant, fine-textured, Zone 6b/7a.
Eastern Gamagrass
Tripsacum dactyloides
Field guide to Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) — large native TN bottomland grass, 4–8 ft, wet clay tolerant, erosion control, corn relative, Zone 6b/7a.
Miscanthus
Miscanthus sinensis
Field guide to Miscanthus sinensis — Chinese silver grass, 4–8 ft, invasive in mid-Atlantic and southeastern states; choose sterile cultivars or native alternatives in Tennessee.
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum setaceum
Field guide to Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum) — tender annual in Zone 6b/7a TN, foxtail plumes June–frost, invasive in warm climates; sterile 'Rubrum' preferred.
Pampas Grass
Cortaderia selloana
Field guide to Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) — large ornamental grass 6–10 ft, dramatic white plumes, sharp leaf margins, invasive in warm regions, Zone 6b/7a TN.
Sedge
Carex spp.
Field guide to Sedge (Carex spp.) — diverse native Tennessee genus for shade and wet/dry niches, ground-cover alternative to turfgrass, Zone 6b/7a clay-tolerant.
Northern Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
Field guide to Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) — native TN shade grass, flat pendant seed heads, aggressive self-seeder, clay-tolerant, Zone 6b/7a.
Purple Love Grass
Eragrostis spectabilis
Field guide to Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabilis) — native TN dry-site grass, 1–2 ft, purple-red autumn cloud blooms, cedar glade habitat, Zone 6b/7a.
Looking for weed identification instead? Browse our Weed Identification Guide
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