Ornamental grasses give gardens movement, height and winter interest with very little care, and most are deer resistant and drought tolerant once established. Pick by mature height and how much sun the spot gets.
Annual Purple Fountain Grass 'Atropurpurea (annual)'
Pennisetum 'Atropurpurea (annual)'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Salt tolerant
- Rabbit resistant
- Winter interest
Annual Purple Fountain Grass 'Fireworks (annual)'
Pennisetum 'Fireworks (annual)'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Salt tolerant
- Rabbit resistant
- Winter interest
Big Bluestem 'Blackhawk'
Andropogon 'Blackhawk'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Drought tolerant
- Rabbit resistant
Blue Lyme Grass 'Glaucus'
Leymus 'Glaucus'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Drought tolerant
- Native
- Salt tolerant
Feather Reed Grass 'Avalanche'
Calamagrostis 'Avalanche'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Salt tolerant
- Rabbit resistant
Feather Reed Grass 'Brachytricha'
Calamagrostis 'Brachytricha'
from $36.99 · 3GAL
- Deer resistant
- Drought tolerant
- Salt tolerant
Feather Reed Grass 'Karl Foerster'
Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Drought tolerant
- Salt tolerant
Feather Reed Grass 'Karl Forester'
Calamagrostis 'Karl Forester'
from $36.99 · 3GAL
- Deer resistant
- Drought tolerant
- Salt tolerant
Fescue 'Blue Whiskers'
Festuca 'Blue Whiskers'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Drought tolerant
- Salt tolerant
Fescue 'Elijah Blue'
Festuca 'Elijah Blue'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Deer resistant
- Drought tolerant
- Salt tolerant
Fountain Grass 'Hameln'
Pennisetum 'Hameln'
from $36.99 · 3GAL
- Salt tolerant
- Rabbit resistant
- Winter interest
Fountain Grass 'Karley Rose'
Pennisetum 'Karley Rose'
from $16.99 · 1GAL
- Salt tolerant
- Rabbit resistant
- Winter interest
How to choose
- Height: short grasses like blue fescue edge a border; feather reed grass and switchgrass make tall screens.
- Sun: most grasses want full sun; Japanese forest grass and sedges handle shade.
- Spreading or clumping: clumping grasses stay put — ask us before planting any runner.
Frequently asked questions
When should I cut back ornamental grasses?
Leave them standing over winter for interest and bird cover, then cut them back to a few inches in early spring before new growth starts.
Are ornamental grasses deer resistant?
Yes — deer rarely eat ornamental grasses, which is one reason they work so well in Maine yards.
Do grasses need much water?
Water weekly the first season. After that most grasses are drought tolerant and need watering only in long dry spells.
Which grasses work in shade?
Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa) and many sedges (Carex) do well in part shade.