Grass / Grass-like

Little Bluestem is a clumping warm season grass in the Poaceae family. In full sun, this plant can get up to four feet tall and slightly less wide. Blue-green linear leaves turn golden to orange in fall and persist in winter, adding winter interest to the garden. Like many of our…

‘White Cloud’ Muhly Grass is a stunning cultivar of Pink Muhly Grass. White tufts appear over the blue-green grass-like foliage in fall, fading to a more cream color over time and persisting into winter. This variety blooms about the same time, or shortly after the species Pink Muhly Grass. This grass…

Path Rush is an easy-going, easy to grow grasslike perennial. Erect green sheaths ascend with tiny clusters of green flowers in summer. Capping at two feet, it makes an excellent groundcover, even in places where not much else will grow. It is resistant to erosion, wet soil, and even light compaction.…

Bottlebrush Grass is a deciduous shade-loving perennial. Although it may be dormant in the heat of summer, once it starts to cool down you may see them blooming in woodland areas. The unique inflorescence of the blooms is eye-catching, even if their bloom is green or brown. The bloom is pointy…

Wood’s Sedge is a clumping woodland plant with thin, grasslike leaves. Foliage is semi-evergreen and is cover for small animals while seeds are enjoyed by songbirds and gamebirds alike. Growing at just under a foot, it would do beautifully in small spaces within the garden. If your garden is mostly full,…

Blue Wood Sedge is a compact grasslike perennial that makes a beautiful groundcover in a shady space or rain garden. As light diffuses through the trees, it may give off a bluish hue. Being evergreen, it provides color in winter months as your garden naps and habitat for wildlife as they…

Cherokee Sedge shines brightest in spring, with dazzling bright green foliage that is semi-evergreen to evergreen in mild winters, where it provides cover for small animals. This compact, grasslike plant is perfect for small empty spaces in the garden, adding wispy texture that glimmers in the wind. Although it prefers part…

A small, grasslike plant found in shady spots under trees, Broadleaf Sedge sets itself apart from other sedges with its wide leaves. Just under a foot tall, this moderately deer resistant perennial can be used as a groundcover or a border in a woodland garden given it is not walked on,…

  Lurid Sedge is an evergreen perennial in the Cyperaceae family. Although evergreen, it does appear duller in the hotter months of summer. This sedge prefers full sun to part shade and likes soil that is moist to wet. Being that it prefers wetter soils, that makes it a great addition…

  Gray’s Sedge is an ornamental sedge in the Cyperaceae family. It is characterized by its spiked club shaped seedheads, which start green earlier in the season and slowly turn brown. Gray’s Sedge likes full sun to part shade and can handle wetter soils, making it fit right into a rain…

  Prairie Sedge is an early spring blooming perennial in the Cyperaceae family. It can handle a variety of moisture conditions, but it can handle dry soil better than most other sedges. This sedge prefers full sun to part shade and is a cool season grower. It makes a great candidate…

  Part of the Poaceae family, River Oats shimmers beautifully in the wind throughout summer and fall. This ornamental grass is deciduous and blooms from June through October, showing spiked panicles that start off green, fading to tan, then finally to purplish copper. Not only do birds and small mammals love…

  Switchgrass ‘Shenandoah’ is a cultivar grass in the Poaceae family. Like most grasses, it prefers full sun to part shade. This grass is clumping, dense and can get up to seven feet tall if conditions are ideal, making it a good privacy screen option. Bluish green leaves with red tips…

  Common Rush is an evergreen rush in the Juncaceae family. Green basal sheaths surround the stem of this plant, topped with yellow to copper spiky irregular cymes. Common Rush needs full sun and moist soil to thrive. It would do well in a container as long as it’s well watered.…

  Ivory Sedge is a clumping sedge in the Cyperaceae family. Being low growing, it would be a great alternative to a lawn or used as a groundcover. Mounding, it gets at the most ten inches. Handling a variety of light conditions, it prefers to be in shade during hot and…

  Eastern Star Sedge is a cool season grass in the Cyperaceae family. Growing in shady areas, it is a great lawn alternative where sun-loving turf grasses won’t survive. This sedge grows well in wet soil, making it perfect for filling in a rain garden. In spring through summer, white achenes…

  Blue Grama is a warm-season grass in the Poaceae family. It can get anywhere from six inches to two feet tall and is very drought resistant, but it will use less water if let grown taller, as it provides shade. It is one of the most drought tolerant grasses, as…

  Buffalo Grass is a semi-evergreen grass in the Poaceae family. Fast spreading in full sun, this grass makes a great lawn alternative. This species is only about eight inches tall and can handle mowing. It does well in clay or loam and is drought tolerant. It can stay green with…