Our list of Ornamental Grasses from around the World

Foxtail Barley is one of the most eye-catching ornamental grasses in the world, producing silky, feathery seed heads that shimmer in shades of silver, pink, rose, and lavender. Native to North America and parts of northern Asia, this elegant cool-season grass creates a dazzling display that seems to glow when illuminated by sunlight.

The long, delicate awns surrounding each seed head catch even the slightest breeze, creating constant movement and sparkle. During peak bloom, entire plantings can resemble clouds of pink silk floating above the foliage, making Foxtail Barley one of the most photographed native grasses.

• Botanical Name: Hordeum jubatum
• Common Names: Foxtail Barley, Squirrel Tail Barley, Foxtail Grass
• Plant Type: Cool-Season Ornamental Grass
• Mature Height: 18 to 30 inches
• Mature Spread: 12 to 24 inches
• Growth Rate: Fast
• USDA Zones: 3 to 9
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Requirements: Adaptable; tolerates poor soils

Foxtail Barley performs exceptionally well in containers, where its colorful seed heads can be appreciated at close range.

• Use containers at least 10 to 14 inches deep.
• Provide good drainage.
• Use a quality potting mix.
• Place in full sun for best flowering.
• Allow seed heads to remain for maximum ornamental effect.

Its compact size and spectacular blooms make it an excellent choice for patio and deck displays.

Its colorful seed heads create beautiful contrast with native wildflowers and other ornamental grasses.

• Sow seeds approximately 1/8 inch deep.
• Maintain temperatures between 60°F and 75°F.
• Keep evenly moist during germination.
• Provide bright light.
• Germination generally occurs within 7 to 14 days.

Seedlings establish rapidly and often produce flowering stems during their first season.

• Plant in full sun.
• Tolerates poor and alkaline soils.
• Requires minimal fertilizer.
• Water regularly during establishment.
• Tolerates heat, cold, and drought once established.

Foxtail Barley is remarkably adaptable and thrives under a wide range of growing conditions.

Foxtail Barley is generally considered moderately deer resistant, especially after the seed heads mature.

Once established, Foxtail Barley demonstrates excellent drought tolerance and continues to perform well during periods of limited rainfall.

Variegated Cat Grass is both an attractive ornamental plant and a favorite treat for cats. Featuring striking green-and-cream striped foliage, this decorative form of barley combines beauty and function, offering pet owners an attractive container plant that cats can safely nibble, rub against, and enjoy throughout the growing season.

Unlike many ornamental grasses grown solely for landscape value, Variegated Cat Grass serves a dual purpose. It provides fresh greenery that many cats instinctively seek while also creating a handsome display on patios, porches, windowsills, and indoor growing areas.

• Botanical Name: Hordeum vulgare variegata
• Common Names: Variegated Cat Grass, Variegated Barley Grass, Cat Barley
• Plant Type: Cool-Season Ornamental Grass
• Mature Height: 12 to 24 inches
• Mature Spread: 8 to 16 inches
• Growth Rate: Fast
• USDA Zones: Annual in most regions
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
• Soil Requirements: Average, well-drained soil

Variegated Cat Grass is ideally suited for container culture and is often grown specifically in pots where cats can safely access it.

• Use containers at least 6 to 10 inches deep.
• Provide good drainage.
• Use a quality potting mix.
• Place in bright light or partial sun.
• Keep soil evenly moist for continuous growth.

Many gardeners maintain multiple containers and rotate them as cats enjoy the foliage.

This grass performs exceptionally well indoors near bright windows and is one of the easiest ornamental grasses to grow as a houseplant. Fresh growth is typically available within just a few weeks of sowing.

• Place near a sunny window.
• Maintain moderate moisture.
• Provide good air circulation.
• Trim occasionally to encourage fresh growth.

Many cats instinctively seek grasses and often enjoy chewing the tender foliage. While scientists continue to study the exact reasons, grass consumption may aid digestion and help satisfy natural behavioral instincts inherited from wild ancestors.

Variegated Cat Grass provides a safe alternative to houseplants that may be unsuitable or potentially harmful for pets.

• Sow seeds approximately 1/4 inch deep.
• Maintain temperatures between 65°F and 75°F.
• Keep soil consistently moist.
• Provide bright light.
• Germination usually occurs within 3 to 7 days.

This is one of the fastest-growing grasses available from seed.

• Plant in full sun to partial shade.
• Keep evenly watered.
• Harvest or trim foliage as needed.
• Produces fresh growth rapidly.
• Can be succession planted throughout the year.

Frequent sowings ensure a constant supply of fresh grass for both ornamental display and feline enjoyment.

Hare's Tail Grass is one of the most charming and whimsical ornamental grasses grown in gardens today. Native to the Mediterranean region, this delightful grass is famous for its soft, fluffy flower heads that closely resemble the tails of rabbits. The silky seed heads emerge pale green before maturing to creamy white and buff tones, creating an irresistible display that appeals to gardeners, florists, children, and wildlife enthusiasts alike.

Compact, easy to grow, and exceptionally attractive in containers, Hare's Tail Grass brings texture, movement, and a touch of playfulness to any garden setting. It is equally valued as a fresh garden plant and as one of the finest grasses for dried floral arrangements.

• Botanical Name: Lagurus ovatus
• Common Names: Hare's Tail Grass, Bunny Tail Grass, Rabbit Tail Grass
• Plant Type: Cool-Season Ornamental Grass
• Mature Height: 12 to 24 inches
• Mature Spread: 8 to 12 inches
• Growth Rate: Fast
• USDA Zones: 7 to 11 (often grown as an annual elsewhere)
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil

Hare's Tail Grass is exceptionally well suited for container gardening. Its compact size and adorable flower heads make it a favorite for patio pots, balcony gardens, and decorative mixed containers.

• Use containers at least 8 to 12 inches deep.
• Provide excellent drainage.
• Use a quality potting mix.
• Place in full sun for best flowering.
• Allow flower heads to mature for dried arrangements.

Container-grown plants often produce abundant flower spikes and remain attractive throughout the growing season.

Its soft flower heads provide a delightful contrast to bold flowers and broad-leaved plants.

• Sow seed on the surface or lightly cover.
• Maintain temperatures between 65°F and 75°F.
• Keep evenly moist during germination.
• Provide bright light.
• Germination usually occurs within 7 to 14 days.

Seedlings grow rapidly and often begin flowering within a few months.

• Plant in full sun.
• Provide well-drained soil.
• Water moderately.
• Avoid over-fertilization.
• Harvest flower heads before heavy weather if drying is desired.

This grass thrives with minimal care and often self-sows gently in favorable climates.

Few ornamental grasses rival Hare's Tail Grass for dried floral use. The silky flower heads retain their shape and texture for months, making them popular in wreaths, bouquets, craft projects, and decorative arrangements.

Among ornamental grasses, Hare's Tail Grass may be the most universally loved. Its fluffy flower heads, easy-care nature, container adaptability, and usefulness in dried arrangements make it a delightful addition to gardens of every size.

Pink Cloud Muhly Grass is one of the most breathtaking ornamental grasses available, famous for producing enormous clouds of airy pink flowers that seem to float above the foliage like rosy mist. Native to the southeastern United States, this stunning selection transforms from a modest green grass during summer into a spectacular display of pink color in autumn.

When in full bloom, mature plants appear wrapped in a soft pink haze that glows in morning and evening sunlight. Few ornamental grasses can rival the dramatic beauty of Pink Cloud, and even fewer can create such a memorable display with so little maintenance.

• Botanical Name: Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Pink Cloud'
• Common Names: Pink Cloud Muhly Grass, Pink Muhly Grass
• Plant Type: Warm-Season Native Ornamental Grass
• Mature Height: 3 to 4 feet
• Mature Spread: 3 to 4 feet
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• USDA Zones: 6 to 10
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil

Pink Cloud performs beautifully in large decorative containers, where its spectacular autumn display can be enjoyed up close on patios, porches, and decks.

• Use containers at least 16 to 20 inches deep.
• Provide excellent drainage.
• Use a quality potting mix.
• Place in full sun.
• Allow flower plumes to remain through fall and winter.

Container-grown plants often become striking focal points when the pink flowers emerge.

Mass plantings are especially spectacular, creating vast drifts of pink that can be visible from considerable distances.

• Sow seed on the soil surface or lightly cover.
• Maintain temperatures between 70°F and 80°F.
• Keep evenly moist during germination.
• Provide bright light.
• Germination generally occurs within 10 to 21 days.

Seedlings establish readily and develop into attractive clumps during their first growing season.

• Plant in full sun.
• Requires excellent drainage.
• Tolerates heat and humidity exceptionally well.
• Drought tolerant once established.
• Cut back old foliage in late winter.

Pink Cloud thrives in conditions that challenge many traditional ornamental plants, including heat, drought, and poor soils.

Moudry Fountain Grass is one of the finest late-season ornamental grasses available, prized for its elegant fountain-shaped habit and striking dark flower plumes that emerge nearly black before aging to rich shades of bronze and silver. Native to eastern Asia, this outstanding selection combines graceful movement, exceptional garden performance, and dramatic autumn interest.

Unlike many fountain grasses that produce tan or cream-colored flower spikes, Moudry is famous for its unusually dark bottlebrush plumes. These distinctive flower heads create a stunning contrast against the rich green foliage and make the plant a standout feature in both containers and landscape plantings.

• Botanical Name: Pennisetum alopecuroides var. viridescens 'Moudry'
• Common Names: Moudry Fountain Grass, Black Flowering Fountain Grass
• Plant Type: Warm-Season Ornamental Grass
• Mature Height: 24 to 36 inches
• Mature Spread: 24 to 36 inches
• Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
• USDA Zones: 5 to 9
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Requirements: Adaptable, well-drained soil

Moudry performs exceptionally well in decorative containers where its fountain-like habit and dramatic flower spikes can be appreciated up close.

• Use containers at least 14 to 18 inches deep.
• Provide excellent drainage.
• Use a quality potting mix.
• Place in full sun.
• Leave flower plumes intact through winter for extended interest.

Its compact size makes it ideal for patios, entryways, and mixed container displays.

Its dark flower spikes pair beautifully with coneflowers, salvias, black-eyed Susans, and autumn-blooming perennials.

• Sow seeds on the soil surface or lightly cover.
• Maintain temperatures between 70°F and 80°F.
• Keep evenly moist during germination.
• Provide bright light.
• Germination generally occurs within 10 to 21 days.

Young plants establish quickly and develop into attractive clumps during their first season.

• Plant in full sun for best flowering.
• Tolerates a wide range of soils.
• Water regularly during establishment.
• Drought tolerant once mature.
• Cut back old foliage in late winter or early spring.

Moudry is exceptionally easy to grow and requires very little maintenance once established.

Moudry Fountain Grass is generally considered deer resistant and is frequently used in landscapes where browsing pressure is a concern.

Once established, Moudry demonstrates excellent drought tolerance while continuing to produce abundant flower spikes throughout late summer and autumn.

Chairmaker's Rush is a fascinating wetland plant that combines ornamental beauty with a rich history of practical human use. Native to marshes, lake shores, wetlands, and coastal habitats across much of North America, Europe, and Asia, this distinctive rush forms dense clumps of upright green stems that add strong architectural interest to gardens and water features.

For centuries, its durable stems were harvested and woven into chair seats, baskets, mats, and household items, earning the plant its memorable common name. Today, gardeners appreciate Chairmaker's Rush for its unique appearance, wildlife value, and adaptability to water gardens and decorative containers.

• Botanical Name: Scirpus pungens
• Common Names: Chairmaker's Rush, Three-Square Bulrush, Common Three-Square
• Plant Type: Perennial Rush
• Mature Height: 2 to 4 feet
• Mature Spread: 2 to 4 feet
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• USDA Zones: 4 to 10
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist to Wet Soil

Unlike many ornamental grasses, Chairmaker's Rush thrives in consistently moist conditions and is exceptionally well suited for water-garden containers, pond margins, and decorative aquatic plantings.

• Use large containers without drainage holes when possible.
• Keep soil consistently moist or shallowly submerged.
• Use heavy loam-based planting mixes.
• Position in full sun for best growth.
• Excellent for patio water features and aquatic displays.

A decorative container placed near a pond or water garden can showcase the plant's distinctive upright stems beautifully.

• Sow seed on the soil surface.
• Do not deeply cover seeds.
• Maintain temperatures between 65°F and 80°F.
• Keep constantly moist.
• Germination generally occurs within 14 to 30 days.

Young seedlings appreciate consistently wet conditions during establishment.

• Plant in moist to wet soils.
• Tolerates shallow standing water.
• Requires little maintenance.
• Remove old stems in late winter if desired.
• Spreads gradually by underground rhizomes.

Once established, Chairmaker's Rush becomes a durable and long-lived feature of wetland gardens.

Chairmaker's Rush is generally considered deer resistant due to its tough, fibrous stems.

Unlike many ornamental grasses, Chairmaker's Rush thrives in wet soils and shallow standing water. It is an excellent choice for difficult sites where excess moisture limits the use of traditional landscape plants.

For hundreds of years, the tough stems of Chairmaker's Rush were harvested and woven into chair bottoms, basketry, floor mats, and household goods. Before modern synthetic materials became available, rush weaving was a valuable practical skill throughout many rural communities.

Indigenous peoples across North America utilized bulrushes and rushes for weaving, construction materials, and various household purposes long before European settlement.

The tradition of rush-bottom chairs became especially popular in Europe and colonial America, giving rise to the common name "Chairmaker's Rush."

If you gently roll a stem between your fingers, you can feel its unique triangular shape. This three-sided stem structure is one of the easiest ways to distinguish Chairmaker's Rush from many other wetland plants.

Angel Hair Grass is one of the most graceful and elegant ornamental grasses ever introduced into gardens. Native to the dry grasslands of Mexico, Texas, New Mexico, and parts of South America, this remarkable species forms soft fountains of thread-like foliage that move with the slightest breath of wind.

The extremely fine leaves and silky flowering stems create the illusion of flowing hair, giving rise to its popular common name. During summer and autumn, the plant develops delicate golden seed heads that shimmer in sunlight and create an almost magical effect in the garden.

Among ornamental grasses, few species produce as much movement, texture, and visual softness as Angel Hair Grass.

• Botanical Name: Stipa tenuissima
• Common Names: Angel Hair Grass, Mexican Feather Grass, Pony Tails Grass
• Plant Type: Perennial Ornamental Grass
• Mature Height: 18 to 30 inches
• Mature Spread: 18 to 24 inches
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• USDA Zones: 6 to 10
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil

Angel Hair Grass is exceptionally well suited for container culture. Its graceful cascading habit allows it to spill naturally over the edges of decorative pots, creating a soft, flowing appearance.

• Use containers at least 12 to 16 inches deep.
• Provide excellent drainage.
• Use a well-draining potting mix.
• Place in full sun for best flowering.
• Avoid overwatering.

Container-grown specimens often become striking focal points because of their constant movement and texture.

• Sow seed on the soil surface or lightly cover.
• Maintain temperatures between 65°F and 75°F.
• Keep lightly moist during germination.
• Provide bright light.
• Germination generally occurs within 10 to 21 days.

Seedlings establish quickly and begin developing their characteristic fine-textured foliage early in life.

• Plant in full sun.
• Requires excellent drainage.
• Tolerates drought exceptionally well.
• Comb through foliage in spring to remove old growth.
• Avoid heavy fertilization.

Angel Hair Grass often performs best in relatively lean soils where many other plants struggle.

Angel Hair Grass is generally considered highly deer resistant and is rarely damaged by browsing animals.

Native to arid regions, Angel Hair Grass exhibits excellent drought tolerance once established and is frequently used in water-wise landscapes.

This species evolved across dry grasslands and open plains where strong winds constantly shaped its growth. Its flexible stems allow it to survive conditions that would damage more rigid plants.

As drought-tolerant landscaping became increasingly popular during the late twentieth century, Angel Hair Grass emerged as one of the most widely planted ornamental grasses in North America and Europe.

Landscape architects particularly value its ability to introduce movement and softness into modern garden designs.

• The species name tenuissima means "very fine" or "extremely slender."
• Individual leaves can be thinner than a sewing thread.
• Flowering stems often turn brilliant gold as they mature.
• The plant remains attractive through much of the year.
• Its foliage can move in breezes too gentle to affect most other plants.

Narrow Leaf Cattail is one of the most recognizable wetland plants in the world, admired for its distinctive cigar-shaped flower spikes and elegant upright foliage. Native to wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakeshores, and slow-moving waterways across Europe, Asia, and North America, this remarkable plant combines ornamental beauty, wildlife value, and centuries of practical human use.

Its slender leaves and graceful growth habit give it a more refined appearance than the common broadleaf cattail, making it especially attractive for water gardens and naturalized aquatic landscapes.

For thousands of years, cattails have provided food, shelter, weaving materials, and wildlife habitat, earning them a reputation as one of the most useful plants in nature.

• Botanical Name: Typha angustifolia
• Common Names: Narrow Leaf Cattail, Lesser Bulrush, Narrowleaf Reedmace
• Plant Type: Aquatic Perennial
• Mature Height: 4 to 8 feet
• Mature Spread: 2 to 5 feet
• Growth Rate: Fast
• USDA Zones: 3 to 10
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Soil Requirements: Wet soil or shallow water

Unlike traditional ornamental grasses, Narrow Leaf Cattail thrives in water gardens and aquatic containers. It can be grown successfully in large tubs, pond baskets, and decorative water features.

• Use large aquatic containers.
• Plant in heavy loam soil.
• Maintain 2 to 12 inches of water above the soil.
• Provide full sun.
• Divide periodically to control spread.

For patio water gardens, a decorative container filled with water can create an impressive display of upright foliage and distinctive flower spikes.

• Sow seed on the soil surface.
• Do not deeply cover seed.
• Maintain temperatures between 70°F and 85°F.
• Keep constantly moist.
• Provide bright light.
• Germination generally occurs within 14 to 30 days.

Seedlings establish best when grown in consistently wet conditions.

• Plant in wet soils or shallow water.
• Provide full sun for maximum growth.
• Tolerates seasonal flooding.
• Spreads through underground rhizomes.
• Cut back old growth in late winter if desired.

Once established, Narrow Leaf Cattail is extremely durable and can persist for decades.

The fluffy seed heads also provide nesting material used by birds throughout the breeding season.

Mature cattails are generally resistant to deer browsing due to their tough fibrous foliage.

This species thrives in standing water and saturated soils, making it ideal for sites where most ornamental plants cannot survive.

Early settlers often relied upon cattails as an important source of practical materials before manufactured goods became readily available.