Cool-Season vs. Warm-Season Ornamental Grass
As the name suggests, cool-season grass varieties do better when the temperature is between 60 to 75 degrees F. (15.5-24 C.). They begin growing early in the spring and enter a second growth period in the fall. Unless they are provided with supplemental water during the summer, these types of ornamental grasses typically go dormant midseason and turn brown. Warm-season grasses like it hot and thrive in temperatures in the 80 to 95 degree F. (27-35 C.) range. These ornamental grasses begin growing later in the year and don’t turn brown until fall. Which type of ornamental grass is right for you depends upon where you live.
Ornamental Grasses - Illinois, Indiana and Northern Midwest States
Although a few warm-season grasses are winter hardy in climates colder than zone 5, most are not. Ornamental grasses for Indiana and Illinois can include warm-season species in the lower portions of these states. For colder regions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley, consider these cool-season ornamental grasses that thrive in Zone 4.
Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina)
Foliage: Silvery-bluePlume color: Light tanHeight: 6-10 inches (15-25 cm.)
Blue Hair Grass (Koeleria glauca)
Foliage: Blue greenPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 12 inches (30 cm.)
Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens)
Foliage: Steel bluePlume color: Light brownHeight: 2 feet (.6 m.)
Bulbous Oat Grass (Arrhenatherum elatius)
Foliage: Bluish-green with white stripesPlume color: TanHeight: 12 inches (30 cm.)
Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora)
Foliage: Dull greenPlume color: Rosy pink to maroonHeight: 3 feet (.9 m.)
Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra)
Foliage: Creamy white, bright yellow and green stripedPlume color: InconspicuousHeight: 1-2 feet (.3-.6 m.)
Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Foliage: Bright green with white stripesPlume color: Greenish white to pale pinkHeight: 2 to 3 feet (.6-.9 m.)
Tufted Hair Grass (Dechampsia caespitosa)
Foliage: Dark greenPlume color: Silvery white to goldenHeight: 2 to 3 feet (.6-.9 m.)
Ornamental Grass – Kentucky and Zone 5 Midwest States
While cool-season grasses thrive in the upper third of the US, warm-season grasses are best for Southern states. Gardeners in the middle third of the country can choose either. In addition to the cool-season species listed above, zone 5 Lower Midwest and Ohio ornamental grasses can include these warm-season species:
Chinese Silver (Maiden) Grass (Miscanthus sinensus)
Foliage: Light green with ivory variegationPlume color: Silvery pinkHeight: 4 to 5 feet (1.2-1.5 m.)
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
Foliage: Bright greenPlume color: Buff to rosy whiteHeight: 3 feet (.9 m.)
Giant Reed Grass (Arundo donax)
Foliage: Bluish-green, green, or silverPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 20 feet (6 m.)
Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Foliage: Pale green, dark green, or blue-greenPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 3 to 7 feet (.9-2.1 m.)
Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica)
Foliage: Green and redPlume color: Non-floweringHeight: 2 to 20 feet (.6-6 m.)
Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Foliage: GreenPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 3 feet (.9 m.)
Plume Grass (Erianthus ravennae)
Foliage: Greyish-green with white midribsPlume color: Silvery whiteHeight: 14 feet (4.3 m.)
Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea)
Foliage: Dark greenPlume color: Golden to maroonHeight: 2 to 3 feet (.3-.6 m.)
Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
Foliage: GreenPlume color: Pinkish purpleHeight: 4 to 6 feet (1.2-1.8 m.)
title: “Best Midwest Ornamental Grasses For The Central U S " ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-16” author: “Stephanie Allman”
Cool-Season vs. Warm-Season Ornamental Grass
As the name suggests, cool-season grass varieties do better when the temperature is between 60 to 75 degrees F. (15.5-24 C.). They begin growing early in the spring and enter a second growth period in the fall. Unless they are provided with supplemental water during the summer, these types of ornamental grasses typically go dormant midseason and turn brown. Warm-season grasses like it hot and thrive in temperatures in the 80 to 95 degree F. (27-35 C.) range. These ornamental grasses begin growing later in the year and don’t turn brown until fall. Which type of ornamental grass is right for you depends upon where you live.
Ornamental Grasses - Illinois, Indiana and Northern Midwest States
Although a few warm-season grasses are winter hardy in climates colder than zone 5, most are not. Ornamental grasses for Indiana and Illinois can include warm-season species in the lower portions of these states. For colder regions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley, consider these cool-season ornamental grasses that thrive in Zone 4.
Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina)
Foliage: Silvery-bluePlume color: Light tanHeight: 6-10 inches (15-25 cm.)
Blue Hair Grass (Koeleria glauca)
Foliage: Blue greenPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 12 inches (30 cm.)
Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens)
Foliage: Steel bluePlume color: Light brownHeight: 2 feet (.6 m.)
Bulbous Oat Grass (Arrhenatherum elatius)
Foliage: Bluish-green with white stripesPlume color: TanHeight: 12 inches (30 cm.)
Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora)
Foliage: Dull greenPlume color: Rosy pink to maroonHeight: 3 feet (.9 m.)
Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra)
Foliage: Creamy white, bright yellow and green stripedPlume color: InconspicuousHeight: 1-2 feet (.3-.6 m.)
Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Foliage: Bright green with white stripesPlume color: Greenish white to pale pinkHeight: 2 to 3 feet (.6-.9 m.)
Tufted Hair Grass (Dechampsia caespitosa)
Foliage: Dark greenPlume color: Silvery white to goldenHeight: 2 to 3 feet (.6-.9 m.)
Ornamental Grass – Kentucky and Zone 5 Midwest States
While cool-season grasses thrive in the upper third of the US, warm-season grasses are best for Southern states. Gardeners in the middle third of the country can choose either. In addition to the cool-season species listed above, zone 5 Lower Midwest and Ohio ornamental grasses can include these warm-season species:
Chinese Silver (Maiden) Grass (Miscanthus sinensus)
Foliage: Light green with ivory variegationPlume color: Silvery pinkHeight: 4 to 5 feet (1.2-1.5 m.)
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
Foliage: Bright greenPlume color: Buff to rosy whiteHeight: 3 feet (.9 m.)
Giant Reed Grass (Arundo donax)
Foliage: Bluish-green, green, or silverPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 20 feet (6 m.)
Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Foliage: Pale green, dark green, or blue-greenPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 3 to 7 feet (.9-2.1 m.)
Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica)
Foliage: Green and redPlume color: Non-floweringHeight: 2 to 20 feet (.6-6 m.)
Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Foliage: GreenPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 3 feet (.9 m.)
Plume Grass (Erianthus ravennae)
Foliage: Greyish-green with white midribsPlume color: Silvery whiteHeight: 14 feet (4.3 m.)
Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea)
Foliage: Dark greenPlume color: Golden to maroonHeight: 2 to 3 feet (.3-.6 m.)
Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
Foliage: GreenPlume color: Pinkish purpleHeight: 4 to 6 feet (1.2-1.8 m.)
title: “Best Midwest Ornamental Grasses For The Central U S " ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-28” author: “Tamara Archer”
Cool-Season vs. Warm-Season Ornamental Grass
As the name suggests, cool-season grass varieties do better when the temperature is between 60 to 75 degrees F. (15.5-24 C.). They begin growing early in the spring and enter a second growth period in the fall. Unless they are provided with supplemental water during the summer, these types of ornamental grasses typically go dormant midseason and turn brown. Warm-season grasses like it hot and thrive in temperatures in the 80 to 95 degree F. (27-35 C.) range. These ornamental grasses begin growing later in the year and don’t turn brown until fall. Which type of ornamental grass is right for you depends upon where you live.
Ornamental Grasses - Illinois, Indiana and Northern Midwest States
Although a few warm-season grasses are winter hardy in climates colder than zone 5, most are not. Ornamental grasses for Indiana and Illinois can include warm-season species in the lower portions of these states. For colder regions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley, consider these cool-season ornamental grasses that thrive in Zone 4.
Blue Fescue (Festuca ovina)
Foliage: Silvery-bluePlume color: Light tanHeight: 6-10 inches (15-25 cm.)
Blue Hair Grass (Koeleria glauca)
Foliage: Blue greenPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 12 inches (30 cm.)
Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens)
Foliage: Steel bluePlume color: Light brownHeight: 2 feet (.6 m.)
Bulbous Oat Grass (Arrhenatherum elatius)
Foliage: Bluish-green with white stripesPlume color: TanHeight: 12 inches (30 cm.)
Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora)
Foliage: Dull greenPlume color: Rosy pink to maroonHeight: 3 feet (.9 m.)
Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra)
Foliage: Creamy white, bright yellow and green stripedPlume color: InconspicuousHeight: 1-2 feet (.3-.6 m.)
Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Foliage: Bright green with white stripesPlume color: Greenish white to pale pinkHeight: 2 to 3 feet (.6-.9 m.)
Tufted Hair Grass (Dechampsia caespitosa)
Foliage: Dark greenPlume color: Silvery white to goldenHeight: 2 to 3 feet (.6-.9 m.)
Ornamental Grass – Kentucky and Zone 5 Midwest States
While cool-season grasses thrive in the upper third of the US, warm-season grasses are best for Southern states. Gardeners in the middle third of the country can choose either. In addition to the cool-season species listed above, zone 5 Lower Midwest and Ohio ornamental grasses can include these warm-season species:
Chinese Silver (Maiden) Grass (Miscanthus sinensus)
Foliage: Light green with ivory variegationPlume color: Silvery pinkHeight: 4 to 5 feet (1.2-1.5 m.)
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
Foliage: Bright greenPlume color: Buff to rosy whiteHeight: 3 feet (.9 m.)
Giant Reed Grass (Arundo donax)
Foliage: Bluish-green, green, or silverPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 20 feet (6 m.)
Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Foliage: Pale green, dark green, or blue-greenPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 3 to 7 feet (.9-2.1 m.)
Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica)
Foliage: Green and redPlume color: Non-floweringHeight: 2 to 20 feet (.6-6 m.)
Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Foliage: GreenPlume color: Golden brownHeight: 3 feet (.9 m.)
Plume Grass (Erianthus ravennae)
Foliage: Greyish-green with white midribsPlume color: Silvery whiteHeight: 14 feet (4.3 m.)
Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea)
Foliage: Dark greenPlume color: Golden to maroonHeight: 2 to 3 feet (.3-.6 m.)
Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
Foliage: GreenPlume color: Pinkish purpleHeight: 4 to 6 feet (1.2-1.8 m.)
