Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ (Yellow Sweetflag) – Grass-like foliage of 12-14”, with evergreen chartreuse foliage.  Can also be grown in average garden soil!  Best grown in full sun to light shade. 

Acorus gramineus pusillus minimus ‘Aureus’ (Dwarf Golden Sweetflag) – It is interesting how a plant with such a nice long botanical name can only grow to 4” in height!  The chartreuse foliage is a nice compliment to blue or purple flowers.  A very tough plant, growing well in moist soils (it can actually be submerged in water) or in dry.  

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (Feather Reed Grass) – A very vertical plant, growing to 5’ in height.  The flowers appear in June, and are initially pink and ‘fluffy’, becoming narrow and tan by August.  Remains ornamental until January.  Full sun, moist to dry soils.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘El Dorado’ – Similar to the above, but the foliage is variegated with bold yellow strips down the center of the leaves.  The plant grows to 4’ and should be planted in full sun for best golden color.

Calamagrostis brachytricha (Korean Feather Reed Grass) – Growing to 3’, it is one of the tallest grasses that is shade tolerant.  Attractive and airy pink inflorescences appear in September.  Full sun to shade, with soils that are moist to well drained.

Carex elata ‘Aurea’ (Bowles Golden) – Bright golden foliage to 2’ makes this a plant suitable for the garden or containers.  Is wet site tolerant, although it will grow very happily in drier soils in the shade.

Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’ (Variegated Sedge) – Green and white striped foliage, growing to 12-15” in height.  An ideal plant to use as a groundcover in light shade; it spreads relatively rapidly and forms thick, weed free masses.  Great for brightening up that dark corner!

Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ – Do you need a golden variegated grass to warm up a spot in your garden?  Evergold grows to 8” tall, but produces leaf blades that are up to 18” in length.  It looks great used in a container where the leaves can tumble down over the side of the pot!  Good in sun or light shade in soils that do not remain water logged for long periods.

Carex siderosticha ‘Lemon Zest’ (Creeping Broad Leaf Sedge) – Very attractive golden yellow foliage, reaching 10”+ in height.  This plant spreads slowly in moist or dry soils to produce an effective splash of yellow in the garden.  If the soil is dry, some shade is appreciated for the best growth.

Carex siderosticha ‘Variegata’ (Creeping Broad Leaf Sedge) – Similar to the above, but the leaf center is dark green, edged in white.

Fargesia dracocephala (Dragon’s Head Bamboo) – The canes typically turn a dark red when exposed to sunlight.  Maturing to a height of 15’ and zone 6 hardy.

Fargesia murielae ‘New Umbrella’ (Fountain Bamboo) – Fargesia is the bamboo genus that is clump forming, and is non-invasive!   Growing to 12’, this plant produces a beautiful arching clump, with small evergreen leaves lining the culms.  Requires light shade for best growth.  Deer resistant and very hardy (zone 4)!

Fargesia robusta ‘Green Screen’ (Umbrella Bamboo) – Similar to the above, but growing slightly taller to 15-20’ and it is tolerant of sun.  Hardy to zone 6/7.

Fargesia rufa ‘Green Panda’ (Umbrella Bamboo) – Also able to withstand more sunlight but is shade tolerant; it matures to 8’ in height.  Zone 6 hardy.

Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ (Blue Fescue) – For those in need of an easy to grow, blue foliaged grass.  Best grown in full sun or light shade in soils that do not dry out.

Hakonechloa macra (Mt. Hakone Grass) – A very attractive grass, growing to 18-24” in height.  Resembles a small water fountain when mature!  Very shade tolerant and drought tolerant, but can be grown in the sun if the soils are well amended with organic matter.  In mass it makes a great groundcover.

Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ – Slightly smaller growing than the species with golden foliage.  Great for brightening up that shady spot.

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ – Green leaves with yellow variegation throughout.  Very effective!

Hakonechloa macra ‘Alba Variegata’ – Similar to the above, but the foliage has a slender white margin. 

Helictotrichon sempervirens ‘Sapphire’ (Blue Oat Grass) – Powder blue foliage with tan inflorescences held high above, appearing similar to a giant Fescue.

Indocalmus tessellates – Growing to 7’ tall, this plant is famous for the very large foliage; leaves can reach 4” wide and 2’ long!  The leaves are used for mats and for wrapping food.  It is ideal for a tropical or coarse appearance.  Best planted in light shade and in areas not getting below –5 degrees F.

Leymus arenarius ‘Blue Dune’ (Blue Dune Grass) – If you have poor dry soils in sun, which resist the growth of any plant, here is your plant!  Blue Dune Grass has great metallic blue foliage to 24”, and will spread to form an effective groundcover.  Extremely hardy (zone 4).  The sandier the soil, the more aggressive the plant becomes.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Cabaret’ (Japanese Silver Grass) – Wide green and white-stripped leaves make this 8’ tall plant a knockout!  Cooper colored inflorescences appear in September.  Full sun exposure is best with average draining and fertility soils.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Huron Sunrise’ (Japanese Silver Grass) – Green foliage with bronze flowering inflorescences in August.  One of the hardiest forms of Miscanthus.  Full sun exposure is best with average draining and fertility soils.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ (Japanese Silver Grass) – Delicate white and green variegated leaves.  One of the finest textured Miscanthus.  Rosy pink inflorescences appear in September.  Full sun exposure is best with average draining and fertility soils. 

Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’ (Fountain Grass) – Rose pink flowers appear all summer long over green foliage.  With flowers reaching heights of 3’ tall, this plant needs full baking sun and well-drained soils to flourish.  Drought tolerant.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata (Yellow Grove Bamboo) – An arborescent bamboo, meaning that it is tree-like, ultimately growing to 25’ tall.  The stems are green and the sulcus (grooves in the stem) is yellow.  An easy to grow bamboo, which will need containment in a confined area.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Aureocaulis’ (Yellow Stem Bamboo) – An arborescent bamboo, meaning that it is tree-like, ultimately growing to 25’ tall.  This plant is unusual because the culms (the stems) are yellow in color, with occasional green stripes!  Since it is a strong running bamboo, it will need containment with a barrier (we will have heavy gauge plastic barriers for sale) or simply a large area to run!

Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Spectabilis’ (Yellow Stem Bamboo) – Similar to the above, but the stems are yellow and the grooves in the stems are green!  Has proven to remain totally evergreen at the Rutgers Gardens.

Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo) – Also, an arborescent bamboo, the distinctive element of this plant is the rich black culms that develop the second year!  Again, it is a running bamboo, and will need some form of confinement.

Phyllostachys nuda – The bamboo that forms the groove at the Rutgers Gardens!  Hardy to –20 degrees F., the green culms are at their most attractive in spring, when mahogany brown leaf sheaths with darker swirls cover the new shoots.  

Pleioblastus distichus ‘Mini’ (Dwarf Fernleaf Bamboo) –A groundcover form that is evergreen and only reaches 10-12” tall.  Distichus refers to the leaf blade arrangement, which is tightly assembled in two ranks, resembling that of a fern. 

Sasa veitchii (Veitch’s Bamboo) – Large green leaves, to 6” in length develop thin tan margins with the onset of cooler weather in the fall, giving the plant the appearance of being variegated all winter.  Mature height of 4’, hardy to 0 degrees F (zone 7).

Sasaella masamuneana ‘Albostriata’ – Creamy white variegation on the leaves allows this plant to brighten shady locations.  Plants grow to 3-4’ in height and are hardy to 0 degrees F.

Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) – Very fine leaves with silky awns provide the appearance of a flowing mane of blonde hair at maturity.  Iridescent bright green foliage forms dense clumps.  Best grown in full sun in soils that are well drained.  Mature height 18" and 18" wide.  Hardy to zone 7 or in a protected location in zone 6.  Look great in containers.

Tropical Ornamental Grasses

Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ (Red Fountain Grass) – Producing red flowers all summer, the 3’ tall reddish/purple foliage provides a striking accent or background for containers, annual beds and the mixed border.

Last Modified: 4/16/08, rugardens@njaes.rutgers.edu.
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