Plant Shop and Recommendations

A 2-4 ft., clump-forming grass bearing large, drooping, oat-like flower spikelets from slender, arching branches. The blue-green, bamboo-like leaves often turn a bright yellow-gold, especially in sunnier sites, in fall.

Very popular as a low-maintenance shade grass, Inland sea oats is notable for its large, graceful seedheads. Sending up blue-green basal leaves in earliest spring, it can be 2 feet tall and a vivid green by May, with translucent green seedheads swaying in the breeze. By mid-summer, the seeds will have turned an attractive ivory and will turn brown in a few months before dropping off.

Native grass that tolerates a variety of soil types, from heavy clay to dry, rocky soil. With a height of 2-3 ft. tall, and airy panicles of golden seed head, it serves as a great groundcover. Effective when planted en masse or along borders.

A native grass with many cultivars available to exhibit the beautiful blue coloring (turning to red and orange in the fall). Grows 1.5-3 ft. tall, preferring dry soil types. Important to birds and insects, but also deer proof. Common cultivars: ‘Standing Ovation’, ‘Cimmaron’, ‘Smoke Signal’

A large native grass reaching 3-6 ft. tall (depending on cultivar). Easily grown in most soils; has wide tolerance for dry, moist, sandy or clay soils. Also has some salt tolerance, which makes it useful for the coastal plain. Good for erosion control, but does not tolerate much shade.

Common cultivars: ‘Northwind’, ‘Shenandoah’, ‘Heavy Metal’

A very short (1-2 ft.) grass with airy clouds of purple seed head. Prefers medium to dry soil moisture and is tolerant of infertile, droughty soils. Excellent when used along borders or in mass plantings.

One of the more shade-tolerant grass species, prefers part-shade over full sun. Foliage remains semi-evergreen and forms a dense tussock of thin leaf blades. Height of 2-3’, works best massed in woodland gardens or naturalized areas.

Annual grass most commonly used in the fall for container or temporary harvest décor. May be dried and used in arrangements. Common cultivars: ‘Purple Majesty’, ‘Purple Baron’

Carex rosea (Curly-styled Wood Sedge) is an adaptable woodland sedge that forms clumps of delicate foliage. A slight rose tint to the starry seedheads gives its name. It thrives in mesic to dry soils and is a good choice for a dry shade garden. Its seeds are consumed by a variety of songbirds.

A widely used ornamental grass with tall (3-5 ft.), upright habit. Showy golden seed head with feathery appearance. Will grow in a variety of soil conditions and types.

Carex albicans has wispy arching leaf blades and a delicate mounding appearance. The unique flower spikes in late spring may be green, brown, or tan, with a distinct white margin. This is an excellent sedge for difficult shaded áreas. (top difficult dry shaded areas.

Carex albicans is drought tolerant, versatile, and performs well in the garden and landscape. It is not especially particular about soil type and it adapts well to varying amounts of moisture.

Muhlenbergia capillaris, commonly called pink muhlygrass or pink hair grass, is a clump-forming, warm-season perennial grass noted for its attractive summer foliage and spectacular clouds of fall pink flowers.

Best grown in sandy or rocky, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Best in full sun. Tolerant of heat, humidity, and drought, but generally grows taller with consistent moisture. Tolerates poor soils and urban conditions.

Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Pee Wee' flowers are white and appear in early to mid-summer. As the flowers age they fade to pink. This is a smaller cultivar reaching a height of 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet Easily grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Bloom occurs on old wood.

Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade. Tolerates full sun only if grown with consistent moisture. Can adapt to a variety of soil conditions, but intolerant of drought. 'Annabelle' is a smooth hydrangea cultivar which features much larger flowers than the species. It is a deciduous shrub with a rounded habit which typically grows 3-5' tall.