Grasses provide color, texture through winter

Many ornamental grasses are well-behaved clumpers, drought tolerant, low-maintenance, deer resistant, pest free and give you three seasons of interest; one of which is winter. They add graceful motion, provide architectural structure, texture, vertical lines and can even contribute sound.

Many grasses have colorful foliage that changes through the seasons. Taller grasses make dramatic privacy screens, or hedges. These are just a few of the outstanding ornamental grasses available for the garden.

•Calamagrostis “Karl Foerster” (feather reed grass) needs almost no care. Its upright stems reach 5 feet and persist through most of the winter. It blooms early with narrow inflorescences that turn a buff color by late summer. This 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year makes a magnificent hedge. Try variegated forms C. “Avalanche” and C. “Eldorado.”

•Saccharum ravennae (ravenna grass) towers 12 to 14 feet. The 2-foot, majestic plumes make an imposing architectural statement in the winterscape.

•Blue foliaged Helichtotrichon sempervirens (blue oat grass) is an early bloomer, with sensational tawny seed heads that are effective throughout winter.

•Imperata cylindrical “Red Baron” (blood grass) is blood red from the blade tips down. This slow grower will mature at 18 inches. Full sun will produce the best color.

•Miscanthus sinensis “Cabaret” and “Cosmopolitan” (maiden grass) are graceful elegant grasses. Both grow to 5 or 6 feet and have ribbon-like foliage. M. “Cabaret” has a wide, white center band while M. “Cosmopolitan” has white outer margins.

•Miscanthus sinensis “Graziellia” (maiden grass) is an early blooming Miscanthus, producing silvery tassels that persist into winter. Foliage turns a red/orange in the fall, then changes to a buff color during the coldest months of the year.

•The blades of Miscanthus sinensis “Strictus” and “Zebrinus” (maiden grass) have bold gold horizontal stripes and can get from 4 to 7 feet tall. M. “Zebrinus” is arching while M. “Strictus” is more erect.

•Panicum virgatum “Shenandoah” (switch grass) is a 3 to 4 foot standout. In midsummer, foliage starts to turn color and by autumn is an incredible shade of purple.

•Pennisetum alopecuroides “Red Head” (fountain grass) is a spectacular 3 to 4 foot cultivar for sun or light shade. This early bloomer boasts huge, 10-inch-long, dusky purple plumes. Foliage turns gold in fall and holds up through most of the winter. Spectacular!