Ornamental Grasses – The Growing Scene

Schizachyrium ‘Ha Ha Tonka’ Ha Ha Tonka Little Bluestem 1G

Kathleen Carr — Mon, 25 May 2026 12:56:37 +0000

Schizachyrium ‘Ha Ha Tonka’

Ha Ha Tonka Little Bluestem

Dense, fine hairs on the leaves of this native Little Bluestem create a halo effect in the light. Part of the Piet Oudolf Collection, this cultivar has a rigid, upright habit.


Bloom Month	July-August
Mature Size	3′ – 4’H x 18″ – 24″W

Sorghastrum nutans Golden Sunset® Yellow Prairie Grass 1G

Kathleen Carr — Mon, 25 May 2026 12:47:00 +0000

Sorghastrum nutans ‘MNYG318153’

Golden Sunset® Yellow Prairie Grass

A tall native grass with wheat-like seedheads


Bloom Month	August-October
Mature Size	4′ – 6’H x 24″ – 36″W

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Love and Rockets’ 1G

Kathleen Carr — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 16:42:04 +0000

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Love and Rockets’

Love and Rockets Fountain Grass

Small fountain grass with wine red flowers that soften gracefully in fall. Compact dark green foliage contrasts nicely with red blooms, turning to shades of red in fall.

Height: 24″ – 36″
Width: 24″ – 36″
Soil Conditions: Moist/Well Drained
Flower Color: Red
Bloom Time: July, August, September, October
Hardiness Zone: 5 To 9

Sesleria autumnalis Autumn Moor Grass 1G

Kathleen Carr — Fri, 26 May 2023 12:51:48 +0000

Sesleria autumnalis

Autumn Moor Grass

Semi-evergreen foliage. A cool-season grass. Drought tolerant once established. Silver flowers at 18-24″

Height: 18″ – 24″
Width: 12″ – 18″
Soil Conditions: Moist/Well Drained
Flower Color: Silver
Bloom Time: July, August
Hardiness Zone: 5 To 9

Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’ Big Bluestem 1 Gallon

Kathleen Carr — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:03:13 +0000

Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’

Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem are perfect for providing height and color to the garden, coming into prime a little earlier than other ornamental grasses. The foliage of ‘Blackhawks’ emerges deep green to dark purple in spring and deepens to near black by fall.

Dubbed the “monarch of the prairie”, this native grass was once the dominant component of the American tallgrass prairie. It adapts easily to a wide range of soil and moisture conditions as long as full sun is provided. This long-lived grass has a variety of uses including screening, naturalizing, restoring prairies, and nesting materials for birds and mammals.

Patent No: PP#27,949
Height: 4-6 ft
Width: 24-36 in
Soil Conditions: Moist/Well Drained
Flower Color: Brown
Bloom Time: Sep, Oct
Hardiness Zone: 3 TO 9

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ Morning Light Silver Maiden Grass 1 Gallon

Kathleen Carr — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 21:16:13 +0000

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’

Morning Light Silver Maiden Grass

Graceful upright mound of narrow green foliage, edged in creamy white. Coppery-pink plumes at 7′

Height: 6-8 ft
Width: 3-4 ft
Soil Conditions: Moist/Well Drained
Flower Color: Red
Bloom Time: Sep
Hardiness Zone: 5 TO 9

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Twilight Zone’ Twilight Zone Little Bluestem 1 Gallon

Kathleen Carr — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 20:09:56 +0000

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Twilight Zone’

Twilight Zone Little Bluestem

Silvery-purple iridescent mid-summer, deepening to violet in autumn. Winter color is a tawny gold. Remains upright with narrow columnar form.

Patent No: PP#27,432
Height: 3-4 ft
Width: 18-24 in
Soil Conditions: Dry
Flower Color: Brown
Bloom Time: Sep, Oct
Hardiness Zone: 3 TO 9

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’ Prairie Blues Little Bluestem 1 Gallon

Kathleen Carr — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:12:53 +0000

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’

Prairie Blues Little Bluestem

Gray-blue foliage, strong upright stem. Foliage changes to a rosy orange come fall.

Height: 3-4 ft
Width: 18-24 in
Soil Conditions: Dry
Flower Color: Pink
Bloom Time: Sep, Oct
Hardiness Zone: 3 TO 9

Panicum virgatum ‘Apache Rose’ Apache Rose Switch Grass 1 Gallon

Kathleen Carr — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:56:57 +0000

Panicum virgatum ‘Apache Rose’

Apache Rose Switch Grass

Rose-colored grass tips and flower panicles in the fall

Patent No: PP#29,142
Height: 3-4 ft
Width: 24-36 in
Soil Conditions: Moist/Well Drained
Flower Color: Red
Bloom Time: Jul, Aug, Sep
Hardiness Zone: 4 TO 9

Panicum virgatum ‘Cheyenne Sky’ – Cheyenne Sky Red Switch Grass 1 gallon

Kathleen Carr — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 19:18:50 +0000

Panicum virgatum ‘Cheyenne Sky’

Cheyenne Sky Red Switch Grass

Dense upright clump of blue-green leaves that turn wine red in early summer. Purple flower panicles appear just above the foliage in late summer.

Patent No: PP#23,209
Height: 3-4 ft
Width: 18-24 in
Soil Conditions: Moist/Well Drained
Flower Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Jul, Aug, Sep
Hardiness Zone: 4 TO 9