Ornamental grasses do more than hide the neighbor's boat

There are no zero-maintenance perennials. Every plant requires extra care in its inaugural year and then seasonal deadheading and cutting back. But if you are searching for plants that love sunshine and make very few demands on a gardener, look no further than ornamental grasses.

After they are established in the garden, ornamental grasses ask for nothing more than a spring haircut and your admiration. In return, they emerge as fresh green shoots in spring; provide attractive foliage throughout the season; and bloom in feathery plumes, airy panicles, or fluffy foxtails. Many contribute fall color, and some persevere through snowstorms to provide structure in the winter garden.

While I am fond of all ornamental grasses, the varieties I most covet are the colossal cultivars -- the ones where either the foliage or the flowers are at least as tall as I am. I put them to use in my landscape as specimen plants in long, mixed perennial borders, in groupings with other grasses and to screen unwanted views.

Big bluestem

Big bluestem was the primary grass in the tallgrass prairies that once covered this area. It reaches 6 feet tall with fine-textured, silvery blue foliage that turns coppery-red in the fall. The distinctive, three-part, purplish flower spikes appearing in late summer are responsible for another of its common names -- turkey foot grass.

Big bluestem prefers moist conditions, but adapts well to drier soils. A mass of big bluestem is stunning, but one plant can be a dramatic accent in a large sun-soaked perennial border.

Plume grass

And the winner of the drama queen of ornamental grasses goes to … plume grass! Plume grass is our Zone 5 alternative to Pampas grass. Its gray-green foliage grows a respectable 4 to 5 feet tall, but the silvery-white flower plumes rise another 8 to 10 feet above the foliage in September. The foliage turns shades of orange, beige and purple in the fall, and the flowers become feathery, cream-colored panicles.

Use this spectacular grass to hide or draw attention away from undesirable views. It can also be a magnificent landscape specimen or an impressive focal point of an ornamental grass collection.

Plume grass is happiest when planted in moist, fertile soil but tolerates drier conditions. If you want to enjoy its structure in the winter garden, plant it in an area protected from strong winds. Give plume grass an extra blanket of mulch for the winter.

Maiden grass

One of the most popular ornamental grasses, maiden grass, has upright, arching, fine-textured foliage. Coppery-colored flowers appear in September on stems a foot or more above the 5- to 6-foot foliage. They mature to silver for the winter.

The sturdy, upright form of maiden grass suits a formal garden design, but it can also be the mediator of less-than decorous perennials. It is equally attractive when planted in informal groups of three or five or like sentries on either side of an entrance.

Make sure you plant maiden grass where you can appreciate its form in the winter. Its strong stems can withstand all but the heaviest snows.

Porcupine grass

Porcupine grass has unusual variegation -- golden yellow bands cross the leaf blades horizontally. Its foliage grows stiffly upright to 5 feet tall and coppery-colored flowers appear in September 1 to 2 feet above the foliage. Flowers mature to fluffy plumes after frost.

The striking variegation of porcupine grass makes it an ideal specimen plant. When it is backlit by early morning or late afternoon sun, the foliage sparkles. Position it behind yellow-flowering perennials like black-eyed Susans or goldenrod for an arresting display.

Porcupine grass enjoys moist, fertile soil and will even grow happily in shallow standing water. Perfectly placed at a pond's edge, the beauty of porcupine grass is doubled as it is reflected in the water.

Giant Chinese silver grass

Giant Chinese silver grass is the Goliath of ornamental grasses. The largest member of the Miscanthus family, it has robust canes up to 2 inches thick with medium green bamboo-like leaves that skyrocket to 10 feet tall. If I had time to sit on my garden bench, I am sure I would see it growing! Reddish tassel-like flowers appear another 1 to 2 inches above the foliage in October and then quickly turn to fluffy plumes -- silver at first, then fading to tan.

If your neighbor keeps his boat or other summer recreational equipment alongside your property line, plant giant Chinese silver grass and peace is restored. This is THE grass to use for hedging or to screen undesirable views.

For those of you who have embraced the tropical plant trend, picture giant Chinese silver grass as a backdrop for banana trees, phormiums, and cannas. Can't you just feel the heat and humidity rising?

Plant this grass in full sun or lightly shaded areas. A word of caution: plant it where it will remain. Its thick, unyielding rhizomes are difficult to move or divide.

Switch grass

I wouldn't have a garden without Dallas Blues switch grass. I love its wide, soft blue foliage that grows 6 to 8 feet tall and turns lovely shades of yellow in fall. The large airy clouds of purplish flowers appear in August and persist through the winter.

Switch grass was another stalwart of our bygone tallgrass prairies. These grasses are adaptable plants that tolerate many soil types from wet to dry. Magnificent whether planted as an accent plant, en mass or as a background plant, switch grass holds its form in winter, providing structure until it is cut back in early spring.

I just can't get enough supersized grasses. I wonder if it is because I admire their ability to grow from ground level to sky-high in record speed, the four-season contribution they offer my landscape -- or because my neighbor just bought another boat.