Ornamental Grasses for the Perennial Garden

Ornamental Grasses for the Perennial Garden

By Published April 05, 2018 Updated July 05, 2022

Perennial ornamental grasses are a way to have interest in the garden throughout the year. They can act as a contrast with heavier textured plants like shrubs, and most (including panicum and fountain grass) thrive in full sun. However, there are some varieties of ornamental grasses that will also work in light shade.

Panicum, or switchgrass, is native to the United States. They are deer-resistant ornamental grasses that are also tolerant of drought after they get established. Panicum can be a short or tall ornamental grass depending on the variety. There are a variety of colors panicum can come in.

Fountain grass, or Pennisetum, can also be a tall ornamental grass, with some varieties reaching 10'-12' tall. Fountain grass is very popular and easy to grow, and is an ornamental grass for sale that has a high salt tolerance. If it needs cutting back, fountain grass can be pruned in spring or fall.

Whether looking for panicum, fountain grass, or something different, with all the perennial ornamental grass for sale out there to choose from, there shouldn't be a problem in finding the right one for your garden. 

Welcome to Plant Delights Nursery at Juniper Level Botanic Gardens. We are a private research and display botanic garden located near Raleigh, North Carolina (USDA Hardiness Zone 7b). Our retail mail order division allows us to make the best plants from our trials available to gardeners around the world, some of which were developed here, some from our plant explorations, and others from breeders around the world. Between 1988 and 2010, Plant Delights Nursery introduced over 500 new plants to US horticulture. In 2002, we were honored to be recognized by the American Horticulture Society for our lifetime of work in commercial horticulture. This image gallery is but a sampling of the great plants available for gardeners around the world. We do not carry all plants pictured at any one time, but since our mission is to educate and inspire, we hope these images and the linked articles below will expand your garden horizons and interest. You will find an array of other interesting information and fascinating plants throughout our website...thank you for taking time to visit.

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