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Best Ornamental Grasses For Containers of 2024

Philip Jackson
  Mar 29, 2024 10:56 AM

 In this review, the Gilsons Lyceum Reviews Team researched the 8 best ornamental grasses for containers to help you find the product that’s right for you and your garden. You can see some famous brands as Green Promise Farms, Perennial Farm Marketplace, Daylily Nursery, CZ Grain.


Overview

More and more container gardens are incorporating ornamental grasses, which are quickly becoming garden mainstays. Containers are a great way to feature ornamental grasses without having to worry about them spreading or taking over the landscape. In addition, container-grown ornamental grasses are easier to divide.

Growing grasses in containers has the drawback of reducing their hardiness by about two hardiness zones. An ornamental grass hardy to USDA zone 5 when planted in the ground is usually only hardy to zone 7 in a pot. Ground-grown plants, not container-grown plants, are listed in the USDA zones below. An ornamental grass's hardiness depends on its exposure, the container it is grown in, and how well you winterize it during the winter months. Even in containers, you can treat ornamental grasses as annuals and replant them every year. Another option is to store the containers indoors for the winter in an enclosed space such as a greenhouse, garage/basement, or similar shelter.

This is a list of the best ornamental grasses that can be grown in pots.


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1
  • SCORE
    9.4
    AI Score

    G Score is a ranking system developed by our team of experts (people love working outdoors with people and plants). It from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our team based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Learn more

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    Green Promise Farms
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    Perennial Farm Marketplace
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  • Brand
    Perennial Farm Marketplace
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    Perennial Farm Marketplace
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    8.2
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    Perennial Farm Marketplace
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    Daylily Nursery
8
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    CZ Grain

Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Reviews

Bamboo Muhly

Bamboo muhly grass gets its name from the notched stems and feathery foliage that give it an appearance similar to a fern. It does well in both a cold and hot climate, and it can also be grown in a container.

Japanese Sweet Flag

You can grow this low-growing grass in containers if you don't want to grow a tall variety. Low-maintenance Japanese sweet flag thrives in moist, shady, or full sun.

Red Fountain Grass

Beautiful red fountain grass has burgundy-colored foliage that looks stunning. When combined with other garden plants, it creates a stunning display!

Japanese Forest Grass

It forms a clump and has yellow-green striped foliage. To achieve an ethereal effect, plant this ornamental grass in a dark ceramic pot.

Blue Lyme Grass

Leymus is a great specimen for containers because it spreads too quickly in a garden bed. In tufted clumps, the plant can reach heights of 2 to 3 feet. You can still get the spiky flower heads and the imposing steel-blue, sword-shaped leaves when you grow them in a container. Butterflies love the flowerheads, and the foliage is resistant to deer and rabbits.

Blue Oat Grass

In addition to a cool blue-gray hue, containers of blue oat grass add a rustling sound and an appealing texture to the garden. The plants can reach a height of 2 to 3 feet, have thin, spiky leaves, and grow in clumps.

Feather Reed Grass

One of the most versatile and widely-used garden ornamental grasses is the feather reed grass. When grown in a container, 'Karl Foerster's' wonderful, tall flower plumes make for an eye-catching focal point. Despite its need for some shade from the hot sun, feather reed grass is hardy enough to survive the winter in containers all the way to zone 6. It can reach a height of about 5 feet.

Leatherleaf Sedge

Sedges aren't technically grasses, but they're included here because they're underappreciated. With their bronze-tinged leaves and narrow blades that pick up the tiniest breeze, sedge plants are an excellent choice for container gardening. Leatherleaf sedge has fine-textured, upright foliage that stands about 1 to 2 feet tall.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘karl foerster’ 

Intricate columns of vertical flower panicles morph into a pretty straw blonde color in this feather-reed variety.

Calamagrostis is a fast-growing and easy-to-maintain plant that can be used to create feathery garden screening ideas. For best results, it prefers well-drained soil and bright, shady spots. In its final form, it reaches a height of 5 feet (1.5m).

Panicum virgatum ‘northwind’

An excellent choice for adding architectural interest to garden borders, this variety of graceful switch grass is one of the best you'll find.

During the fall, the foliage turns from blue-green to golden amber, and the flowers are also golden. A sun-loving deciduous grass that requires well-drained soil and plenty of air circulation. 5 feet 10 inches tall (1.5m).

Molinia caerulea subsp. Arundinacea ‘skyracer’ 

A purple moor grass with columnar, slender leaves that form shuttlecocks and turn a lovely golden yellow in the fall.

Bees and other pollinating insects benefit from this plant's nectar and pollen. A deciduous grass for open, sunny borders in well-drained soils. A 6.5-foot height is expected (2m).

FAQS

What are the key ornamental grasses for sound?

When the wind blows, ornamental grasses provide an enchanting sound that enhances the beauty of the garden. Sensory gardens can benefit greatly from the addition of these plants because of the calming effect they have on the senses.

For this, zebra grasses like Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus,' which rustles in a breeze, and the towering M. sacchariflorus, with its long, thick, lush leaves on tall stems, are ideal. They create an exotic jungle atmosphere.

What are the best types of ornamental grass for encouraging wildlife?

Native grasses and nectar-rich perennials like butterfly-friendly Liatris, Verbena, and Eupatorium are excellent choices for creating a wildlife garden in your yard.

There are a wide variety of British grasses for sale at Knoll Gardens, including Briza media, which produces an abundance of tiny flowerheads that shimmer in the breeze.

There are three plants in the back of the border: Carex caeruleus 'Aureo' (sedge), Deschampsia cespitosa (blonde flowerheads), and Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea (an upright tower of honey gold).

How to Grow Ornamental Grass in a Pot?

As long as you pick the right species and pot, growing ornamental grasses in containers can be a profitable gardening strategy. Grit should be mixed with compost and topsoil for most grasses.

Unglazed or lighter colored pots are better at evaporating excess moisture than dark colored, glazed pots. You should also make sure that the pot you use to grow ornamental grasses in containers has enough width and depth to accommodate the arching blades of grass.

Conclusion

Whichever ornamental evergreen grass for containers you choose will be simple to grow and maintain, requiring little attention from you while providing all of the aesthetic benefits that ornamental grasses can provide.


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