STEENHOEK ENVIRONMENTAL
Ornamental Grasses A-Z
AUTUMN MOOR GRASS
Sesleria autumnalis
A cool-season, mound forming ornamental grass. Foliage height is 8"-12" and emerges bright,lime-green with sturdy flower stalks emerging mid-summer through fall. This cultivar is most showy in the fall when its flower stalks turn to a rich brown, hence the name. This grass is very cold hardy and looks great planted in masses, small groups, rock gardens or perennial edgers.
AVALANCHE
Calamagrostis x Actiflora 'Avalanche' (Varigated Feather Reed Grass)
A varigated form of the well-know Karl Foerester grass. Foliage has beautiful green margins with white centers and the form is narrow and upright, reaching 2ft. Flower stalks reach up to 5' in the fall and are feathery and narrow, turning tan in the fall. Avalanche is a cool season grass and looks great in borders or in masses to bring formality to a grouping.
BIG BLUE STEM 'LORD SNOWDEN'
Andropogon gerardii 'Lord Snowden Big Blue Stem'
A popular, native grass found mostly in natural landscapes and prairies, best known for its "turkey foot' flower stalk. Foliage is blue green and grows to 4ft in height. This grass does best when neglected and handles dry, hot climates well. A hardy grass that forms a sod when allowed to grow to its capacity. Uses are best for natural landscapes and where plants may be difficult to grow.
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BLACK FOUNTAIN GRASS 'MOUDRY'
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Moudry'
A new and welcome addition to our inventory last year. This is medium-sized grass which is most notable for its black/dark purple, foxtail flower which is a show stopper! Foliage is an understated, mounding dark green, with the seed heads growing up to 3ft. One con to this cultivar is the possibility of self-seeding in warmer climates. This grass provides a sea of motion in mid-summer and is a must have for every garden.
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BLUE OAT GRASS
Helictotrichon sempervirens
A clump-forming, cool-season grass with powdery blue foliage. Foliage grows to 1'-2'ft with the flower reaching 2'-2.5'ft. Seed heads emerge blue-green and turn to tan in late summer with the flower head at the end of the pannicle. Because this is a cool season grass, foliage looks best in spring and fall when temperatures are cooler. We have found that it may go dormat during mid-summer when temperatures are at their highest.
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BLUE ZINGER
Carex glauca 'Blue Zinger'
An easy-to-grow, blue-green sedge which grows in mound like formations. Foliage is 8-10" with no significant flower. Versatile in all gardens as it will grow in both sun and shade. Great for pairing with hostas or in using in borders and rock gardens.
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BOULDER BLUE
Festuca glauca 'Boulder Blue"
Pretty smaller ornamental grass with bright powder blue foliage. Very hardy in colder climates where is thrives as a semi-evergreen. Foliage is slender and forms a tufted, upright mound with wheat like flowers. Keeps its round form and will reach 6-10". Drought and heat tolerant.
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CABARET MISCANTHUS
Miscanthus sinesis var. condensatus 'Cabaret'
One of our larger grasses, new last year. This ornamental grass offers striking foliage of emerald green margins with creamy white centers. Cabaret will reach 8', 9'ft with flower. The seed head starts as a tan tassel, emerging in late summer and then turns to a white plume in the fall. Do not cut back until Spring as foliage will provide nice winter interest and protect the crown.
DALLAS BLUES
Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues'
One of our favorite ornamental grasses! A taller blue-green grass with the foliage reaching 4'-5'ft, 8'ft with flower. The flower panicles are unusually large and airy with a slightly rosy color. Has a sturdy, vase-form shape which retains its shape through winter to provide a lasting winter display.
ELDORADO
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Eldorado' (Varigated Golden Feather Reed Grass)
A lovely, varigated feather reed grass. A medium sized grass which has many versatile uses. Foliage is green with a gold stripe, reaching 3'-5'ft, 4'-5'ft with flower head. Flower panicles are soft and airy with a purple/pink seed head. Eldorado is a cool-season grass which means it will look best in Spring and Fall.
FOUNTAIN GRASS 'CASSIAN'
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Cassian'
A small to medium sized fountain grass which sports cream to rose colored bottle-brush plumes. Cassian foliage is roughly 2ft, 3ft with flowers. Tolerates dry landscape and is a perfect addition for compact spaces. Plumes will work great flower arrangements or can be left in the garden to add dramatic winter interest.
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FOXTROT
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Foxtrot'
A giant version of fountain grass. This ornamental grass' best feature is its large bottle-brush plumes, which provide a spectacular sea of motion in the wind. Foliage is as wide as it is tall at 4'-5'ft, with grass blades being narrow and dark green.
Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
GIANT MISCANTHUS
Miscanthus x giganteus 'Giant Miscantus'
This is the absolute largest grass that we carry! As you can see in the photo, this grass is enormous (I am 5'7") and towers to 12'ft. This grass in almost bamboo like in structure and work well for screens or as a large display in a landscape. The leaves are dark green and in late fall develops silvery plumes. This grass needs room to grow and does have thick roots. Works great to leave all winter long for interest in your gardens.
FROST GRASS
Spodiopogon sibiricus
An interesting ornamental grass which has an asian appeal. This grass is best known for its unique flower panicles which shimmer in the sun. Foliage is bright green and grows to a height of 3'-4'ft and will turn to red and burgandy in the fall if planted in full sunlight. This is a nice specimen when planted alone or in grouping as borders.
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GIANT SACATON
Sporobous wrightii 'Giant Sacaton'
A quick growing, native grass with dark green, narrow foliage reaching 3'-4', with plumes reaching all the way to 6'ft. This grass puts on an impressive display with its rounded shape and huge, airy flower panicles. Giant Sacaton can handle extremely dry conditions and is easy to care for. An impresssive beauty in your garden.
Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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GOLDEN VARIGATED SWEET FLAG
Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'
This smaller ornamental grass will provide a pop of gold color to your gardens. Foliage is grassy-leaved and glossy growing to 15" in. with bright golden color. Prefers average to moist soils and will tolerate shade, which is an added bonus.
HAKONE GRASS
Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
2009 plant of the year. This grass will get your attention with its golden-varigated leaves and cascading habit. This grass is one of the few that will thrive in shade.
Overall plant size will reach 18"-24"in with no significant flower. Prefers average to moist soils.
HEAVY METAL
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
Also known as blue switchgrass, this is a native grass which has striking metalic-blue foliage which stays in a columnar form. Foliage will reach 4'ft, 5'ft with flower. The flower panicles are tinged pink and finely textured, creating an airy, cloud effect. This is specimen will grow best in full-sun and will look fantastic in a border or grouping.
ICE DANCE
Carex morrowi 'Ice Dance'
A semi-evergreen sedge which we have found to be extremely hardy. Foliage is striking with dark green arching blades complimented with a clean white edge. This grass will grow 12"-15" in high and will work nicely in partial shade to full shade. Flowers are small to insignificant with little white, wheat-like stalks. Try Ice Dance in borders, as a ground cover, in wooded/shaded areas.
INDIAN GRASS
Sorghastrum nutans
Indian grass is a warm-season, clump-forming, native grass. It is still widely found in the United States, where it is commonly used in prairie restoration, road-side projects and for erosion control. The foliage of Indian grass is arching and will grow to 2'ft., with 6'ft feathery plumes emerging in late summer. Drought tolerant once established.
KARL FOERSTER
Calamagrostis x actiflora - Feather Reed Grass
2001 Perennial Plant of the Year. One of landscapers all-time favorites and maybe the most frequently used. A cool-season grass that starts growing early in the spring. Green foliage will reach 2'ft with tan, wheat like flower stalks reaching up to 6'ft. Seed heads provide great background for low-growing flowering perennials. This grass stays very uplright and narrow making it a striking statement in your landscape
KOREAN FEATHER REED GRASS
Calamagrostis brachytricha
Known most for its beautiful airy plumes, Korean Feather Reed grass is a medium-sized, showy ornamental grass. Foliage is bright green in spring through summer reaching 3'ft, with 4'ft flowers appearing in late summer. Unlike most reed grasses, Korean Feather Reed grass will perform well in light shade as well as full sun.
LITTLE BLUE STEM 'PRAIRIE MUCHKIN'
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Muchkin'
New to Steenhoek Environmental last year, Prairie Muchkin is a dwarf variety of the popular Little Blue Stem. The foliage will grow to 2' ft, 2.5' ft with flower. The best feature of this grass is the dramatic color change from bright green in Spring to reds, oranges and purples in the fall. Prairie Muchkin will thrive in poor soil conditions and will look nice in natural setting, borders and hedges.
LITTLE BLUE STEM 'THE BLUES'
Schizachyriumscoparium 'The Blues'
One of our most popular native grasses. 'The Blues' foliage is a beautiful blue-green in the summer, foliage grows 2'ft, flower stalks reaching 3'ft tall, has a clumping habit and turns to orange/burgundy in the fall.
LITTLE ZEBRA
Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Zebra'
Sometimes called dwarf zebra grass, this is a nice smaller variety of the beautiful tall Zebra grass. Foliage is green with vivid, yellow bars growing to 3'ft tall. Flowers will reach 4'ft and may have a red tint in late fall. The form is arching and is a will work nicely in compact gardens.
MAIDEN GRASS 'ADIAGO'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Adiago' - Dwarf Maiden Grass
A compact maiden grass that has highly ornamental foliage with very narrow, blade like leaves, growing to 4'ft. Plumes are tassel-like and will turn from white to tan and pink-tinged as the summer goes on. Flower stalks will reach up to 5'ft. An excellent maiden grass for the smaller garden
MAIDEN GRASS 'GRACILLIMUS'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
Most elegant foliage which provides 4 seasons of interest with its narrow ribbed leaves and vase shaped form. Gracillimus will reach a full 6ft in height with tassel-like, bronze seed heads in late summer. It is one fo the oldest know cultivars of Miscanthus and a favorite at Steenhoek Environmental.
MAIDEN GRASS 'MORNING LIGHT'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'
This is a beautiful varigated maiden grass. It has narrow-ribbed foliage which will reach 4ft and have an arching, vase-like habit. Flowers are tassel-like and will reach up to 6'ft. This is one of the more common maiden grasses used in landscaping.
NORTHERN LIGHTS
Deschampsia caespitosa 'Northern Lights' (Tufted Hair Grass)
This grass bursts with a multitude of color as the seasons change. In Spring, the blades are green, pink and cream. When hot temperatures hit, the foliage turns to oranges and reds with the heat. Foliage will remain at 12" and the seed heads will be tall and whispy like a cloud reaching up to 2'ft tall. This is one of the few grasses that will do well in shade.
NORTHERN PAMPAS GRASS
Saccharum ravenne
This is a hardier version and good substitue for true Pampas Grass, which is only a perennial in warmer clients. This is a large grass which gets most of its height from it showy plumes. Foliage is arching and will remain at 4-6'ft with huge feathery plumes reaching up to 12'ft. Seed heads are extremely ornamental with large tan plumes. This grass will need room to grow and will provide outstanding winter interest.
NORTHERN SEA OATS (RIVER OATS)
Chasmanthium latifolium
A North-American native which features loads of dangling, flat seed pods. Seeds start green like the foliage and then turn to tan in mid to late summer. Foliage is almost asian inspired and will grow to 3'ft, with the seed pods growing to 4'ft. This grass will perform well in shade and can propagate through self-seeding.
NORTHWIND
Panicum virgatum 'Northwind'
A tall ornamental switchgrass best known for keeping its tidy, vertical form. Foliage color is blue-green and will easily reach 4'-5', with finely textured flowers bringing the total height to 6'. This grass is a beautiful favorite at Steenhoek Environmental.
PRAIRIE DROP SEED
Sporobolus heterolepis
A popular landscape plant, Praire Drop Seed is a native grass which is a major component of the Midwestern prairie. This grass has thin green blades growing to 2'ft. Airy, open panicles will float like a cloud above the foliage, reaching 3'ft.
PRAIRIE FIRE SEDGE
Carex testacea 'Prairie Sedge'
A very ornamental carex which adds a lot of color and texture to the garden. Beautiful weeping foliage but stays round and compact and grows to 15"in. Seed heads are insignificant. Best known for its coppery orange color which intensifies when placed in full sun.
PRAIRIE FIRE SWITCHGRASS
Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Fire'
An upright switchgrass which displays blue-green foliage which turns to red and burgandy as the summer heats up. This grass stays upright, narrow clump reaching 4-5'ft. Flower panicles are rose-colored and finely textured and develop in mid to late summer. This is a beautful, taller red grass.
PRAIRIE SKY
Panicum Virgatum (Blue Switchgrass)
A North-American native and one of the bluest switchgrasses grown. We have found that it does not stand as erect as some other varieties of switchgrasses and may need staking. Foliage will reach 3'ft, 4'ft with flower. Seed heads are airy and delicate. Grows well in dry in poor soils.
PURPLE LOVE GRASS
Eragrostis spectabilis 'Purple Love Grass'
A hardy grass which has a unique cloud of airy, purple flower panicles that are sure to get noticed. Foliage is green and grows to 6"in, with flower panicles arriving in late summer growing to a total of 10". Purple Love Grass will tolerate poor soil conditions. This grass will provide some fun in your garden.
RUBY RIBBONS
Panicum virgatum 'RR1 PP17944'
Ruby ribbons is a red switchgrass which is similar in size to Shennandaoh. This cultivar starts with a blue-green foliage which turns to dark wine, purple and red in mid-summer. Foliage will reach 3'ft, 4'ft with flower. Flower panicles are airy and delicate.
SHENANDOAH
Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' (Red Switchgrass)
Add color your garden with this beautiful red switchgrass Grows to about 4 feet with flowers that are pinkish red. It is very popular in the use for raingardens and areas where more color is needed. It is a very popular native grass.
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Image courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
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SIDE OATS GRAMA
Bouteloua gracilis (Blue Grama, Mosquito Grass)
An original prairie grass, Side Oats Grama is sod-forming and drought tolerant. Foliage grows to 6"in with seed heads that looks like mosquitoes hovering over the plant. Seed heads will reach 1'ft.
SILVER FEATHER GRASS
Mincanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder'
Silver Feather is one of our favorite grasses! It is a very large grass which needs room to grow. Foliage has wide, dark-green blades with a white midrib, growing to 5'ft. The flower is spectacular and has a huge, white, silky plume with a silvery pink cast. This grass is a show stopper!
SILVER BANNER GRASS
Miscanthus sacchariflorus
Silver Banner Grass is a fast-spreading grass which reproduces by rhizomes. This grass may be the variety you see growing in many ditches and farm yards. Foliage is dark green with a white midrib and will grow to 4'ft. Flower plumes are white and paint brush like and reach to 5'ft. This is one of the few spreading grasses that we carry and needs to be placed in an area where it can be contained.
SKYRACER
Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea 'Skyracer"
Skyracer emerges with bright green foliage that stays compact and round, growing to 3'ft. The flower panicles are what adds the interest. Thin flower stalks grow an additional 3'ft and hover far above the foliage, providing an airy, delicate cloud. This is a unique ornamental grass and looks gorgeous planted 3-4'ft apart.
STRIPED TUBER OAT GRASS
Arrhenatherum elatius ssp. bulbosum 'Variegatum'
A small grass which can act as a slow-growing ground cover. Foliage is nearly white and we have found that it looks best in Spring and Late Fall when temperatures are cooler. Foliage will only grow to roughly 8" and prefers shade to light sun.
THUNDERCLOUD
Panicum virgatum 'Thundercloud' (Tall Switchgrass)
A tall switchgrass with blue-green foliage growing to 7'ft. It is upright and vase-shaped. Flower panicles are airy and delicate and will reach up to 8'ft. Becaus eof its size Thundercloud will work well as a screen or also nicely as a accent or background display. This grass is patented and cannot be propogated.
TUFTED HAIR GRASS 'BRONZESCHLEIER'
Deschampsia cespitosa 'Bronzeschleier'
One of the largest in the Tufted Hair Grass family. Bronzeschleier is a semi-evergreen and has arching green foliage which will grow to 1'ft. The flower panicles are airy and bronze, creating a cloud effect an additional 1'ft above the foliage. Bronzeschleier will grow well in sun and shade.
ZEBRA GRASS
Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'
It is an impressive performer growing well in sunny and dry conditions. Emerald green foliage with distinctive gold bars add interest to any garden. It will grow up to 8 feet tall and has flowers that are copper colored in mid September. It will tend lean over and arch over other plants making for a very visual display.
VARIGATED MISCANTHUS
Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cabaret'
One of our larger ornamental grasses which has prominent green and white foliage which rises to an impressive 8'ft, 9'ft with flower. Seed heads are pink-tinged and emerge in late summer. This grass will work well as a screen or to make a statement. Leave plenty of room for this grass to grow.
BOWLES GOLDEN SEDGE
Carex Elata 'Bowles Golden'
A bright green Carex that has lasting color throughout the year. Great in full sun or part shade. Looks lovely with contrasting deep green foliage plants such as hostas. Thrives in moist soil or at the edge of a pond. Semi-Evergreen. Height is 1-2' tall & 2-3' wide.