Ornamental Grass Guide: 32 Types Compared by Zone, Size and Invasive Status

Key takeaways

• Chicago Botanic Garden grew 109 ornamental grass taxa in USDA zone 5b from 2006 to 2017 and gave 22 its top five-star rating, including switchgrass ‘Northwind’, little bluestem ‘Carousel’ and prairie dropseed ‘Tara’ (CBG Plant Evaluation Notes 43, 2018).
• Trial plants outgrew catalog spreads: fountain grass ‘Red Head’ measured 80 inches wide at CBG, against a 2 to 3 ft spread in the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder.
• Miscanthus sold as sterile mostly is not: 30 of 34 Miscanthus taxa x-rayed at CBG in 2010 carried viable seed, up to 349,327 seeds per plant for ‘Kleine Silberspinne’ (CBG Table 2).
• Maryland prohibited Chinese silvergrass and Chinese fountain grass from July 15, 2026, with potted stock sold through by July 15, 2027 (Maryland Department of Agriculture); Massachusetts ends all Miscanthus sinensis sales on Dec. 31, 2026 (MDAR).
• Cut deciduous grasses in late winter before new shoots, to about 4 inches (CBG) or 6 to 8 inches (K-State MF3048), and space each plant at its mature height, center to center.

What counts as an ornamental grass?

An ornamental grass is a grass or grass-like plant grown for foliage, flowers and form rather than for turf or forage. UF/IFAS counts true grasses (Poaceae) plus four grass-like families: rushes (Juncaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), sweetflags (Acoraceae) and horsetails (Equisetaceae) (UF/IFAS ENH976, revised September 2023). Lilyturf and mondo grass look grass-like but belong to the asparagus family, Asparagaceae (MBG).

The true grasses alone are a big pool: Chicago Botanic Garden counts more than 600 genera and 10,000 species in Poaceae (CBG PEN 43). Two traits sort the garden kinds. Clumping grasses form discrete crowns and stay put; running grasses spread by rhizomes or stolons, and giant reed (Arundo donax) is CBG’s example of a runner that can take over more space than intended.

Group	Plant family	Examples in this guide	How it spreads	Source
Warm-season true grasses	Poaceae	Switchgrass, big and little bluestem, prairie dropseed, fountain grass	Mostly clumps; several reseed	CBG PEN 43
Cool-season true grasses	Poaceae	Feather reed grass, purple moor grass, blue fescue	Clumps	CBG PEN 43; K-State MF3048
Sedges	Cyperaceae	Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)	Rhizomes	UF/IFAS ENH976; MBG
Rushes	Juncaceae	Soft rush (Juncus effusus)	Clumps	UF/IFAS ENH976
Lilyturfs (not grasses)	Asparagaceae	Liriope muscari, mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)	Short stolons or slow rhizomes	MBG Plant Finder

Turf species that get mowed, from tall fescue to zoysiagrass, are a separate decision; our types of lawn grass comparison covers 14 of them. Ornamental grasses sit in beds and are cut once a year.

Which ornamental grasses did best in trials?

In Chicago Botanic Garden’s 2006 to 2017 evaluation, 22 grasses earned five stars and 25 earned four. The garden assigned no rating to its 34 Miscanthus taxa because it deems them potentially invasive. Five-star winners were mostly natives (big bluestem, switchgrass, little bluestem, prairie dropseed) plus 11 purple moor grasses and two fountain grass cultivars (CBG PEN 43, 2018).

The full-sun garden in Glencoe, Illinois (zone 5b) got at least 10 hours of sun a day on clay-loam soil at pH 7.4, in beds raised 8 inches. Plants were not fertilized, winter-mulched or sprayed, and stems stood until late winter. Most taxa stayed in the trial at least four years, and the coldest night was -17°F in January 2009 (CBG PEN 43, Table 1).

Low scores came from floppy stems and winter injury. Every plant of split-beard broomsedge (Andropogon ternarius), broomsedge (A. virginicus) and little bluestem ‘Prairie Blues’ died before its trial ended, and fountain grass ‘Red Rocket’ lost two plants in 2016. Nine switchgrass cultivars, among them ‘Thundercloud’ and ‘Warrior’, lost points for lax habit.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Cultivar	CBG rating	CBG measured height x width, in	MBG listed height	MBG listed spread	Years in trial
Switchgrass ‘Northwind’	5 of 5	75 x 48	4 to 5 ft	2 to 2.5 ft	2007 to 2010
Switchgrass ‘Heavy Metal’	5 of 5	58 x 56	4 to 5 ft	1 to 2 ft	2007 to 2010
Switchgrass ‘Dallas Blues’	4 of 5	86 x 100	4 to 6 ft	2 to 3 ft	2007 to 2010
Switchgrass ‘Cheyenne Sky’	4 of 5	58 x 48	2 to 3 ft	1.5 to 2 ft	2010 to 2013
Switchgrass ‘Shenandoah’	3 of 5	52 x 38	3 to 4 ft	3 to 4 ft	2007 to 2010
Big bluestem ‘Blackhawks’	5 of 5	62 x 24	4 to 5 ft	1 ft	2014 to 2017
Big bluestem ‘Dancing Wind’	5 of 5	75 x 38	4.5 to 5.5 ft	2.5 ft	2014 to 2017
Big bluestem ‘Red October’	4 of 5	70 x 42	4 to 6 ft	2 ft	2012 to 2015
Little bluestem ‘Carousel’	5 of 5	32 x 30	2 to 2.5 ft	2 to 2.5 ft	2007 to 2011
Little bluestem ‘Jazz’	5 of 5	36 x 30	2 to 2.5 ft	1 to 1.5 ft	2009 to 2013
Little bluestem ‘Prairie Munchkin’	5 of 5	22 x 19	2.5 to 3 ft	1.5 to 2 ft	2012 to 2016
Little bluestem ‘The Blues’	3 of 5	50 x 30	2 to 4 ft	1.5 to 2 ft	2007 to 2011
Prairie dropseed ‘Tara’	5 of 5	24 x 24	2 to 3 ft	2 to 3 ft	2010 to 2015
Fountain grass ‘Red Head’	5 of 5	60 x 80	3 to 4 ft	2 to 3 ft	2007 to 2011
Fountain grass ‘Red Rocket’	3 of 5	45 x 50	2.5 to 3 ft	2 to 2.5 ft	2014 to 2017
Purple moor grass ‘Skyracer’	5 of 5	78 x 68	6 to 8 ft	2 to 4 ft	2013 to 2017
Blue grama ‘Blonde Ambition’	4 of 5	36 x 42	0.75 to 2.5 ft	0.75 to 1.5 ft	2012 to 2016
Indian grass ‘St. Louis’	4 of 5	76 x 45	4 to 6 ft	2 to 3 ft	2013 to 2016
Feather reed grass ‘Overdam’ (part shade)	4 of 5	48 x 38	2.5 to 3 ft	1.5 to 2 ft	2009 to 2012
Japanese forest grass ‘Stripe It Rich’ (shade)	4 of 5	23 x 38	1 to 1.5 ft	1 to 1.5 ft	2008 to 2011

1. Switchgrass 'Northwind'75
2. Switchgrass 'Cheyenne Sky'58
3. Switchgrass 'Dallas Blues'86
4. Fountain grass 'Red Head'60
5. Feather reed grass 'Overdam'48
6. Purple moor grass 'Skyracer'78
7. Little bluestem 'Carousel'32
8. Blue grama 'Blonde Ambition'36
9. Prairie dropseed 'Tara'24
10. Little bluestem 'Prairie Munchkin'22

Source: Chicago Botanic Garden PEN 43, Table 3 (2018); Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder (accessed Oct. 30, 2026) MBG maximum = upper end of the listed height range converted to inches. CBG heights are measured to the top of the flowers in a zone 5b trial.

Show the numbers

	CBG measured (to top of flowers)	MBG listed maximum
Switchgrass 'Northwind'	75	60
Switchgrass 'Cheyenne Sky'	58	36
Switchgrass 'Dallas Blues'	86	72
Fountain grass 'Red Head'	60	48
Feather reed grass 'Overdam'	48	36
Purple moor grass 'Skyracer'	78	96
Little bluestem 'Carousel'	32	30
Blue grama 'Blonde Ambition'	36	30
Prairie dropseed 'Tara'	24	36
Little bluestem 'Prairie Munchkin'	22	36

Two patterns stand out. Measured height ran past the listing for switchgrass ‘Cheyenne Sky’ (58 inches against a 3 ft maximum) and feather reed grass ‘Overdam’ (48 inches against 3 ft), while ‘Prairie Munchkin’ (22 inches) and ‘Tara’ (24 inches) stayed below theirs. Widths diverged further: ‘Red Head’ covered 80 inches and ‘Dallas Blues’ 100 inches against listed spreads of 2 to 3 ft, so leave trial-size room next to paths and windows.

Ornamental grass comparison: 32 species by zone, size, sun and deer rating

The table lists 32 grasses and grass-like plants with USDA zones, height, sun and water from Missouri Botanical Garden’s Plant Finder, deer ratings from Rutgers NJAES, and the state or federal flags we found as of October 2026. Zones are species ratings: fountain grass ‘Red Head’ earned five stars in zone 5b although MBG rates the species to zone 6.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Grass	USDA zones	Height	Sun	Water	Deer (Rutgers)	Watch-outs	Our guide
Big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii	4 to 9	4 to 6 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	A (genus)	Native; reseeds freely (MBG)	None yet
Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium	3 to 9	2 to 4 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	A	Native; flops in shade or rich soil (MBG)	None yet
Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum	5 to 9	3 to 6 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium to wet	A	Native; CBG saw deer eat a seedling	None yet
Prairie dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis	3 to 9	2 to 3 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	Not rated	Native; slow to establish (MBG)	None yet
Indian grass, Sorghastrum nutans	4 to 9	3 to 5 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	A	Native; may self-seed (MBG)	None yet
Blue grama, Bouteloua gracilis	3 to 10	0.75 to 2 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	Not rated	Native; freely self-seeds (MBG)	None yet
Sideoats grama, Bouteloua curtipendula	4 to 9	1.5 to 2.5 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	Not rated	Native; may self-seed (MBG)	None yet
Pink muhly, Muhlenbergia capillaris	5 to 11	2 to 3 ft	Full sun to part shade	Dry to medium	Not rated	Native; no rhizomes (MBG)	pink muhly guide
Northern sea oats, Chasmanthium latifolium	3 to 8	2 to 5 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium to wet	A	Native; self-seeds, may spread aggressively (MBG)	None yet
Purple lovegrass, Eragrostis spectabilis	5 to 9	1 to 2 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	Not rated	Native; self-seeds, roots at nodes (MBG)	None yet
Big sacaton, Sporobolus wrightii	5 to 9	80 in measured (‘Windbreaker’)	Full sun	Dry; drought tolerant	Not rated	Native to the Southwest; pampas substitute (CBG)	None yet
Maiden grass, eulalia, Miscanthus sinensis	4 to 9	4 to 9 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium	A	Prohibited in MD (July 15, 2026); MA sales end Dec. 31, 2026	None yet
Fountain grass, Pennisetum (Cenchrus) alopecuroides	6 to 9	2.5 to 5 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium to wet	A	Prohibited in MD (July 15, 2026); on CBG watch list (2017)	fountain grass guide
Purple fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’	9 to 10	3 to 5 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium	Not rated	Annual north of zone 9; green species Cal-IPC Moderate	fountain grass guide
Oriental fountain grass, Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’	5 to 8	2 to 3 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium	A	Crown injury at CBG in 2007	None yet
Pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana	8 to 10	8 to 12 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	A	WA Class C; Cal-IPC High; invasive in FL (UF/IFAS)	pampas grass guide
Ravenna grass, Saccharum (Tripidium) ravennae	5 to 9	6 to 12 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	A	WA Class B; Cal-IPC Moderate	pampas grass guide
Japanese forest grass, Hakonechloa macra	5 to 9	1 to 1.5 ft	Part shade	Medium	A	Rabbits browse it (CBG)	Japanese forest grass guide
Japanese blood grass, Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’	5 to 9	2 to 4 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium	A	Species is a federal noxious weed; banned in FL; illegal to sell in SC	None yet
Feather reed grass, Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’	5 to 9	3 to 5 ft	Full sun	Medium to wet	A (genus)	Rabbits browse it (CBG)	Karl Foerster guide
Korean feather reed grass, Calamagrostis brachytricha	4 to 9	3 to 4 ft	Full sun	Medium to wet	A (genus)	Takes heavy clay (MBG)	None yet
Blue fescue, Festuca glauca	4 to 8	0.75 to 1 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	A	Centers die out; divide (MBG)	None yet
Blue oat grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens	4 to 8	2 to 3 ft	Full sun	Dry to medium	A	Blue color best in dry soil (MBG)	None yet
Purple moor grass, Molinia caerulea	5 to 8	2 to 3 ft	Full sun	Medium to wet	A	Not drought-tolerant (CBG)	None yet
Tufted hair grass, Deschampsia cespitosa	4 to 9	2 to 3 ft	Part shade	Medium	Not rated	Few flowers in deep shade (MBG)	None yet
Autumn moor grass, Sesleria autumnalis	5 to 8	0.75 to 1 ft	Full sun to part shade	Dry to medium	Not rated	Dislikes high heat and humidity (MBG)	None yet
Mexican feather grass, Nassella tenuissima	7 to 10	1 to 2 ft	Full sun to part shade	Dry to medium	Not rated	Cal-IPC Limited; self-seeds (MBG)	Mexican feather grass guide
Pennsylvania sedge (sedge), Carex pensylvanica	3 to 8	0.5 to 1 ft	Part shade to full shade	Dry to medium	A (genus)	Native; spreads by rhizomes (MBG)	None yet
Lilyturf (not a grass), Liriope muscari	5 to 10	1 to 1.5 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium	B	On Georgia council invasive list (GISC)	monkey grass guide
Mondo grass (not a grass), Ophiopogon japonicus	7 to 10	0.75 to 1 ft	Part shade to full shade	Medium	B	Evergreen; spreads slowly (MBG)	monkey grass guide
Reed canary grass, ribbon grass, Phalaris arundinacea	4 to 9	3 to 6 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium to wet	B	WA Class C; invasive in FL (UF/IFAS)	None yet
Giant reed, Arundo donax	6 to 10	12 to 20 ft	Full sun to part shade	Medium to wet	A	Cal-IPC High; GA council list	None yet

Every row, with its source URL, is in our ornamental grass dataset (CSV), along with the CBG trial measurements and Miscanthus seed counts.

Rutgers rates nearly every grass on its list A, rarely damaged; lilyturf, mondo grass and reed canary grass get B, seldom severely damaged. Rabbits are the larger threat to young plants: CBG recorded rabbits grazing feather reed grass, American beakgrain, Japanese forest grass and switchgrass (Fine Gardening trial report, December 2013) and caged its ‘River Mist’ sea oats in hardware cloth after repeated browsing.

Cool-season or warm-season: what changes in care?

Cool-season grasses such as feather reed grass start growing in late winter, bloom by early summer and can stall in heat. Warm-season grasses such as switchgrass and little bluestem wake late, grow best at 80 to 95°F air temperatures and 70 to 90°F soil, and bloom in late summer (K-State MF3048, April 2012). The type sets planting, cutting and dividing dates.

Task	Cool-season grasses	Warm-season grasses	Source
Main growth	Late winter to early spring, again in fall	Late spring through summer	K-State MF3048
Plant in Kansas	March to April, or September	May to early June	K-State MF3048
Plant in South Carolina	Fall	Spring	Clemson HGIC
Bloom	Late spring to early summer	Late summer	K-State MF3048
Divide	Early spring or early fall	Early spring, just before growth	K-State MF3048; Clemson HGIC
Examples (CBG)	Feather reed grass, purple moor grass	Fountain grass, switchgrass, prairie dropseed, big and little bluestem	CBG PEN 43

The references do not always agree on type. CBG files grama (Bouteloua) and purple moor grass as cool-season, but the Missouri Botanical Garden records call blue grama and purple moor grass warm-season (MBG), and CBG’s own report calls ‘Blonde Ambition’ blue grama a warm-season grass. K-State’s table sides with CBG on purple moor grass ‘Skyracer’.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Grass (K-State Olathe trial)	Season	Height to top of foliage	Height to top of flower	Width	First bloom
Feather reed grass ‘Avalanche’	Cool	18 in	38 in	21 in	Week 23
Feather reed grass ‘Karl Foerster’	Cool	24 in	56 in	20 in	Week 23
Feather reed grass ‘Overdam’	Cool	25 in	43 in	26 in	Week 23
Oriental fountain grass ‘Karley Rose’	Warm	36 in	44 in	59 in	Week 25
Purple moor grass ‘Skyracer’	Cool	29 in	78 in	28 in	Week 25
Lovegrass ‘Wind Dancer’ (Eragrostis elliottii)	Warm	40 in	53 in	30 in	Week 26
Prairie dropseed	Warm	15 in	38 in	16 in	Week 28
Switchgrass ‘Northwind’	Warm	51 in	60 in	30 in	Week 31
Switchgrass ‘Cloud Nine’	Warm	78 in	93 in	90 in	Week 31
Variegated giant reed (Arundo donax ‘Variegata’)	Warm	156 in	168 in	84 in	Week 31
Switchgrass ‘Dallas Blues’	Warm	78 in	80 in	78 in	Week 32
Little bluestem	Warm	16 in	30 in	14 in	Week 32
Maiden grass ‘Graziella’	Warm	43 in	72 in	39 in	Week 32
Maiden grass ‘Cabaret’	Warm	63 in	87 in	48 in	Week 33
Hardy pampas (Saccharum ravennae)	Warm	64 in	148 in	63 in	Week 33
Maiden grass ‘Malepartus’	Warm	39 in	73 in	36 in	Week 34
Maiden grass ‘Little Zebra’	Warm	51 in	51 in	72 in	Week 36

1. Feather reed grass 'Avalanche'23
2. Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster'23
3. Feather reed grass 'Overdam'23
4. Oriental fountain grass 'Karley Rose'25
5. Purple moor grass 'Skyracer'25
6. Lovegrass 'Wind Dancer'26
7. Prairie dropseed28
8. Switchgrass 'Northwind'31
9. Switchgrass 'Cloud Nine'31
10. Variegated giant reed31
11. Switchgrass 'Dallas Blues'32
12. Little bluestem32
13. Maiden grass 'Graziella'32
14. Maiden grass 'Cabaret'33
15. Hardy pampas33
16. Maiden grass 'Malepartus'34
17. Maiden grass 'Little Zebra'36

Source: Kansas State University MF3048 (April 2012) Week 23 is early June; week 36 is early September. Cool-season feather reed grasses bloom first.

Show the numbers

	Week of year, first bloom
Feather reed grass 'Avalanche'	23
Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster'	23
Feather reed grass 'Overdam'	23
Oriental fountain grass 'Karley Rose'	25
Purple moor grass 'Skyracer'	25
Lovegrass 'Wind Dancer'	26
Prairie dropseed	28
Switchgrass 'Northwind'	31
Switchgrass 'Cloud Nine'	31
Variegated giant reed	31
Switchgrass 'Dallas Blues'	32
Little bluestem	32
Maiden grass 'Graziella'	32
Maiden grass 'Cabaret'	33
Hardy pampas	33
Maiden grass 'Malepartus'	34
Maiden grass 'Little Zebra'	36

In that Kansas trial, cool-season feather reed grass bloomed in week 23 (early June) and the Miscanthus cultivars in weeks 32 to 36 (August to early September). Bloom date matters beyond looks: CBG found that many of the least fertile Miscanthus were late-flowering cultivars that may not finish setting seed in a zone 5 season.

When and how should you cut back ornamental grasses?

Cut deciduous grasses back once a year, in late winter or early spring before new shoots show; Chicago Botanic Garden also allows late fall to early winter. K-State sets February to March for Kansas, and UF/IFAS sets February to March for north and central Florida and January to February for south Florida (UF/IFAS ENH976). Evergreen grasses and sedges get a comb-out or tip trim instead.

1. Sort the plant: deciduous grasses (switchgrass, Miscanthus, little bluestem) take a hard cut; evergreen grasses such as pink muhly, blue fescue and sedges do not, and UF/IFAS warns that removing all green foliage from evergreen grasses in fall causes severe losses.
2. Time it before green shoots appear: February to March in Kansas (K-State) and in north and central Florida, January to February in south Florida (UF/IFAS). Purple moor grass is the exception: CBG recommends cleaning it up in late season because its stems flop and break before winter ends.
3. Pick the tool by crown size: hand pruners or hedge shears for small grasses; electric hedge shears, a string trimmer or a chainsaw for Miscanthus and switchgrass; a lawn mower for loose, low crowns such as Japanese forest grass (CBG PEN 43). Wear heavy gloves and long sleeves, since CBG notes leaf margins can be razor-sharp.
4. Cut to height: about 4 inches (CBG) to 6 to 8 inches (K-State) for deciduous clumps. Comb sedges and sweetflag with gloved hands instead, because Clemson says they recover slowly from cutting.
5. Divide when the center hollows out, in spring before new leaves; if you miss that window, CBG says to cut an actively growing clump back by a third before dividing.
6. Skip fertilizer: CBG calls it unnecessary, and the lush growth it produces flops.

Practice	CBG PEN 43 (Illinois, 2018)	K-State MF3048 (Kansas, 2012)	Clemson HGIC (South Carolina)	UF/IFAS ENH976 (Florida, 2023)
When to cut	Late fall to early winter, or late winter to early spring	Late winter to early spring (February to March)	Late winter or early spring	February to March north and central; January to February south
Cut height	About 4 in	6 to 8 in	A few inches above ground	Within inches of soil for deciduous grasses; tips only on evergreen muhly
Divide every	5 to 7 years, or when hollow	3 to 5 years, when the center dies	3 to 4 years	Not required for performance
Divide when	Spring, before new leaves	Early spring; cool-season also fall	Warm-season early spring; cool-season early fall	At pruning time

The spread reflects climate and plant mix, not error: Florida’s evergreen muhly and Illinois switchgrass need different cuts. CBG adds that grasses need dividing only when clumps are overgrown or hollow, so a full, upright clump can go the 7 years its report allows.

Which ornamental grasses are invasive, and where are they restricted?

As of October 2026, Maryland prohibits Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis) and Chinese fountain grass (Cenchrus alopecuroides), Massachusetts ends Miscanthus sinensis sales on Dec. 31, 2026, cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is a federal noxious weed, and Washington lists pampas grass, reed canary grass and Ravenna grass. Cal-IPC and Georgia council ratings are advisory, not law.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Grass	Where	Rule or list	Status and dates	Source
Chinese silvergrass, Miscanthus sinensis	Maryland	Prohibited Invasive Plant List	Effective July 15, 2026; potted stock sold through by July 15, 2027, in-ground stock by July 15, 2028	MDA
Chinese fountain grass, Cenchrus (Pennisetum) alopecuroides	Maryland	Prohibited Invasive Plant List	Same dates as Chinese silvergrass	MDA
Chinese silvergrass, Miscanthus sinensis	Massachusetts	Prohibited Plant List (MDAR)	No new import or propagation after Dec. 8, 2025; all sales end Dec. 31, 2026	MDAR
Cogongrass, Imperata cylindrica (Japanese blood grass is a cultivar)	Federal	7 CFR 360.200 noxious weed list	Federal permit needed to move it between states	eCFR
Japanese blood grass, Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’	South Carolina; Florida	State bans reported by extension	Illegal to sell, distribute or plant in South Carolina; banned in Florida	Clemson HGIC; UF/IFAS
Pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana	Washington	Class C noxious weed, WAC 16-750-015	Version effective Jan. 1, 2026	WAC
Reed canary grass, Phalaris arundinacea	Washington	Class C noxious weed, WAC 16-750-015	Version effective Jan. 1, 2026	WAC
Ravenna grass, Tripidium (Saccharum) ravennae	Washington	Class B noxious weed, WAC 16-750-011	Current rule text, Oct. 2026	WAC
Pampas grass; giant reed, Arundo donax	California	Cal-IPC Inventory (advisory)	Both rated High	Cal-IPC
Ravenna grass; tender fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum	California	Cal-IPC Inventory (advisory)	Both rated Moderate	Cal-IPC
Mexican feather grass, Nassella tenuissima	California	Cal-IPC Inventory (advisory)	Rated Limited; PlantRight lists it as do not plant	Cal-IPC
Tender fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum	Hawaii	HAR Title 4, Chapter 68 noxious weed list	Listed (list dated June 18, 1992)	HDOA
Miscanthus sinensis; Arundo donax; Liriope muscari; Imperata cylindrica	Georgia	Georgia Invasive Species Council list (advisory)	All four listed	GISC

This page is general information, not legal advice. Plant lists change; confirm a species with your state department of agriculture before you buy, sell or install it.

The federal list in 7 CFR 360.200 names Imperata cylindrica but none of the common border grasses: its Pennisetum entries are kikuyugrass (P. clandestinum), African feathergrass (P. macrourum) and two other tropical species, not fountain grass. Missouri Botanical Garden notes cogongrass needs a federal permit to move between states (MBG).

Climate changes the verdict. UF/IFAS still lists Miscanthus sinensis cultivars for north and central Florida while calling pampas grass and ribbon grass invasive there, and Florida banned Japanese blood grass because it flowers in Florida’s long season. Arizona and Nevada rules on tender fountain grass are cited in our purple fountain grass guide.

Are sterile Miscanthus cultivars safe to plant?

Mostly no. Chicago Botanic Garden x-rayed seed from 34 Miscanthus taxa in October 2010 and found viable seed on 30. Counts ran from 138 per plant for ‘Yaku Jima’ to 349,327 for ‘Kleine Silberspinne’; only ‘Hinjo’, ‘Silberpfeil’, ‘Cabaret’ and giant miscanthus (M. x giganteus) set none, and ‘Hinjo’ later set seed in a University of Minnesota study (CBG PEN 43).

1. 'Kleine Silberspinne'349,327
2. 'Rotsilber'339,462
3. 'Autumn Light'221,500
4. 'Malepartus'203,699
5. 'Graziella'133,122
6. 'Adagio'52,632
7. 'Zebrinus'16,621
8. 'Gracillimus'6,103
9. 'Morning Light'1,936
10. 'Yaku Jima'138
11. 'Hinjo'0
12. M. x giganteus0

Source: Chicago Botanic Garden, Plant Evaluation Notes 43, Table 2 (2018) Twelve of the 34 taxa tested; all 34 are in the table below. M. x giganteus is giant miscanthus; all others are M. sinensis cultivars.

Show the numbers

	Viable seeds per plant
'Kleine Silberspinne'	349,327
'Rotsilber'	339,462
'Autumn Light'	221,500
'Malepartus'	203,699
'Graziella'	133,122
'Adagio'	52,632
'Zebrinus'	16,621
'Gracillimus'	6,103
'Morning Light'	1,936
'Yaku Jima'	138
'Hinjo'	0
M. x giganteus	0

Miscanthus taxon (M. sinensis unless named)	Bloom time, 2010	Viable seeds per plant
‘Kleine Silberspinne’	Mid (Aug. 21)	349,327
‘Rotsilber’	Mid (Aug. 24)	339,462
‘Autumn Light’	Mid (Sept. 6)	221,500
‘Malepartus’	Mid (Aug. 23)	203,699
‘Blutenwunder’	Early (Aug. 13)	177,144
‘Nippon’	Early (Aug. 8)	150,120
‘Graziella’	Early (Aug. 8)	133,122
‘Huron Sunrise’	Mid (Aug. 31)	94,612
‘Minuett’	Mid (Sept. 14)	91,817
‘Andante’	Mid (Sept. 6)	53,323
‘Adagio’	Early (Aug. 8)	52,632
‘Silberturm’	Mid (Aug. 23)	28,941
‘Purpurascens’	Mid (Aug. 23)	24,957
‘Autumn Red’	Mid (Aug. 23)	24,185
‘Puenktchen’	Mid (Sept. 7)	16,974
‘Zebrinus’ (zebra grass)	Late (Sept. 16)	16,621
‘Goliath’	Mid (Aug. 27)	13,920
‘Ferner Osten’	Early (July 31)	8,954
‘Gracillimus’ (maiden grass)	Late (Oct. 4)	6,103
‘Silberfeder’	Late (Sept. 27)	3,975
‘Sarabande’	Mid (Sept. 7)	3,278
‘Little Zebra’	Mid (Sept. 8)	2,704
‘Gold Bar’	Late (Sept. 20)	2,061
‘Morning Light’	Late (Oct. 2)	1,936
‘Super Stripe’	Mid (Sept. 15)	1,226
‘Strictus’ (porcupine grass)	Late (Sept. 18)	907
M. sacchariflorus	Early (Aug. 12)	746
‘Dixieland’	Late (Sept. 25)	497
‘Variegatus’	Late (Sept. 25)	211
‘Yaku Jima’	Early (Aug. 7)	138
‘Hinjo’	Late (Sept. 25)	0
‘Silberpfeil’	Late (Sept. 27)	0
var. condensatus ‘Cabaret’	Late (Oct. 7)	0
M. x giganteus (giant miscanthus)	Late (Oct. 8)	0

One correction: the report’s text and CBG’s 2013 Fine Gardening summary both call ‘Dixieland’ (497 seeds) the lowest producer, but Table 2 lists ‘Yaku Jima’ at 138 and ‘Variegatus’ at 211. We use the table values. CBG removed all Miscanthus from its display gardens between 2010 and 2017 and says the sterile triploid giant miscanthus should be safe anywhere it is grown.

Fountain grass is the next concern. CBG found Pennisetum seedlings regularly and prodigiously in the turf paths beside its plots and put Pennisetum alopecuroides and its cultivars on its invasive plant watch list in 2017, the same species Maryland prohibited in 2026.

Which ornamental grass should you plant?

Start with the site, then the size. In shade, plant Japanese forest grass or Pennsylvania sedge; in wet clay, switchgrass or feather reed grass; in dry, alkaline ground, blue grama or big sacaton. For screens over 5 ft, the CBG trial’s 75 inch big bluestem ‘Dancing Wind’ and switchgrass ‘Northwind’ stand in for Miscanthus where it is restricted.

If your situation is	Plant this	Why (source)
Part to full shade	Japanese forest grass (zones 5 to 9) or Pennsylvania sedge (zones 3 to 8)	MBG rates both for part shade; the sedge also takes full shade (MBG)
Wet or heavy clay soil	Switchgrass or feather reed grass ‘Karl Foerster’	MBG: switchgrass tolerates occasional flooding; ‘Karl Foerster’ does well in heavy clay
Dry, rocky or alkaline soil in full sun	Blue grama (zones 3 to 10), little bluestem, or big sacaton ‘Windbreaker’	MBG drought ratings; CBG: big sacaton takes alkaline, saline soil
Zone 3 or 4 winters	Little bluestem, prairie dropseed (zone 3), big bluestem or Indian grass (zone 4)	MBG zone ratings; MBG rates fountain grass only to zone 6
Screen over 5 ft in Maryland or Massachusetts	Big bluestem ‘Dancing Wind’ (75 in) or switchgrass ‘Northwind’ (75 in)	CBG five-star, measured; Miscanthus sinensis prohibited (MDA; MDAR)
Bed edge under 2 ft in sun	Blue fescue (9 to 12 in), little bluestem ‘Prairie Munchkin’ (22 in), prairie dropseed ‘Tara’ (24 in)	MBG listing; CBG measured heights
Want burgundy color in zone 9 to 11	Purple fountain grass ‘Rubrum’	MBG zones 9 to 10; Cal-IPC rates the green species Moderate
California yard	Skip pampas grass, giant reed, Ravenna grass and Mexican feather grass	Cal-IPC High, High, Moderate and Limited
Washington yard	Skip pampas grass, reed canary grass and Ravenna grass	WAC 16-750-015 Class C; WAC 16-750-011 Class B
Rabbits browse the yard	Cage new feather reed grass, Japanese forest grass and switchgrass the first season	CBG recorded rabbit grazing on all three

1. 1Is the spot in part or full shade most of the day?

   YesPlant Japanese forest grass (zones 5 to 9) or Pennsylvania sedge (zones 3 to 8), both rated for shade by MBG.

   NoGo to the next question

2. 2Does the soil stay wet or is it heavy clay?

   YesPlant switchgrass, which MBG says tolerates occasional flooding, or feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster', which does well in heavy clay.

   NoGo to the next question

3. 3Are winters zone 3 or 4?

   YesPlant little bluestem or prairie dropseed (zone 3), or big bluestem or Indian grass (zone 4); skip fountain grass, rated only to zone 6 by MBG.

   NoGo to the next question

4. 4Do you need a screen taller than 5 ft?

   YesPlant big bluestem 'Dancing Wind' or switchgrass 'Northwind', both 75 in and five-star at CBG; skip Miscanthus sinensis in Maryland and Massachusetts.

   NoGo to the next question

5. 5Is the bed an edge under 2 ft in dry sun?

   YesPlant blue fescue (9 to 12 in), little bluestem 'Prairie Munchkin' (22 in) or prairie dropseed 'Tara' (24 in).

   NoGo to the next question

6. 6Are you in zone 9 to 11 and want burgundy leaves?

   YesPlant purple fountain grass 'Rubrum' (MBG zones 9 to 10); avoid the green species where Arizona, Nevada or Hawaii list it.

   NoFor a mid-size sunny bed in zones 5 to 9, plant switchgrass 'Heavy Metal' (58 in, five stars at CBG), or fountain grass 'Red Head' outside Maryland.

Source: MBG Plant Finder; Chicago Botanic Garden PEN 43 (2018); Maryland Department of Agriculture; MDAR

On sunny slopes, NC State and Purdue Extension plant lists name native bunch grasses such as little bluestem and switchgrass; our erosion control methods guide pairs them with shade ground covers. Species details sit in our Turf and Trees hub.

How many ornamental grasses do you need for a bed?

Space each grass at its mature height, center to center: K-State’s rule puts a 36 inch grass 36 inches apart, and Clemson HGIC gives the same rule. On a square grid that is 25 plants per 100 sq ft at 24 inches, 11.1 (buy 12) at 36 inches and 6.25 (buy 7) at 48 inches.

Spacing on center	Plants per sq ft	Plants per 100 sq ft	Plants in a 20 ft single row
12 in	1	100.0 (buy 100)	20.0 (buy 20)
18 in	0.4444	44.4 (buy 45)	13.3 (buy 14)
24 in	0.25	25.0 (buy 25)	10.0 (buy 10)
36 in	0.1111	11.1 (buy 12)	6.7 (buy 7)
48 in	0.0625	6.2 (buy 7)	5.0 (buy 5)
60 in	0.04	4.0 (buy 4)	4.0 (buy 4)

Bed area (sq ft)Grass and pot (1 gal listings checked Oct. 29 to 30, 2026)Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster', 1 gal ($15.95 to $29.95)Pink muhly, 1 gal ($15.95 to $29.95)Hardy fountain grass 'Hameln', #1 to 1 gal ($8.00 to $29.95)Japanese forest grass, 1 gal ($19.95 to $56.95)Purple fountain grass, annual north of zone 9, 1 gal ($22.50 to $26.95)Spacing on center = mature height (square grid)24 inches12 inches18 inches36 inches48 inches60 inches

Plants needed

25

Estimated plant cost, before tax and shipping$400 to $750

Plants = bed area / (spacing in feet squared), rounded up. Cost uses the unrounded count. Default: 100 sq ft of 'Karl Foerster' at 24 in = 25 plants, $398.75 to $748.75. Prices are the 1 gal listings recorded on our species guides; your nursery's price will differ.

The rule does not say whether height means foliage or flowers. K-State’s own table shows ‘Karl Foerster’ at 24 inches of foliage and 56 inches in flower; spacing by foliage height gives the tighter 24 inch grid, which fills faster. At 24 inches, a 100 sq ft bed takes 25 plants, or $398.75 to $748.75 at the $15.95 to $29.95 one-gallon prices our Karl Foerster and pink muhly guides recorded on Oct. 29, 2026.

Key number	Value	Source
Grasses in CBG’s 2006 to 2017 trial	109 taxa; 22 five-star, 25 four-star	CBG PEN 43
Viable seed per Miscanthus plant, 2010	0 to 349,327	CBG PEN 43, Table 2
Maryland prohibition (Miscanthus sinensis, Chinese fountain grass)	Effective July 15, 2026; potted sell-through July 15, 2027	MDA
Massachusetts Miscanthus sinensis sales end	Dec. 31, 2026	MDAR
Cut height for deciduous grasses	About 4 in to 6 to 8 in	CBG; K-State
Spacing rule	Equal to mature height, center to center	K-State; Clemson
Ideal soil temperature, warm-season grasses	70 to 90°F	K-State MF3048