7 Best Ornamental Grasses For Your Cottage Garden (Know The Varieties And More)

Gardeners love perennial or ornamental grasses. These grasses do not demand much of your attention or care.

However, these can be valuable additions to your garden or property. Further, these grasses grow very fast, and some of them also have flowers on their tips. 

So, overall, these grasses primarily have two functions for your garden. They add aesthetic value to a garden or landscape, and that’s very satisfying for a gardener.

At the same time, the grasses that grow hardy and tall can function as natural barriers for your property. 

It’s time you get your garden beautified and protected in the most economical way. 

Best Ornamental Grasses For Your Cottage Garden 

Before you choose the ornamental grasses for your cottage garden, you have to consider certain factors.

First of all, you need to check whether the variety is suitable for your area or not. You have to make sure that the grasses grow well and remain healthy in the local climate.

Further, check the shape of the grasses as they grow up. Some types of ornamental grasses grow small and can be accommodated in a small space.

However, some of them grow in clumps. Finally, some varieties really spread fast. So, make sure that the type of grass you pick is suitable for your garden and property. 

1. Zebra Grass: The Best Diving Ornamental Grasses 

Are you looking for ornamental grasses to protect your property from roaming animals and onlookers? You don’t need to put up vinyl or wooden boundary walls and spend a fortune on the setup to protect your property. You can use ornamental zebra grasses to divide your property line and ensure privacy.

These grasses grow in clumps. So, these are ideal for making a hedge. At the same time, these grasses can be around five to eight feet in length and four to six feet in width. 

Further, the variegated foliage of these grasses comes in green and yellow shades. These soothing colors further elevate the aesthetic appeal of your cottage garden.

2. Japanese Forest Grass: The Best Low Ornamental Grasses 

Do you need ornamental grasses with colorful foliage? Get Japanese forest grass for your garden. You will find some varieties of Japanese forest grass with variegated foliage. The Aureola or All-Gold variety is great for adding some subtle colors to a garden. 

These grasses grow well in partial shade, and they can be approximately 1 foot in height. 

3. Fiber Optic Grass: The Best Small Ornamental Grasses 

If you have limited space in your cottage garden and want a low-mounding variety of ornamental grasses, choose fiber optic grass.

The foliage of these grasses stands out thanks to its unique texture. In addition, thanks to the low height of the grasses, you can even grow them in containers.

When fully grown, fiber optic grasses can be up to six inches tall. They grow in full Sun as well as in partial shade.

So, it will fit your cottage garden irrespective of the lighting conditions. However, these grasses need moist soil for proper growth.  

4. Purple Fountain Grass: Growing In Full Sunlight

Do you want a unique variety of ornamental grasses to make your garden look beautiful in all seasons? You can choose the purple fountain grass.

These grasses have burgundy-red foliage, and they can grow up really tall (up to three feet). The mounding of these grasses emulates the shape of a fountain.

So, you can have these grasses in your garden, beautifying the sidelines and areas near the fences.

These grasses need exposure to full Sunlight for proper growth. They also need well-drained soil. 

5. Northern Sea Oats: For Most Aesthetic Seed Heads 

It’s hard to believe that grasses can have beautiful tips unless you come across the northern sea oats. The tips of the foliage look like braids, and it’s a sight to behold when the grasses sway their heads or get bathed in the Sunlight. 

These grasses can be up to three feet tall when grown up. These also spread very fast. So, if you are not looking for a fast spreader or want to limit the plants’ growth, you should grow them in containers. 

6. Purple Moor Grass: Best Ornamental Grasses For Partially Shaded Gardens

This is one of the rarest types of ornamental grasses to flaunt different shades in different shades. These blue-green grasses get transformed into golden foliage in autumn.

Further, the grasses get their name from the tiny sprays of purple flowers at the tips of the foliage between July and September. 

These grasses can be up to 5 feet tall, and they grow well in partially shaded areas. They also need moist soil for proper growth. 

As these grasses grow very tall, you can use them for marking your property line or as the divisive line that separates your plot from others. 

7. Blue Fescue: Best As Groundcovers 

Are you looking for ornamental grasses Oregon? You can pick blue fescue. These grasses are shorter in height, with the fully-grown grasses reaching up to 1 foot. So, these grasses are great as the ground cover for any garden or landscape.

Further, the grasses get their name from its unique foliage, which is powder blue in shade. You can grow these grasses in partial shade or under full Sunlight, making this ideal for gardens with varying lighting conditions. These also need properly drained soil for growth. 

Final Words

There are many types of ornamental grasses if you want to beautify your cottage garden. These grasses add aesthetic value to a garden or landscape.

At the same time, some of these grasses work as powerful barriers to protect the privacy of your property.

Along with the varieties I have shared here, you can also get varieties like dwarf pampas grass, liriope, or Mexican feather grasses for your garden.

These grasses do not need much care and cover the ground to add pops of soothing colors to a garden or landscape.

So, which one of these grasses are you planning to get for your garden? Don’t forget to share! 

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