Grass, sedge, carex

The king of native grasses, Big Bluestem has handsome gray to blue-green stems in spring turning to green alternating with deep red in summer then to coppery red in fall. Three fingered seed heads top tall stems in August. Clump forming with excellent drought tolerance once established.

This native grass has graceful blue green foliage and attractive tiny flowers in bright purple and orange appear on tall spikes in late summer. Its name, Sideoats Grama, comes from the way the oat-like seeds all lean to one side of the stem, despite emerging on two sides. Bouteloua makes a wonderful drought tolerant groundcover for a sunny dry location. It combines well with other sun-loving natives like Butterfly Weed, Echinacea and Black-eyed Susans. This grass grows well in many kinds of soil, including those containing clay-loam, gravel, rocky material, and sand. It is very drought tolerant and works well on gentle or moderate slopes.

Carex appalachica is native to the dry woods of eastern North America. Its fine texture and fountaining habit make it a lovely groundcover in dry shady sites, even in the root zone of trees. Its tidy clumping habit makes it a perfect feature in a container, rock or stump, or in a border planting along a walkway.

Light green foliage emerges in the early spring and is soon edged by brilliant yellow edges that provides season long color. Foliage radiates horizontally on stems offering great form and texture to any garden. Fall frost provides superb apricot color on a plant that thrives in moist conditions.

This sedge forms short clusters and spreads slowly by rhizomes to form a lush carpet. This thick mat of growth provides excellent seasonal cover for foraging small songbirds and the insects and other small animals they love to eat. Reddish-brown, thimble-like flowers top the narrow, fine textured leaves in spring. A number of birds and small mammals feed on the seeds. Benefits:

Excellent ground cover for dry shade

Provides seasonal cover for birds and other woodland wildlife

Birds and small mammals feed on the seed

Semi-evergreen lawn alternative

Deer resistant

Tussock sedge grows in 2-3' tall clumps about 2' wide. As old leaves die, they build up around the living plant, making a "tussock" or little hill. It grows in or near water and spreads by rhizomes to make new clumps. As new tussocks form, they trap water between them, helping other aquatic plants get established. It also creates quality cover for breeding frogs, toads, salamanders and insects. Plants are great nest and perching sites for birds, including ducks, small herons, swamp and song sparrows, geese, and others. Other birds use leaves and stems to build nests and a number of birds and small mammals such as mallard, wood duck, wild turkey, cardinal, junco, squirrels feed on the seeds. Benefits:

Evergreen

Provides habitat for amphibians

Provides cover and nest sites for a number of birds including waterfowl

Birds and small mammals feed on the seed

Larval food source for Northern Eyed and Appalachian Browns, Sedge and Two Spotted Skippers and the rare Mitchell's Satyr, as well as other butterflies

Will grow in wet soils or standing water

Drooping seed heads hang in clusters from slightly arching stems topping an upright clump of bamboo-like foliage. Green leaves turn copper in fall and the seed heads emerge green but turn purplish bronze by late summer then dry to a straw color. Clumping grasses like this provide nest sites and winter cover for quail and sparrows. They also provide fall and winter seeds for a number of birds including cardinals, towhees, juncos, sparrows and finches. Benefits:

Grows well in full sun to partial shade

Provides nest sites, protective cover and food for birds

Use foliage and flower in fresh or dried arrangements

Good winter interest; very winter hardy

Deer resistant

This showy, fine-textured, evergreen grass is excellent in shady gardens or woodland settings. A cool season grower, wavy hairgrass forms a tight clump of narrow, wiry foliage. In late spring, stems shoot up above the foliage and arch gracefully with frothy-looking flowers. Clumping grasses like this provide nest sites and winter cover for quail and sparrows. They also provide fall and winter seeds for a number of birds including cardinals, towhees, juncos and other sparrows, finches, goldfinches, redpolls and snow buntings. Benefits:

Will grow in dry shade

Provides nest sites, protective cover and food for birds

Offers protective cover for small mammals

Good winter interest; very winter hardy

Use flowers in fresh or dried arrangements

A clump-forming grass that grows 4-5' tall with flower heads rising another 1' above the foliage, 'Haense Herms' offers steely blue foliage with red-tinged tips that become more prolific as the season progresses. Flower heads turn beige in fall with the seed plumes persisting well into winter. This bunch grass provides excellent cover and food for ducks, upland game birds, and songbirds. Benefits:

Provides nest sites, protective cover and food for birds

Showy red foliage and compact form

Great winter interest

Use flowers in fresh or dried arrangements

Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, including poor or wet soils

'Northwind' is a tall, clump-forming warm season grass with steel blue foliage. The wide, thick leaf blades and great upright form make this cultivar a real standout in the garden. Fine textured yellow flowers float over the foliage in summer. This bunch grass provides excellent cover and food for ducks, upland game birds, songbirds and small mammals. Benefits:

Provides nest sites, protective cover and food for birds

Stands erect all growing season exhibiting beautiful blue foliage

Upright, wind-resistant form offers great winter interest

Use flowers in fresh or dried arrangements

Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, including poor or wet soils

Shenandoah's steely blue-green upright foliage slowly adds a dose of burgundy that increases as the season progresses. Late fall's stunning red color is enhanced by delicate, small red flower plumes that float above the foliage. Perfect for grouping in sun and ideal for attracting birds.

This is an excellent native grass for the garden. It is an upright, clump-forming grass with slender, blue-green leaves. The foliage turns a striking red-orange in the fall, excellent in massed plantings or mixed with other native grasses and wildflowers. Fluffy silver seed heads bloom in late summer or early fall and are ornamental through winter. Benefits:

Fine-textured blue-green foliage

Provides nest sites, protective cover and food for birds

Outstanding fall color and great winter interest

Drought tolerant; additional water of fertilizer is unnecessary

Upright clumps of slender, blue-green leaves turn golden yellow in fall. Stiff, vertical flowering stems topped with 12" long, narrow, auburn flower heads rise well above the foliage in late summer. Indian grass is a good vertical accent in borders and is also effective en masse. This bunch grass provides excellent cover and food for ducks, upland game birds, and songbirds. Benefits:

Provides nest sites, protective cover and food for birds

Flower heads are used in fresh or dried arrangements

Great fall and winter interest

Very drought tolerant and winter hardy

Tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including poor, dry soils