Native and Adapted Ornamental Grasses for the Midwest
These grasses have naturally adapted to the climate and environment of the Midwest, and should thrive with little input or maintainance.
Genus species | Cultivar | Common Name | Map # | Height | Zone |
Andropogon gerardii | Big Bluestem | 1 | 5-8 ft | Zone 3 | |
Bouteloua curtipendula | Sideoats grama | 3 | 3 ft | Zone 4 | |
Buchloe dactyloides | Buffalo Grass | 5 | 0.5 ft | Zone 4 | |
Carex radiata | Eastern Star Sedge | 77 | 1-2 ft | hardy | |
Chasmanthium latifolium | Northern Sea Oats | 78 | 2-4 ft | Zone 4-9 | |
Elymus virginicus | Virginia wild rye | 81 | 2-3 ft | Zone 3-8 | |
Eragrostis elliotii | Wind Dancer | Lovegrass | 18 | 2-3 ft | Zone 6 |
Eragrostis elliotii | Blue Lovegrass | 19 | 1.5 ft | Zone 5-9 | |
Eragrostis trichodes | Sand Lovegrasss | 82 | 2-4 ft | Zone 5 | |
Festuca obtusa | Wild nodding fescue | 84 | 1 ft | hardy | |
Festuca paradoxa | Clustered Fescue | 22 | 2-4 ft | hardy | |
Juncus brachycarpus | Whiteroot Rush | 86 | 3 ft | hardy | |
Hystrix patula | Bottlebrush Grass | 24 | 2-5 ft | Zone 3 | |
Lycurus setosus | Wolftail | 93 | 2 ft | Zone 5 | |
Oryzopsis hymenoides | Nezpar | Indian Ricegrass | 94 | 1.5 ft | Zone 5-10 |
Panicum virgatum | Cloud Nine | ||||
Panicum virgatum | Switch Grass | 47 | 4-8 ft | Zone 4 | |
Panicum virgatum | Dallas Blues | Blue Switch Grass | 48 | 6 ft | Zone 4 |
Panicum virgatum | Prairie Sky | Blue Switch Grass | 49 | 5 ft | Zone 5 |
Panicum virgatum | Shenandoah | Red Switch Grass | 50 | 4 ft | Zone 5 |
Schizachyrium scoparium | Little Bluestem | 60 | 3 ft | Zone 3 | |
Schizachyrium scoparium | The Blues | Blue Little Bluestem | 61 | 3 ft | Zone 3 |
Sorghastrum nutans | Indiangrass | 64 | 5-8 ft | Zone 3 | |
Sorghastrum nutans | Cheyenne | Yellow Indiangrass | 99 | 3-5 ft | Zone 4-5 |
Spartina pectinata | Prairie Cordgrass | 100 | 4-10 ft | Zone 4-5 | |
Sporobolus airoides | Alkali sacaton | 101 | 2-5 ft | Zone 4-9 | |
Sporobolus aspera | Rough Dropseed | 65 | 3 ft | Zone 5 | |
Sporobolus heterolepsis | Prairie Dropseed | 66 | 1-3 ft | Zone 3 | |
Tripsacum dactyloides | Eastern Gamma Grass | 68 | 8 ft | Zone 5 |