Hardy grasses: 50 ornamental grasses for garden and balcony tubs

Ornamental grasses are real eye-catchers in the garden, on the balcony or terrace. The grasses come in a wide variety of heights and colors. Particularly exotic are the flowers of some ornamental grasses, which often protrude far beyond the plants and are visible from afar. However, one asks oneself with such an exoticism: are it hardy grasses? The good news: There are lots of hardy grasses. We have put together a selection for you.

Hardy grasses

Miscanthus

The plant genus Miscanthus from the sweet grass family (Poaceae) includes many popular ornamental grasses. The genus comprises a total of almost 20 species. The best-known species is the Chinese reed (Miscanthus sinensis), the stalks of which are monochrome or two-colored. Varieties with yellow and green horizontal stripes are often called zebra reeds because their stalks are reminiscent of the stripes on a zebra. The giant Chinese reed, botanically Miscanthus x giganteus, sometimes also called elephant grass, is a natural cross of Chinese reed and Miscanthus sacchariflorus. Elephant grass is not only used as an ornamental grass, but is also an important plant for energy production. It grows up to three meters high and can withstand temperatures down to -20 ° C.

Chinese reed (Miscanthus sinensis)

Miscanthus sinensis thrives best on one full sun Location, but some varieties also tolerate a light penumbra. The floor or the substrate in the bucket should be permeable and rich in nutrients. The height is, depending on the species, between 100 and 180 centimeters. In the flowering period from late summer to October, flower spikes adorn the grass. The species used as ornamental grasses are fully frost hardy to frost hardy. Although many varieties of the Chinese silver grass are deciduous, they should only be pruned in spring, because the old stalks protect the grass from moisture and rot.

Popular varieties are:

Chinese reed

• "Little spider": green stalks with light gray edges
• "Morning Light": dark green stalks with a white central stripe
• "Nippon": green stalks with copper-brown autumn colors
• "Silver spider": green stalks, tolerates temperatures down to -25 ° C
• "Flamingo": green stalks with reddish brown autumn colors
• "Goliath": green stalks, growing very tall (up to two meters)
• "Dronning Ingrid": reddish colored stalks

Zebra reeds

• "Adagio": green and white striped, maximum height: 100 centimeters
• "Golden Bar"
• "Gold Breeze": tolerates temperatures down to -20 ° C
• "Zebrinus"
• "Strictus": tolerates temperatures down to -20 ° C

Fescue (festuca)

The representatives of the genus "Festuca", which also belong to the sweet grass family (Poaceae), are, in addition to Miscanthus, also very popular ornamental grasses. Festuca has over 200 species and is distributed worldwide. The best-known species include blue fescue (botanical Festuca cinerea) or bearskin grass (bearskin fescue).

Fescue prefer a sunny location, but a partially shaded spot is also tolerated. Festuca loves well drained, dry, and some varieties even barren soils. With all varieties of the blue fescue you should definitely look out for them Soil properties Pay attention, because only there they can develop their light to steel blue colors. However, if the soil does not meet the requirements, the grasses only develop green stalks. Since they hardly exceed a stature height of 40 centimeters, many varieties have one cushion-shaped Growth. The flowering time varies from variety to variety. Overall, however, it ranges from May to August, with many varieties more likely to bloom in summer. Fescue are hardy down to -20 ° C and therefore tolerate the German winter well outdoors.

Popular evergreen varieties are:

Blue fescue

• "Azurit" (garden fescue "Azurit")
• "Intense Blue"
• "Kingfisher"
• "Elijah Blue"
• "Festina"
• "Great Egret": stalks with blue-gray stripes
• “Uchte”: stalks with blue-gray stripes

other fescue species

• Bearskin fescue (bearskin grass): dark green stalks, hardy to -20 ° C
• Bearskin fescue "Pic Carlit"
• Yellow fescue "GoldenToupee": golden yellow stalks
• Sheep fescue "April green" (amethyst fescue, rainbow fescue): blue-green stalks
• Atlas fescue: gray-green stalks, height between 60 and 120 centimeters

Sedges (Carex)

The plant genus Carex belongs to the sour grass family (Cyperaceae). It includes around 2,000 species. The species used as ornamental grasses in our latitudes prefer a sunny to partially shaded location. However, some sedges can also cope with a shady place. In contrast to Miscanthus and Faustuca, sedges can also cope with (slightly) moist soil if it is permeable. It is important that the soil or The substrate is humus and rich in nutrients. As a rule, Carex does not exceed 40 centimeters in height. Depending on the species, sedges bloom in May or June or from late summer to autumn. The evergreen stalks are monochrome, partly in a bright green, or striped. Sedges with bronze-colored stalks are among the more exotic-looking varieties. Sedges are hardy and some varieties can also tolerate temperatures down to -20 ° C. For keeping in the garden or in the bucket on the balcony are for example:

• Gold sedge "Evergold": green stalks with sun-yellow central stripes, particularly good for partially shaded and shady locations, hardy to -20 ° C
• Japanese sedge "Ice Dance": white stalks with a green central stripe, hardy to -20 ° C
• White Japanese sedge "Variegata": Culms with white and green vertical stripes, prefers shady locations
• Sedge "Everlime" and "Eversheen" sedge: bright yellow-green stalks
• Sedge "Snowline": stalks with white edges
• New Zealand sedge "bronze form": bronze-colored stalks with a metallic effect, hardy to -15 ° C
• Sedge "Bronco" / "Bronze": reddish-brown stalks in the lower part, bronze-colored in the upper part
• Angular sedge: light green to green stalks, native grass
• Mountain sedge: light green stalks with golden brown autumn colors
• Forest sedge: light green stalks, native grass, growth height up to 70 centimeters
• Crested sedge "Irish Green": green stalks

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Pennisetum, also called feather bristle or Australian pennon cleaner grass, is a species of the sweet grass family (Poaceae). The long inflorescences are reminiscent of lamp cleaners, hence the name.

Pennisetum alopecuroides likes sunny to partially shaded locations. The soil should be permeable. The flowering period is from July or August. The stalks then turn yellow in autumn. The height is between 60 and 130 centimeters. Pennisetum tolerates the German winter very well, as it can withstand temperatures down to -20 ° C.

Popular varieties are:

• Lamp cleaner grass "Hameln": green to light brown stalks, hardy to -20 ° C
• Australian pennon cleaner grass: gray-green stalks with a golden-yellow autumn color
• Feather bristle grass "Japonicum": green stalks, no autumn color
• Pennisetum - feather bristle grass "Piglet": green stalks with a yellow autumn color, height between 40 and 50 centimeters, hardy to -20 ° C.

Pampas grass (Cortaderia)

Pampas grasses (Cortaderia) are a genus of the sweet grass family (Poaceae). The different types of Cortaderia reach heights of between 1.5 and 3 meters. There are around 20 species, the best known of which is Cortaderia selloane, the American pampas grass. The grasses love the sun and well-drained soil. The flowering time is from September to October.

Winter hardy varieties are:

• "Evita": robust, hardy to minus 15 degrees
• “Citaro”: green stalks, frost-proof, blooms until November
• "White feather": silvery white flowers
• Small pampas grass "Pumila": white, silvery flowers, 50 to 120 centimeters high
• Pink pampas grass "Pink Feather": light pink flowers
• "Aureolineata": gray-green stalks with light yellow stripes

Reed grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

The cane grass, also called Havelmielitz or Havelmilitz, belongs to the sweet grass family (Poaceae). The grasses prefer the sun, but can also tolerate partial shade. In the wild, clay or mud soils are the ideal location for the grasses. The "Picta" variety, which needs a permeable, nutrient-rich soil, is known as an ornamental grass. However, it can also cope with swamp soil, so that the grasses are also suitable for greening pond banks (0 to 10 centimeters). In addition to “Picta”, there is the “Feesey” variety in specialist shops, which also has white and green striped stalks. The height of the grass is between 50 and 80 centimeters.

tip: The frost hardiness of all grasses refers to the cultivation in the field. If the grasses are kept in the tub on the balcony, then you should cover the planter for protection in winter. You should also protect young plants from severe frost.