15 Great Grasses for Sunny Borders

By Julie Boudreau

The approaching arrival of fall often makes us realize how extraordinary ornamental grasses are! However, they are sensational all year round. In spring, the beautiful rosettes of linear leaves emerge from the ground in a multitude of shades of green and yellow to keep company to spring bulbs. Then, in summer, flowerings of varying shapes appear, some well erected in dense spikes, others are light and airy. And finally, in the fall, we witness another parade of foliage colors.  

If you still need to be reminded of this, ornamental grasses are perfect for the laidback gardeners that we are. They grow practically on their own and require very little care. The only requirement plant them in well-drained soil. Fertilize them little, if at all. They are ignored by insects and diseases. But their greatest quality is their incredible tolerance to long periods of drought. Moreover, they’re a perfect companion for Liatris (Liatris spp.) and New England asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).

Here is a short selection of small grasses (less than 50 cm in height (20 inches)) which are among my current favorites. They are perfect for planting along flower beds and paths. These are all plants that tolerate baking in the sun for more than six hours straight. What more could you ask for?

Before going any further, I must justify the absence of fescues (Festuca spp.) from my top 15 list. Yes, they are worthy of being there and in terms of tolerance to arid heat, they are excellent. However, after several years, dead, straw-yellow stems accumulate in the heart of the plant. Personally, I find that the beautiful steel blues of the fescue leaves do not harmonize very well with the flowering which also takes on a straw yellow color and this pile of dead leaves which is difficult to extirpate from the heart of the plant. Yes, it is an aesthetic and very personal whim. But I do recognize that it is still a fabulous plant!

Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

H.: 30 cm (12 inches); L.: 40 cm (16 inches); Zone 3 (USDA zone 3 to 10)
Unique by its flowering which stretches horizontally.

‘Cheju-Do’ Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Cheju-Do’)

H.: 60 cm (24 inches); L.: 60 cm (24 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 5 to 9)
Maybe a little big for my selection of small grasses, but for a calamagrostis, it’s a dwarf version! It creates very beautiful borders.

‘Blue Zinger’ Sedge (Carex flacca ‘Blue Zinger’)

H.: 30 cm (12 inches); L.: 50 cm (20 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 5 to 9)
It’s a variety that has been on the market for several years, but of which I never tire of! The foliage is bluish and is always a little ruffled. While it does well in the sun, it is more often grown in the shade, as it is able to grow at the base of tall trees. It is a plant to be grown in large beds.

‘Northern Lights’ Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Northern Lights’)

H.: 45 cm (18 inches); L.: 45 cm (18 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 5 to 9)
Hybrid created from a species native to Canada. The foliage is variegated green, cream and pink early in the season. It turns golden later in the summer.

Vanilla Sweetgrass (Anthoxanthum nitens, formerly Hierochloe odorata)

H.: 50 cm (20 inches); L.: 50 cm (20 inches); Zone 5 (USDA zone 4 to 9)
Yes, it is indeed sweetgrass that can be burned to enjoy its wonderful scent. It is a plant native to eastern Canada. In the garden, its hardiness is quite low, but all the same, it remains interesting to cultivate.

Grey-Blue Koeleria (Koeleria glauca)

H.: 40 cm (16 inches); L.: 40 cm (16 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 5 to 9)
This grass would make a nice alternative to fescues, as its foliage is a beautiful steel blue.

‘Cute One’ Miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Cute One’)

H.: 50 cm (20 inches); L.: 40 cm (16 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 5 to 9)
This is a very dwarf version of a grass that usually appears among the giants! Since it is a relatively new variety, it remains to be discovered how it will perform in the garden. While Miscanthus sinensis ‘Cute One’ may have a lower risk of invasiveness compared to other varieties, it still belongs to a species that is known to be invasive in some areas. If you live in a region where Miscanthus sinensisis known to be problematic, it’s advisable to choose alternative, non-invasive ornamental grasses. Always check local guidelines and consider the ecological impact before planting.

‘Moorhexe’ Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea ‘Moorhexe’)

H.: 50 cm (20 inches); L.: 50 cm (20 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 4 to 9)
I have been growing this variety in the garden for several years and it is a reliable and docile plant. Like all molinia, the flowering explodes towards the sky and appears well above the foliage.

‘Variegata’ Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea ‘Variegata’)

H.: 50 cm (20 inches); L.: 40 cm (16 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 4 to 9)
Pretty rosette of variegated leaves. The golden stemmed flowers explode above the foliage. It is a reliable plant.

Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Niger’)

H.: 20 cm (8 inches); L.: 30 cm (12 inches); Zone 5 (USDA zone 6 to 9)
It is a grass-like plant that was unthinkable to cultivate in the province of Quebec a few years ago, due to its low hardiness. And yet, its dark, almost black foliage, is most interesting. I place it here as a curiosity worth testing.  

Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum)

H.: 50 cm (20 inches); L.: 25 cm (10 inches); Zone 3 (USDA zone 4 to 9)
I have always loved this grass that is found naturally along the roadsides. It is also a plant native to Canada. The flowering is light and it sways in the wind. It always produces beautiful light effects when observed against the light.  

Autumn Moor Grass (Sesleria autumnalis)

H.: 45 cm (18 inches); L.: 45 cm (18 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 5 to 8)
This grass is already widely used in urban development. It has amply demonstrated its value! It is very interesting because of its chartreuse-green foliage. The ears are first creamy white, then they turn ochre yellow.

Heufler’s Moor Grass (Sesleria heufleriana)

H.: 50 cm (20 inches); L.: 50 cm (20 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 5 to 8)
Variety that deserves to be discovered. It produces short, wide spikes that turn purple-brown at the end of flowering. It gives him a great personality! The foliage is a slightly bluish tint.

Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

H.: 50 cm (20 inches); L.: 50 cm (20 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 3 to 9)
This is my current favorite! I have observed it on several green roofs where it is perfectly happy. The flowering is very light and airy. It is a very delicate grass. It is indigenous between Manitoba and Quebec.

Yellow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis ‘Aureus’)

H.: 40 cm (16 inches); L.: 60 cm (24 inches); Zone 4 (USDA zone 4 to 9)
The foliage of this grass is literally fluorescent yellow in spring. The rest of the summer, it remains lime green.