Iowa’s best ornamental grasses transform landscapes with minimal effort
Iowa residents seeking to enhance their landscapes with ornamental grasses have a variety of options, including native species that require minimal care and provide year-round interest. While specific cultivars of Big Bluestem may not be explicitly listed in Iowa's 2021 search results, this dominant prairie grass is commonly cultivated in the region and can be sourced through local agricultural extension services or native plant suppliers.
Ornamental grasses offer numerous benefits, such as ease of growth, low maintenance, long lifespan, and resistance to pests and diseases. They provide multi-season interest through features like color, texture, form, growth habit, movement, and sound. In Iowa landscapes, several species can be grown, including native options like Blue Grama and Big Bluestem.
Blue Grama is a short, clump-forming grass native to Iowa, growing 1 to 2 feet tall with purple-tinged flowers in early to mid-summer. Big Bluestem, on the other hand, is a tall grass growing 4 to 8 feet tall, with foliage turning reddish bronze in fall, and purplish flower clusters blooming in August and September.
Other ornamental grasses suitable for Iowa landscapes include Feather Reed Grass and Northern Sea Oats. Feather Reed Grass is an erect, narrow plant ranging from 2' to 4' tall, with airy purple-tinted flowers starting in mid-June and remaining attractive over the winter. Northern Sea Oats is an upright-narrow to upright-arching grass growing about 3 feet tall, with flat, green seedheads turning brown to bronze in the fall.
Foliage colors in ornamental grasses range from green to blue, yellow, tan, and reddish purple, while textures vary from fine to coarse. Plant forms range from low, mounding plants to tall, upright plants, with many adding movement and sound to the landscape as they wave and rustle in the wind. Japanese Silvergrass is a tall, clump-forming grass with silvery white flower plumes becoming tan and remaining throughout the winter.
Iowa homeowners can choose from a variety of ornamental grasses to add beauty and interest to their landscapes. By selecting native species and consulting local resources for specific cultivar availability, they can create low-maintenance, long-lasting gardens that support local ecosystems and provide year-round enjoyment.
