Which ornamental grasses stand up best throughout the year? I have a couple now that flop over during both the summer and winter months. I need some choices that are 5 to 8 feet tall.
Several ornamental grass varieties will maintain their strong, upright growth habit from summer through winter. These include:
- Maiden grass (Miscanthus), 5-6 feet
- Japanese silver grass, variegated (Miscanthus), 5-7 feet tall
- Porcupine grass (Miscanthus), 6-8 feet
- Ravenna grass (Erianthus), 10-12 feet
- Zebra grass (Miscanthus), 5-7 feet
Keep in mind that certain growing practices can reduce the sturdiness of grasses, especially when placed in partial shade, or when too much nitrogen fertilizer is used. The above varieties, even when properly grown, will usually be flattened by heavy snow, but return upright once the weight has melted.