What ornamental grasses like full sun?

Stipa, Miscanthus, Calamagrostis, Festuca and Pennisetum all want full sun; the finer grasses prefer lean, well-drained soil to stand upright.

When should I cut back ornamental grasses?

Cut deciduous grasses such as Miscanthus and Calamagrostis to the ground in late winter; simply comb out dead blades from evergreen types like Festuca.

Border Builder

Ornamental grasses for full sun

Ornamental grasses for an open, sunny position.

Most ornamental grasses are sun-worshippers, so a hot, open border is where they look their best; the catch is matching the grass to your soil and resisting the urge to coddle them. On rich, moist ground in sun, vigorous types romp away and can flop or seed about, while the fine, airy grasses want lean, sharply drained soil to stand upright and catch the light. Do not overfeed. Plant in spring so they establish through the warm months, cut deciduous types back in late winter, and simply comb out the evergreens. The grasses below thrive in full sun, from drought-tolerant Stipa and Festuca for dry borders to the taller Miscanthus and Calamagrostis that give height, movement and months of low autumn-light interest.

Border Builder is a garden border planner for iPhone and iPad. Pick from the 73 plants below and it works them into a full plan: how many of each, where they go, and how the bed reads through the seasons.

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Common questions

What ornamental grasses like full sun?: Stipa, Miscanthus, Calamagrostis, Festuca and Pennisetum all want full sun; the finer grasses prefer lean, well-drained soil to stand upright.
When should I cut back ornamental grasses?: Cut deciduous grasses such as Miscanthus and Calamagrostis to the ground in late winter; simply comb out dead blades from evergreen types like Festuca.

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Ornamental grasses for borders