| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Type |
Height |
Habitat |
Color |
Bloom Time |
Exposure |
Features |
| Native Grasses |
| Andropogon gerardii |
Big Bluestem |
Peren-
nial |
5-8' |
Average; drought tolerant; prairies, swales, open woods |
Blue-
green in summer; orange-
brown in fall |
Aug.-
Oct. |
Full sun |
Upright form. Grown for its lush summer foliage and reliabel fall and winter color. Adaptable, care free. For naturalizing or as backdrop of flowering plants. |
| Andropogon glomeratus |
Bushy Broom-
Sedge |
Peren-
nial |
4-6' |
Moist areas; road-
sides, moist pine-
lands, dithces. |
Blue-
green; Red-
brown Fall |
Aug.-
Oct. |
Full - part sun |
Ornamental grass with showy plumes that turn rust color in late fall or early winter. Used in golf courses, around pond edges, stream banks, and other wet sites. |
| Andropogon virginicus |
Broom-
Sedge |
Peren-
nial |
2-5' |
Dry fields, upper shores of ponds |
Gold, brown Fall color |
Sept.-
Oct. |
Full - part sun |
Can be invasive on disturbed lands. Striking fall and winter color when sunlight hits the fine hairs. |
| Calamagrostis cinnoides |
Reed Grass |
Peren-
nial |
4-6' |
Wet areas |
Yellow green |
July-
Oct. |
Full sun |
Long, upright narrow leaves. Grows in open areas. |
| Muhlenbergia filipes |
Sweet-
grass |
Peren-
nial |
2' |
Dry-wet |
Pink plumes |
July-
Nov. |
Full sun |
Used for basket weaving, esp. in South Carolina. Winter hardy, aromatic. Moderate life span and growth rate. Beautiful pink fall color with wavy textures. |
| Panicum amarum |
Bitter Panic-
grass |
Peren-
nial |
3-5' |
Sand dune areas |
Yellow (incon-
cpi-
cuous) |
July-
Oct. |
Full sun |
Coarse foliage texture. Long life span. Very drought tolerant. Attracts birds. |
| Panicum virgatum |
Switch Grass |
Peren-
nial |
3-6' |
Dry and wet habitats; prairies and dry fields |
Pink-
purple plumes |
June-
Oct. |
Full sun - part shade |
Grows in large clumps, like most grasses. Often used for restoration and erosion control. Adds fall color to naturalistic borders. Great wildlife plant. |
| Sorghastrum sp. |
Indian Grass |
Peren-
nial |
3-8' |
Dry areas; prairies and dry fields |
Golden brown |
Sept.-
Oct. |
|
Tall, graceful stature. Beautiful metallic golden sheen. Loved by livestock. |
| Spartina patens |
Salt Hay, Salt-
meadow Cord Grass |
Peren-
nial |
1-3' |
Wet, sandy soils; Saline marshes, sandy meadows |
Yellow |
June-
Sept. |
Part sun |
Narrow blades. Often used for beach front stabilization. Attracts birds. |
| Uniola paniculata |
Sea Oats |
Peren-
nial |
4-6' |
Moist, fertile, sandy soil; sand dunes |
Yellow-
beige |
June-
Sept. |
Full - part sun |
Usually is the most conspicuous plant growing on the sand dunes behind wave-washed beaches. Cut to ground in winter. Root system helps reduce erosion. Can be invasive, but worth the effort. |
