Ornamental Grasses For Shade - A List for Light Shade
©
Marge Talt
Page 2
May 5, 1998
For cool climates, the rampant but pretty Holcus lantus 'Variegatus' will grow in partial shade. It needs well drained, fertile, moist soil. Cut it back and water it well to keep the foliage looking good in midsummer. Hardy USDA zones 5 to 9, but does not do well in warm climates.
Juncus effusus 'Spiralis', the corkscrew or spiral rush, is a strange and interesting plant from the pictures I've seen. It needs moisture as in shallow water or boggy soils. It does best in light shade and does well in pots. Hardy USDA zones 7 to 9.
Other Juncus also do well in shady spots: J. mexicanus, Mexican rush (hardy USDA zones 8 to 10) and J. patens, the California gray rush ( hardy USDA zones 7(?) to 9) have upright foliage and also do well in pots. They also need constantly wet soil.
Phalaris arundinacea 'Dwarf Garters', dwarf ribbon grass, and P. a. 'Freesey's Form' both prefer moist, rich loam in light shade or half day sun. They will also grow in shallow water. Both are hardy from USDA zones 4 to 9. These are spreaders although I understand the dwarf form isn't as aggressive and doesn't flop like the old variety, P. a. var. picta. P. a. 'Luteo-Picta' likes the same conditions, but it's very aggressive and can be invasive if it's too happy. It has a gold variegation instead of white. If you're interested in this grass, I'd suggest you watch it closely and don't put it next to some precious little plant for starters!
Sesleria autumnalis, autumn moor grass forms an upright tufted mount between sixteen to eighteen inches (40.64cm) tall. It tolerates root competition from woody plants and does well under the light shade of trees.
Sesleria caerulea, blue moor grass, gets between six inches to a foot (15.24 - 30.48cm) tall and is good in mass plantings and as a large scale groundcover. It needs moist soil and resents drying out. It will grow in full sun in cool climates, but needs half shade in hot, inland areas. It does well in light shade under tall trees or woody shrubs and in the cracks between paving stones. Hardy from USDA zones 5-9.
Sesleria heuffleriana, green moor grass is also a clumping cool season grass that gets a bit taller, twelve to eighteen inches (30.48 - 45.72cm) and does well in the light shade of tall trees. It also wants moist soil.. This is a good one to naturalize with bulbs.
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