Ornamental Grasses great for Canadian climates

Ornamental grasses provide a lovely, natural appearance to nearly any landscape. They are particularly well-suited for Canadian climates. Numerous popular types thrive in Canada, especially in our Vancouver Island weather. One of the best aspects of these plants is their remarkable hardiness, making winter kill quite uncommon. Additionally, they are drought-resistant and require significantly less moisture compared to most other shrubs and perennials. They also demand very little maintenance.

Ornamental grasses are a large group of plants that are gaining popularity and becoming an essential element in garden concepts today. They make very dramatic impacts on our gardens, as well as add multi-season interest. They have the versatility and adaptability to grow in any landscape, as well as the diversity in form and texture to be an asset in any design.

Grasses come in a variety of colours – green, blue, gold, red, bronze, orange, silver, and variegated. There are two different groups – warm season and cool season. Warm season varieties begin growing when temperatures warm up in the spring, they are ideal for areas with long, hot summers. Cool season varieties begin growing in early spring, than growth slows down in the heat of the summer. Cool season are ideal for areas with low humidity and cooler summers. Below are some ornamental grasses that are perfect for Canadian climates.

Cool Season Grasses

• Blue Wheat Grass – clump forming grass with intense blue leaves, produces blue spikes of wheat-like flowers that mature to tan.
• Bulbous Oat Grass – clump forming grass with green and cream striped leaves
• Quaking Grass –clump forming grass with narrow dark green leaves, produces heart-shape greenish-purple spikes in late spring
• Reed Grass – tall clump forming, grasses with green, green and white, or green and gold leaves, produces tall, stiff spikes of greenish flowers that mature to tan seed heads in the late summer. Varieties of Reed Grasses: Karl Foerster’s ornamental Grasses, Overdam, Eldorado and Avalanche
• Hair Grass – low clump forming grass with dark leaves, produces upright sprays of airy green flowers that mature to beige. Varieties of Ornamental Hair Grass: Bronze Veil, Gold Dust and Northern Lights
• Blue Fescue – low clump of fine textured grasses with silver-blue to green leaves, produces tan coloured spikes of flowers. Varieties: Elijah Blue, Skinner’s Blue, Peppindale Blue
• Blue Oat Grass – clump forming grass with stiff arching intensely blue leaves, produces tall spikes of tan flowers. Varieties: Sapphire Fountain
• June Grass – dense clump forming grass with blue-grey leaves, produces fluffy panicles of silvery-purplish-green flowers that age to tan.
• Ribbon Ornamental Grass – spreading grass with variegated white and green leaves and a pink blush produces spikes of tan flowers.
• Woodrush – clump forming grass with upright arching dark green leaves, produces cluster of white flowers that mature to beige

Warm Season Grasses

• Northern Sea Oats – clump forming grass with light green bamboo-like leaves, produces arching stems of dangling green flowers that mature to bronze.
• Hakone Grass – arching mound bamboo-like foliage on wiry stems, produces small sprays of flowers. Ornamental Varieties: White-Striped (Albostriata), Golden Variegated (Aureola), Fubuki
• Blood Grass – a slow spreading clump of dark blood-red leaves with green base, rarely flowers
• Maiden Grass – clump forming grasses in a range of colours and heights, produces showy fan-shaped panicles of flowers late in the season. Varieties: Flame Grass, Huron Sunrise, Silver Feather, Red-Silver
• Moor Grass – forms a low clump of leaves, produces taller stems with delicate flowers. Varieties: Skyracer (tall), Ornamental Variegated, Source of Rays, Swamp Witch (dwarf)
• Switch Grass – clump forming grass with narrow green leaves, produces airy clouds of flowers that mature to reddish seed heads. Varieties: Heavy Metal, Northwind, Prairie Fire, Rostrahlbusch, Shenandoah, Blood Brothers, Cheyenne Sky, Prairie Sky,
• Ornamental Fountain Grass – grasses that are clump forming with arching leaves, produces fuzzy bottlebrush flower spikes. Varieties: Hameln, Moudry, Fireworks, Rubrum (Red)

Karl Foerster reed grass

Karl Foerster reed grass is the most favored ornamental grass we cultivate on Vancouver Island. It boasts excellent drought resistance and requires minimal upkeep. The Karl Foerster offers vibrant color throughout the year. Its stunning seed heads can remain through winter, adding delightful hues in the fall and winter months. When spring comes, you can easily trim them back and anticipate the fresh growth. In some instances, Karl Foerster can reach heights of over 6 feet and appears most attractive when planted in odd-numbered clusters.

Avalanche reed grass and overdam reed grass. 

If you’re seeking a bit more color and diversity, you might want to think about avalanche reed grass and overdam reed grass. The blades of these ornamental grasses are variegated, showcasing a blend of green and cream white. Additionally, they are quite tolerant of rough conditions and can often be left throughout the summer with minimal or no tap watering needed. While both Avalanche and Overdam won’t reach the height of Karl Forester, they will achieve a similar width. As with other styles, they look their best when planted in groups. We recommend grouping them in odd numbers, such as three or five plants. A beautiful addition to any Canadian garden.

Blue Oat grass

Blue oat grass is among our top choices for ornamentals that thrive in Canadian climates. This grass features a stunning grey-blue hue that enhances any garden bed. They grow in a lower, mound-like shape, making them perfect for both modern and traditional landscapes. In our projects, we frequently incorporate them to evoke the vibe of contemporary Palm Springs or Palm Desert homes. From afar, they can resemble a type of desert cactus commonly found in gardens across Phoenix and Palm Springs. Blue oat is incredibly resilient and can withstand the harshest of winters. Their blades can remain intact during winter, adding visual interest to your yard. Similar to the Karl Forester, it’s advisable to trim the dead growth back when spring arrives.

Fescue grass

Fescue ornamental grass is a compact variety that is significantly smaller than the previously mentioned ones. A beautiful addition to any Canadian garden when used to border planting beds at the front. Fescue ornamental requires minimal watering during the summer and is very easy to care for. These grasses are typically utilized more as ground cover instead of as standout feature plants. Fescue is available in various colors, providing excellent highlights to your low-maintenance landscaping. If you’re considering adding fescue grass to your project, keep in mind that they can easily produce seeds. This means they might establish themselves in other parts of your garden bed and will eventually need to be thinned out.