Low-Maintenance Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses, unlike turfgrasses, are true grasses or plants that have the appearance of grass. They are often used to border landscapes or accent plant beds. Keep reading to learn about some grasses that require minimal watering and care in Sarasota County.
Note: The following information is adapted from the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide.
Legend
Apart from the information presented in the table, the following features will be highlighted under each plant’s picture.
Light
: At least 6 hours of full sun
: 2-4 hours of full sun per day
: Full shade
Perks
: Attracts pollinators
: Attracts birds
: Edible parts*
Geography
: Native
: Non-native
Ornamental Grasses
Muhly grass (Muhlbergia capillaris)
![Bright pink muhly grassed among green shrubs](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/06/Untitled-design-11-300x199.png)
Height | 2 to 5 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full sun |
Salt Tolerance | High |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0), sandy clay, well-drained to wet |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Cordgrass (Spartina spp.)
![Cordgrass by the water](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/05/spartina-spp-300x196.jpg)
Height | 3 to 5 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full sun |
Salt Tolerance | High |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), sandy clay, well-drained to wet |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Gammagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides)
![Gamma grass by water](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/08/20230627_131056265_iOS-2-225x300.png)
Height | 3 to 5 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Medium |
Drought Tolerance | Medium |
Soil Preference | Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.5-7.2), sandy clay, medium to well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Bluestem (Andropogon spp.)
![Bluestem grass](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/05/andropogon-spp-300x225.jpg)
Height | 3 to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Hardiness | 3A to 9B |
Light Requirement | Full sun |
Salt Tolerance | High |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Tolerates wide range of soil pH (4.5-8.0), medium to well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Wiregrass (Aristida stricta var. beyrichiana)
![Wiregrass](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2023/05/aristida-stricta-var-beyrichiana-300x265.jpg)
Height | 0.5 to 0.75 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Hardiness | 8A to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Low |
Drought Tolerance | High |
Soil Preference | Acidic to slightly acidic (4.5-6.5), sandy clay, well-drained to wet |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
![Lemongrass in the landscape](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/images/plants/vegetables/lemongrass.jpg)
Height | 3 to 4 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Hardiness | 10 to 11 |
Light Requirement | Full sun to partial sun |
Salt Tolerance | Unknown |
Drought Tolerance | Moderate |
Soil Preference | Tolerates decent range of soil pH from acidic to slightly alkaline, medium to well-drained |
Comments |
|
Read more here.
If you want to learn about other low-maintenance plants for your landscape, read the rest of our Low-Maintenance Landscaping blog series.
*Although we discuss edibility in this blog, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is not responsible for any illness or injury associated with foraging. Be aware that some plants may have been treated with pesticides and are not fit for human consumption. Always exercise caution.