8 Native Grasses and Sedges for Southeastern Gardens
These plants bring beautiful texture to the landscape
In the southeastern United States, grasses and grass-like herbaceous plants occur naturally in coastal areas, wet meadows and wire grass-longleaf pine ecosystems. The region offers some wonderful native plants that can bring the moody and flowing look of these plant communities to your landscape. Here are eight Southern native grasses, sedges and rushes chosen for their wildlife value, flowing texture and resilience.
Not in the South? Browse grasses for other regions of the U.S.
Not in the South? Browse grasses for other regions of the U.S.
Photo by noricum
Starrush Whitetop
(Rhynchospora colorata, syn. Dichromena colorata)
Occurs throughout the Southeast
Best ornamental wetland sedge. Also called painted sedge and white-bracted sedge, starrush whitetop has a bright splash of white at its top and thrives in wetlands. It works wonders at the edge of a water or bog garden and will spread when given ideal wet conditions. Starrush whitetop is difficult to start from seed but very easy to propagate by division in the fall. It prefers light conditions from full sun to partial shade.
Starrush Whitetop
(Rhynchospora colorata, syn. Dichromena colorata)
Occurs throughout the Southeast
Best ornamental wetland sedge. Also called painted sedge and white-bracted sedge, starrush whitetop has a bright splash of white at its top and thrives in wetlands. It works wonders at the edge of a water or bog garden and will spread when given ideal wet conditions. Starrush whitetop is difficult to start from seed but very easy to propagate by division in the fall. It prefers light conditions from full sun to partial shade.
Photo by Ole Husby
Common Rush
(Juncus effusus)
Native throughout North America
Best architectural wetland plant. Out of hundreds of North American native rushes, common rush is perhaps the most familiar. It is a very stiff grass, reaching around 2 feet tall, with more architectural texture than the soft-textured, flowing grasses listed here.
Common rush is very easy to grow and requires moist to wet soil, making it ideal in the wettest part of a rain garden. It prefers full sun.
Common Rush
(Juncus effusus)
Native throughout North America
Best architectural wetland plant. Out of hundreds of North American native rushes, common rush is perhaps the most familiar. It is a very stiff grass, reaching around 2 feet tall, with more architectural texture than the soft-textured, flowing grasses listed here.
Common rush is very easy to grow and requires moist to wet soil, making it ideal in the wettest part of a rain garden. It prefers full sun.
Purple Lovegrass
(Eragrostis spectabilis)
Native from Maine south to Florida and west to North Dakota and Arizona in the U.S.; native to Ontario in Canada
Toughest low grass. This is a grass to use in areas near public sidewalks or driveways where you want the lush texture of a grass but need one that can handle a tough site. Purple lovegrass thrives in disturbed sites with dry, poor soils. It prefers full sun.
The seed heads make an almost effervescent light purple cloud in late summer, a joy to experience as you soak up the last days of the season. Lovegrass reaches about 2 feet wide and 1 foot tall — up to 2 feet tall with its seed heads.
See how to grow purple lovegrass
(Eragrostis spectabilis)
Native from Maine south to Florida and west to North Dakota and Arizona in the U.S.; native to Ontario in Canada
Toughest low grass. This is a grass to use in areas near public sidewalks or driveways where you want the lush texture of a grass but need one that can handle a tough site. Purple lovegrass thrives in disturbed sites with dry, poor soils. It prefers full sun.
The seed heads make an almost effervescent light purple cloud in late summer, a joy to experience as you soak up the last days of the season. Lovegrass reaches about 2 feet wide and 1 foot tall — up to 2 feet tall with its seed heads.
See how to grow purple lovegrass
Inland Sea Oats
(Chasmanthium latifolium)
Native to the East Coast south to Florida and west to Texas
Best grass for massing and spreading. Inland sea oats has some of the prettiest and most distinctive seed heads. The dense seed head forms a heavy cluster at the end of each stalk, causing the stalk to bend slightly as the seed head nods in the breeze.
Inland sea oats prefers moist soil and thrives in partial shade to full shade. It can reach 2 to 4 feet tall and spread 2 to 6 feet wide.
See how to grow inland sea oats
(Chasmanthium latifolium)
Native to the East Coast south to Florida and west to Texas
Best grass for massing and spreading. Inland sea oats has some of the prettiest and most distinctive seed heads. The dense seed head forms a heavy cluster at the end of each stalk, causing the stalk to bend slightly as the seed head nods in the breeze.
Inland sea oats prefers moist soil and thrives in partial shade to full shade. It can reach 2 to 4 feet tall and spread 2 to 6 feet wide.
See how to grow inland sea oats
Sand Cordgrass
(Spartina bakeri)
Native from South Carolina to Florida and sporadically in Texas
Best large clumping grass. Sand cordgrass is a stiff textured grass that creates lovely large clumps. The tight clumps make dense masses that can be used alone or in drifts. The plant is seen here behind a large aloe and makes a great contrast to the bright orange flowers.
It likes moist or dry soils and sun to partial shade. In ideal conditions, sand cordgrass can reach up to 5 feet tall, and each clump can spread to 4 feet wide.
(Spartina bakeri)
Native from South Carolina to Florida and sporadically in Texas
Best large clumping grass. Sand cordgrass is a stiff textured grass that creates lovely large clumps. The tight clumps make dense masses that can be used alone or in drifts. The plant is seen here behind a large aloe and makes a great contrast to the bright orange flowers.
It likes moist or dry soils and sun to partial shade. In ideal conditions, sand cordgrass can reach up to 5 feet tall, and each clump can spread to 4 feet wide.
Indian Grass
(Sorghastrum nutans)
Native from Arizona north to North Dakota and all parts east
Best large upright grass. Once a dominant species of the Great Plains’ prairie, Indian grass is a hulking species that grows up to 5 feet tall. It is one of the most resilient native grasses and can also withstand the humidity and soils of the Southeast. It likes full sun and tolerates moist and dry soils.
Leave the seed heads of this upright grass for the birds in autumn, and let the culms (stems) persist through the winter.
See how to grow Indian grass
(Sorghastrum nutans)
Native from Arizona north to North Dakota and all parts east
Best large upright grass. Once a dominant species of the Great Plains’ prairie, Indian grass is a hulking species that grows up to 5 feet tall. It is one of the most resilient native grasses and can also withstand the humidity and soils of the Southeast. It likes full sun and tolerates moist and dry soils.
Leave the seed heads of this upright grass for the birds in autumn, and let the culms (stems) persist through the winter.
See how to grow Indian grass
Pennsylvania Sedge
(Carex pensylvanica)
Native to East Coast woodlands, from Maine south to Georgia, and west to the Dakotas and Arkansas
Best for dry shade. Pennsylvania sedge is useful in the landscape because it thrives in dry shade, a rare occurrence for sedges. Use it to replace a traditional lawn or along a woodland edge. This sedge does not need to be mowed and reaches a mature height of 6 to 12 inches.
For a more heat-tolerant sedge, try the less popular southern waxy sedge (Carex glaucescens). It’s native from Texas up to Virginia, growing in USDA zones 6 to 10 (find your zone), but it may only be available from select native-plant nurseries.
See how to grow Pennsylvania sedge
More
10 Ways to Use Ornamental Grasses in the Landscape
See more great design plants
(Carex pensylvanica)
Native to East Coast woodlands, from Maine south to Georgia, and west to the Dakotas and Arkansas
Best for dry shade. Pennsylvania sedge is useful in the landscape because it thrives in dry shade, a rare occurrence for sedges. Use it to replace a traditional lawn or along a woodland edge. This sedge does not need to be mowed and reaches a mature height of 6 to 12 inches.
For a more heat-tolerant sedge, try the less popular southern waxy sedge (Carex glaucescens). It’s native from Texas up to Virginia, growing in USDA zones 6 to 10 (find your zone), but it may only be available from select native-plant nurseries.
See how to grow Pennsylvania sedge
More
10 Ways to Use Ornamental Grasses in the Landscape
See more great design plants
Pink Muhly Grass
(Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Native to the Gulf Coastal Plain from Texas to Florida in sandy, well-drained soils
Best grass for autumn color. Pink muhly grass shows its true luminous nature in late summer to early fall, with its seed heads appearing in rosy purple tufts. Appreciate this grass as a specimen or planted in a large drift.
It needs well-drained soil, making it an appropriate ornamental native grass for coastal sandy sites and the quick-draining sandy soils of Florida. Pink muhly prefers light conditions from full sun to partial shade and grows up to 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide.
See how to grow pink muhly grass