What to Plant with Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses are a gardener's dream, offering a mix of texture, color, and movement that can transform any landscape. With their low maintenance and hardiness, they're a staple in many gardens. But what should you plant with ornamental grasses to create a harmonious and visually appealing garden? Let's explore some complementary plants that pair beautifully with these versatile greens.

When selecting plants to accompany your ornamental grasses, consider their size, texture, color, and growth habit. This will help you create a balanced and cohesive garden design. Remember, the goal is to create a beautiful tapestry of plants that complement, rather than compete with, your ornamental grasses.

Grasses and Perennials: A Match Made in Heaven

Perennials are a great choice to pair with ornamental grasses. They offer a wide range of colors, textures, and heights, making them versatile companions. Plus, their ability to return year after year means less work for you in the long run.

When combining grasses and perennials, consider using the 'rule of threes' or the 'odd numbers' principle. Group plants in odd numbers (like three or five) to create a more natural and pleasing arrangement. This can help to break up the potential monotony of large swathes of grass.

Grasses and Flowering Perennials

Flowering perennials can add a vibrant pop of color to your grassy landscape. They can also help to extend the season of interest, as many grasses are primarily valued for their foliage and form rather than their flowers.

For example, consider planting purple coneflower (Echinacea) or black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) among your ornamental grasses. These hardy perennials provide a striking contrast with their bold colors and can attract pollinators to your garden. Other good options include catmint (Nepeta), salvia, and daylilies (Hemerocallis).

Grasses and Foliage Perennials

Foliage perennials can provide a beautiful textural contrast to ornamental grasses. Their varied leaf shapes, sizes, and colors can add depth and interest to your garden design.

Hostas, with their large, heart-shaped leaves, can provide a striking contrast to the linear leaves of many grasses. Similarly, the fine, fern-like foliage of lungwort (Pulmonaria) can complement the broader leaves of grasses like Miscanthus or Karl Foerster feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster').

Grasses and Shrubs: A Long-Lasting Combination

Shrubs can provide structure and form to your garden, making them excellent companions for ornamental grasses. They can also help to create a sense of enclosure and privacy, which can be particularly useful in larger gardens.

When pairing grasses with shrubs, consider their growth habits and sizes. Generally, it's best to plant smaller, more compact shrubs in front of taller, wider grasses to create a sense of depth and perspective.

Grasses and Evergreen Shrubs

Evergreen shrubs can provide year-round interest and structure to your garden. They're also a great choice for screening and privacy, as they retain their foliage throughout the year.

Consider pairing evergreen shrubs like boxwood (Buxus) or holly (Ilex) with ornamental grasses. The evergreen foliage of these shrubs can provide a striking contrast to the often deciduous nature of many grasses. The dense, formal growth habit of boxwood, in particular, can provide a beautiful counterpoint to the more informal, flowing growth of many grasses.

Grasses and Deciduous Shrubs

Deciduous shrubs can provide a beautiful display of flowers, foliage, and fall color. They're a great choice for adding seasonal interest to your garden and can complement ornamental grasses beautifully.

For example, consider planting hydrangea (Hydrangea) or potentilla (Potentilla) among your grasses. These shrubs can provide a striking contrast with their bold flowers and can help to extend the season of interest in your garden. Other good options include spirea (Spiraea) and weigela (Weigela).

In a garden filled with ornamental grasses, the key is to create a sense of harmony and balance. By pairing grasses with complementary perennials and shrubs, you can create a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that's a joy to behold. So go ahead, get creative, and let your garden grow wild and free!