Putting tall grass plants in pots is a lovely way to add natural textures to your outside and inside areas. Ornamental grasses have thin leaves and airy plumes that look great next to plants with bigger leaves. When they rustle in the wind, they make a lovely sound and movement.
When grown in containers, ornamental grasses are easier to manage than planting them directly in garden beds where they can sometimes spread aggressively Pot culture also makes it simpler to overwinter more tender varieties in colder climates
With proper selection, placement, and care, container-grown grasses can thrive indoors or out. Here are some of the best tall grass plants to grow in pots:
Blue Lyme Grass
Blue lyme grass (Leymus arenarius) is a dramatic accent plant because of its large, steel-blue leaves that sway gracefully in the wind. It grows in neat clumps to 2 to 3 feet tall and does well in pots, where the blue-gray leaves look their best in terms of color and texture.
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum, or fountain grass, is a plant that grows naturally into a fountain-shaped mound. Look for the cultivar “Rubrum,” which has bright burgundy-purple leaves and pink plumes, for the most color. “Burgundy Giant” and “Oriental Fountain Grass” are two more nice choices (P orientale).
Japanese Forest Grass
Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) is prized for its graceful, arching form and delicate leaves striped with yellow, pink, or white. The cultivar ‘Aureola’ has green leaves dappled with golden stripes that turn coppery-orange in fall. It thrives in partially shaded, moist conditions, so a pot is ideal if you can’t meet those needs in the garden.
Bamboo Muhly
Bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa) handles heat and drought once established, making it a good choice for a low-maintenance container grass. Named for its bamboo-like foliage, it forms tidy mounds 3 to 5 feet tall with airy plumes. Native to California and Arizona.
Feather Reed Grass
Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’) is one of the most popular ornamental grasses, valued for its tall, narrow plumes good for vertical interest. With some winter protection, it overwinters in containers even in zone 6.
Leatherleaf Sedge
Leatherleaf sedge (Carex buchananii), a fine-textured grass, makes a great plant for containers because it looks beautiful and has a light, airy feel. This clump-forming sedge has striking coppery-bronze leaves.
Japanese Silver Grass
A graceful, vase-shaped form and stunning silver-striped foliage make Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) a top choice for containers. Some good cultivars are ‘Morning Light’, ‘Variegatus’, and ‘Autumn Light’.
Japanese Sweet Flag
For a compact container grass, try Japanese sweet flag (Acorus gramineus), which grows just 6 to 12 inches tall. ‘Ogon’ has leaves striped with golden yellow that retain good coloring in part shade. Sweet flag needs consistently moist soil.
New Zealand Flax
Technically not a grass but a close lookalike, New Zealand flax (Phormium) offers spiky strap-shaped leaves in a range of heights and colors. Cultivars range from compact 1-foot types to towering varieties up to 12 feet tall, in green, bronze, red, yellow, and more.
Moor Grass
Moor grass (Molinia caerulea) handles moist soils well, so it’s a natural for container culture if you can keep it well-watered. It forms neat mounds of thread-like green leaves, turning golden bronze in fall. Good cultivars include ‘Moorhexe’, ‘Transparent’, and ‘Windspiel’.
Big Bluestem
For a tall, upright shape, try big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) native to American prairies. In containers, it can reach up to 8 feet tall with slender leaves topped by fluffy, silvery seed heads. Provides vertical interest and narrow form.
Zebra Grass
Zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’) is named for its distinctive horizontal yellow banding on the leaves. It forms vase-shaped clumps 5 to 7 feet tall that sway gracefully and provide year-round interest with its bold striping.
Chinese Silver Grass
Another miscanthus, Chinese silver grass (M. sinensis var. condensatus) is a bit more refined and compact than some of its cousins, at 4 to 6 feet tall. Its flower plumes emerge reddish-pink, fading to silver-white. The cultivar ‘Cosmopolitan’ is a popular choice.
Japanese Blood Grass
Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’) really stands out with its striking, bright red foliage that lasts all season. A compact grower at 1 to 2 feet tall, it looks especially vivid paired with greens, blues, and purples.
Pink Muhly Grass
Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is a North American native grass with fine-textured green foliage that turns vibrant red-pink in fall. Container culture is recommended outside its native range. This clump-forming grass reaches 3 feet tall and wide.
Dwarf Hair Grass
Add lush texture with dwarf hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), which forms a dense, mossy carpet of fine hair-like foliage. Grow it as a lush ground cover flowing over the edges of a container. Clumps reach 6 to 12 inches tall. Needs moist soil.
Blue Fescue Grass
For a low-growing container grass, try blue fescue (Festuca glauca). Its icy blue color is perfect for combinations with warm-toned plants like orange, red, and yellow. Blue fescue forms rounded clumps 6 to 12 inches tall and can tolerate some shade.
Maiden Grass
A giant of the ornamental grass world, maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’) can grow up to 10 feet tall in containers with its gracefully arching leaves. For optimum growth, situate in full sun and keep the soil consistently moist.
With the amazing diversity of ornamental grasses available today, there are so many choices for container growing. Focus on grasses suited to your climate, site conditions, and pot size when making selections. Proper watering, fertilizing, pruning, and winter care will keep container grasses looking their best.
