Grasses
BlackHawk Big Blue stem
Andropogon gerardii
H: 4-5'
W: 18"-24"
Zone: 3
A bold ornamental grass that delivers exceptional colour and height. Emerges with blue-green foliage in spring, develops rich purple tones through summer, and matures to dramatic deep burgundy and nearly black foliage in autumn. Tall reddish-purple flower spikes rise above the foliage in late summer, adding texture and attracting birds. Hardy enough for Edmonton's climate (Zone 3), this drought-tolerant native grass thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for prairie-style gardens, naturalized landscapes, and striking vertical accents.
Andropogon gerardii
H: 4-5'
W: 18"-24"
Zone: 3
A bold ornamental grass that delivers exceptional colour and height. Emerges with blue-green foliage in spring, develops rich purple tones through summer, and matures to dramatic deep burgundy and nearly black foliage in autumn. Tall reddish-purple flower spikes rise above the foliage in late summer, adding texture and attracting birds. Hardy enough for Edmonton's climate (Zone 3), this drought-tolerant native grass thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for prairie-style gardens, naturalized landscapes, and striking vertical accents.
|
Bulbous Oat Grass
Arrhenatherum bulb. 'Variegatum' H: up to 16" W: up to 24" Full Sun Zone: 3 Cool Season This grass gets it's name due to the bulb like appearance near the crown. It has white variegation and prefers to be in at least part sun to maintain it's white and green foliage. Drought tolerant once established |
|
|
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' H: 48' to 60' (with seedhead) W: up to 30" Full to Part Sun Zone: 3 Cool Season This is the most popular ornamental grass grown today on the prairies. It emerges early in the Spring and puts up it's beautiful seed heads in late June. It is a fast growing, hardy grass that offers ornamental value in all seasons due to the fact that the dried seed heads can last right into the next Spring. We recommend you wait until Spring to cut back the previous years growth so that you can enjoy the seed heads through the winter. It offers that "prairie look" that people have come to love. It is also a non-invasive, clump forming grass that doesn't spread. It is basically the perfect grass to be used in groupings or mass plantings in the background of your landscape. Tolerant of moist soils. |
|
|
Avalanche or Overdam Variegated Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam' & 'Avalanche' H: 36" to 48" (with seedhead) W: up to 30" Full to Part Sun Zone: 3 Cool Season A white-variegated version of Karl Foerster. The two cultivars grown that offer this feature are 'Overdam' and 'Avalanche'. They generally aren't as vigorous as Karl Foerster and won't get quite as large but offer a little more colour in the landscape. New growth often has pinkish striping that fades to white. Still produces decorative seedheads that will add winter interest. |
|
|
Eldorado Variegated Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam' & 'Avalanche' H: 36" to 48" (with seedhead) W: up to 30" Full to Part Sun Zone: 3 Cool Season Yellow variegated feather reed grass. Upright, clump-forming grass just like Karl Foerster but with yellow variegation. Typically not as vigorous and doesn't always reach the maximum height as a Karl Foerster but is hardy and adds some bright colour. |
|
Gold Tau Tufted Hair Grass
Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau' H: 24-36" W: 18-24" Zone: 3 Gold Tau Tufted Hair Grass is a hardy, cool-season ornamental grass that forms neat, arching clumps of fine green foliage topped with airy golden flower plumes in early to mid-summer. The delicate blooms shimmer in the breeze and remain attractive into fall, adding texture and movement to Edmonton landscapes. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapting well to a variety of soils, including moist sites. An excellent choice for borders, naturalized plantings, and cottage gardens in the Edmonton region. |
|
Blue Wheat Grass
Elymus magellanicus H: 3' W: Spreading Zone 3 Full Sun Cool Season Blue Wheat grass is one of the bluest grasses we can grow in Alberta. The problem is, it can also spread quite rapidly and is hard to contain. There are also other blue grasses available now that offer a more controlled, clumping form which are preferred so it has lost much of it's popularity. |
|
Blue Sheep's Fescue
Festuca ovina glauca - In Variety H: up to 10" (with seedhead) W: up to 10" Full Sun Zone: 3 Cool Season Small clump-forming grass that spreads by producing small offsets that can be moved or left with original planting. Very drought tolerant but only once established. Monitoring soil moisture is very important for this species. Prefers well drained soil first and foremost but be sure not to let it dry out for too long within the first year or 2 of planting. Will not tolerate standing water or soils that are constantly moist. Avoid over fertilizing (prefers low fertility). Benefits from some protection in winter. Can be a little tricky to get established in our clay based soils but once it is settled it is a maintenance free little grass that will never need to be watered! Looks great planted in groups. |
|
Blue Oat Grass
Helichtotrichon sempervirens - in variety H: 24" to 36" W: up to 36" Full Sun Zone: 3 Cool Season Medium sized, clump-forming grass. Non-spreading but may eventually produce offsets that can be relocated or left with the original planting. Produces seedheads above the grassy foliage, giving the plant a firework look. A great alternative to Blue Sheeps Fescue if you've had trouble getting the fescue to establish. Prefers well-drained soil as well but is more tolerant of our clay-based soils, winter winds and exposure. Thrives on neglect and prefers low fertility. |
|
|
Flame Grass / Purple Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurescens' & 'Huron Sunrise' - in variety H: up to 36" W: up to 36" Full Sun to Part Shade Zone 4 Warm Season Less commonly used grass that is gaining in popularity because of its unique ''bottle-brush" seedhead which usually emerges pinkish in colour fading to soft white by winter providing great winter-interest. Relatively soil adaptable, preferring well-draining loam with adequate moisture. Some variability between different cultivars (varieties) in size and colour. Typically foliage turns from deep green to orange-purple in fall with some varieties darker than others. Late to emerge in spring. |
|
|
Switch Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Northwind', 'Heavy Metal', 'Blood Brothers', 'Prairie Fire', 'Cardinal' - in Variety H: up to 40" W: up to 30" Full to Part Sun Zone: 3 Warm Season Strongly upright clump-forming grass. Noted for strong stems and adaptability. Different varieties offer different foliage colours from green to red. Soil adaptable and drought tolerant once established. Will keep best form and colour in full sun. Emerges later in spring than cool season grasses. Pictured are the varieties Heavy Metal and Prairie Fire |
|
Variegated Ribbon Grass
Phalaris arundinacea 'Strawberries and Cream' H: up to 24" W: Spreading Full Sun to Part Shade Zone: 3 Cool Season Vigorous spreading grass with white variegation. Can be aggressive but is a great grass if you are looking to fill in an area. It spreads by underground roots called rhizomes. Very strong white variegation on the foliage so it adds great contrast to any landscape in need of some colour. This grass will tolerate most conditions but just be aware that it is not a grass that will stay in one place. |
|
Standing Ovation Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Standing Ovation' H: 4' W: 18-20" Zone: 3 Prized for its strong upright habit and striking year-round colour. Blue-green foliage emerges in spring, deepening to shades of purple, orange, and fiery red in fall before fading to attractive copper tones in winter. Its sturdy stems resist flopping, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscapes in Edmonton. Drought tolerant once established, it thrives in full sun and adds texture, movement, and four-season interest to borders, naturalized plantings, and prairie-style gardens. |
