11 Ornamental Grasses That Look Magical in the Snow

The winter garden is full of small observances where details shine in an otherwise quiet landscape. Bright red berries, silvery bark, and twisted branches stand out this time of year against a grayed backdrop. Evergreens anchor the arrangement, but dried flowerheads, seedpods, rosehips, and other fruits bring high visual interest (and forage for birds and wildlife).

Among the dynamic interest plants are ornamental grasses, whose fine blades and plumes dry after heavy frost but continue to add structure, movement, and texture, particularly after snowfall. They transition from colorful fall glory and rustle into winter, where the glimmer of frost on a tufted stem is sheer beauty. Evergreen selections bring a pop of fresh color to chilly days.

To enjoy the spectacle of ornamental grasses and their plumage well into snowy days, resist the temptation to cut them back in fall. Leave them standing for the full benefit. Keeping blades intact also insulates the crown through cold conditions. The grasses shelter birds, mammals, amphibians, and beneficial insects as they overwinter. Wait until late winter or early spring to cut back perennial grasses, making way for new growth to emerge as temperatures warm.

Red Switchgrass ‘Cheyenne Sky’

	common name Red Switchgrass ‘Cheyenne Sky’
	botanical name Panicum virgatum ‘Cheyenne Sky’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Switchgrass is a native North American prairie grass that grows across varying soil types, moisture levels, and light conditions. The ornamental blades form an upright vase with vertical interest. Clouds of plumes in the summer develop seedheads that last through winter. 

The blades of ‘Cheyenne Sky’ begin blue-green and transition to wine red in early summer, with plumes to match. The semi-evergreen growers make exceptional container features in addition to screening, border specimens, and grouped plantings.

Switchgrass is rugged, preferring lean soils to overly rich ones. It grows in wet and dry soils and tolerates occasional flooding. The aesthetic appeal of ‘Cheyenne Sky’ and its dark coloration pair seamlessly with blooming perennials like heliopsis, echinacea, milkweed, and hardy hibiscus.

Little Bluestem ‘Blue Heaven’

	common name Little Bluestem ‘Blue Heaven’
	botanical name Schizachyrium scoparium ‘MinnblueA’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Little bluestem is a wide-ranging North American native. Tufts of narrow, folded blades, often upright, have blue-tinged new growth that matures to reddish-gold. The tawny red leaves are striking in a mass against a snowy backdrop. 

Seeds are fluffy and white and provide nutritive cold season forage for birds. The fine leaves are prime nesting habitat. The species is widely adapted to different growing regions and occurs in lower Canada and most U.S. states except Washington and Nevada. Clay and sandy soils are its natural textures, but like so many grasses, little bluestem tolerates various types.

‘Blue Heaven’ is a showy cultivar with good form and disease resistance. Slender blades begin blue and become pink and burgundy as they age. Summer panicles are purple, with tan seedheads. The coppery fall color continues the appeal of this ornamental grass, yielding to snow-white in the winter. 

‘Ha Ha Tonka’ is another favorite with blue-green leaves and highlights of silver and red. Cross-bred from seeds out of Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Missouri, the hybrid is part of the Piet Oudolf Collection. Lurie Gardens in Chicago’s Millenial Park features both varieties for all-season interest – a testament to their winter durability.

Switchgrass ‘Heavy Metal’

	common name Switchgrass ‘Heavy Metal’
	botanical name Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Panicum virgatum is a tall grass prairie native that multitasks as an ornamental that looks magical in the snow. It’s stiff, upright habit holds throughout winter. In midsummer, pinkish panicles rise above the blades in an airy spray.

‘Heavy Metal’ stands out for its column of upright, metallic-blue blades. The pink plumes and burgundy seeds form a haze above the cool blue base. Leaves transition to deep orangey-yellow in autumn and eventually to light tan in winter. The clumps top five feet in flower.

Panicum grows across varying soil textures and light exposures. Too much organic richness, though, causes the clumps to flop over, as does too much shade.

Blue Grama ‘Blonde Ambition’

	common name Blue Grama ‘Blonde Ambition’
	botanical name Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Blue grama is a low-growing prairie native and useful ground cover. It performs well as a turf alternative and takes occasional mowing. The species reaches only six inches tall (one foot in flower).

‘Blonde Ambition’ is a selection of the species. It has attractive blue leaves and golden flowers held like little pennants on strong stems. The floating seeds that follow last well into winter.

‘Blonde Ambition’ does best in well-drained soils with a neutral pH (6.6-7.8). It’s drought-tolerant once established and ideal for waterwise, low-maintenance ornament. Look for ‘Honeycomb,’ similar in stature with patterned springtime seedheads in warm brown.

Big Bluestem ‘Blackhawks’

	common name Big Bluestem ‘Blackhawks’
	botanical name Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

The native big bluestem is an ornamental grass that shines in the snow, making a statement in height and color. These emerge early in the season, before many other grasses. Gracefully arching blades 

‘Blackhawks’ is a distinctive variety in dark green and purple that transitions to near black as temperatures cool. The deep hues and slightly arching blades offer high contrast. Erect stems hold finely textured burgundy inflorescences and seeds. ‘Blackhawks’ is a seedling of A. gerardii ‘Red October,’ with foliage and seedheads in red and burgundy.

Big bluestem grows across various moisture and soil situations. Once the hallmark of American tallgrass prairies, these handsome specimens are long-lived and prime for screening, back-of-the-border locations, specimens, and naturalized plantings. They intermingle with blooming perennials beautifully.

Switchgrass ‘Northwind’

	common name Switchgrass ‘Northwind’
	botanical name Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Northwind’ is a structural, tall switch that forms a rigid upright column loaded with vertical interest. Its vigorous, blue-green blades are among the most columnar. Erect green and maroon plumes wave above the high leaves in summer. In fall, the foliage turns gold before drying.

Switchgrass cultivars vary in height, coloration, and spreading habit, but they share deep roots that make them heat and drought-tolerant. They’re useful in erosion control and revegetation sites, in addition to border specimens, rain gardens, and naturalized arrangements. Heavy snow may weight the tall stems of this ornamental grass, but they bounce back after they lighten.

Feather Reed ‘Karl Foerster’

	common name Feather Reed ‘Karl Foerster’
	botanical name Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Karl Foerster’ is an oft-recommended hybrid feather reed variety. Its feathery panicles are bronzey red with deep gold autumn color. The seedheads persist into winter. ‘Karl Foerster’ is a cool season grower, meaning it does the bulk of its growing and producing in cool temperatures of spring and fall. While heat-tolerant, growth slows in summer, but color holds well.

‘Karl Foerster’ is architectural with uniformly upright foliage and plumes. Strong landscape performance and display value earned it the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit and the Perennial Plant Association Perennial Plant of the Year Award. A lovely sport of ‘Karl’ is ‘Overdam,’ with silvery variegated foliage, a gently arching, compact habit, and dusky pink flowers.

Drought-tolerant and relatively carefree, ‘Karl Foerster’ is an easy performer with graceful movement. Cut back cool-season grasses after the snow melts in late winter/early spring. Leave one-third standing to avoid cutting the crown too drastically.

Broomsedge

	common name Broomsedge
	botanical name Andropogon virginicus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4
	hardiness zones 3-9

Andropogon virginicus is indigenous to the Americas and a true grass (not really a sedge) that occurs naturally across fields, prairies, and savannahs. The rugged grower is a fit for naturalized plantings, revegetated areas, and open spaces as a long-lived, vigorous ground cover. Use it in butterfly gardens to draw pollinators (the genus supports common wood nymph and skipper larvae).

Broomsedge has green leaves and stems turn dark purple and then red-gold in late fall. Unlike others that turn beige, broomsedge retains its orange-red tones. Inflorescences turn bright orange as temperatures drop. Lasting seeds are cottony and silvery white.

Broomsedge thrives with neglect in sandy or clay soils. It doesn’t do well in overly fertile or mulched situations but tolerates a range of moisture levels.

Fountain Grass ‘Hush Puppy’

	common name Fountain Grass ‘Hush Puppy’
	botanical name Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hush Puppy’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Pennisetum, in various heights, colors, and hardiness levels, has thin, arching blades and showy plumes. Often used to anchor autumnal arrangements, they add texture, movement, and rich color this time of year. The foliage and seed heads are interesting through dormancy. 

Many fountain grass varieties self-seed aggressively in optimal conditions and may become invasive, depending on your growing area. There are lots of alternatives, including native species on this list, with striking winter interest and less aggressive spread. 

‘Hush Puppy’ is out of the University of Georgia breeding program for fountain grass sterilization. Light pink flowerheads that don’t bear seeds have an extended display into fall. The fuzzy pink plumes become tawny brown with cold weather. 

Others in the series include ‘Cayenne’ with dark red bottlebrushes and ‘Praline’ with sprays in pecan and taupe. These ornamentals benefit from extra winter protection in zone 5. In early spring, gently rake the grass with a gloved hand to remove dead leaves.

Of note, there is a lot of discussion about whether or not sterile cultivars of invasive species have a negative impact on the surrounding ecology.  

Pennsylvania Sedge

	common name Pennsylvania Sedge
	botanical name Carex pensylvanica
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6-12”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Carex forms soft, tufting mounds that colonize gracefully along shady borders and slopes. Pennsylvania sedge creates a green carpet with gently arching blades that don’t need mowing. As a lawn alternative or for a short appearance, mow it a few times a year to keep leaves two to three inches tall.

For winter interest, the foliage in light taupe drapes low. It remains semi-evergreen in moderately cold climates. The lush clumps present spikes of reddish-purple inflorescences in late spring. It spreads through rhizomes and may self-seed in optimal conditions. C. pensylvanica occurs naturally in eastern and central North America in dry woodlands. It prefers loose, loamy, and medium to dry soils. 

Another Carex to employ for frosty beauty includes C. montana, or mountain sedge. Mountain sedge forms an attractive, deep green clump of soft, narrow, mounded leaves.

Prairie Dropseed ‘Gone With The Wind’

	common name Prairie Dropseed ‘Gone With The Wind’
	botanical name Sporobolus heterolepis ‘Gone With The Wind’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 36-40”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Prairie dropseed is native to North American prairies and moves into the ornamental landscape with its award-winning fountain of bladed foliage, low maintenance growth, and hardiness. The species reaches two- to three feet tall. Mounding and fine-textured, the linear leaves turn coppery amber in the fall. 

The sturdy stems of this ornamental grass withstand snow without flattening or laying down for all-season appeal. In late autumn, seeds drop and scatter (hence, “dropseed”). With deep roots, prairie dropseed is a good candidate for erosion control. The perennial is heat and drought-tolerant while withstanding short periods of flooding in well-draining soils.

‘Gone With The Wind’ is shorter than the species, with airy flowerheads. Its wispy form sways gently in the breeze. Green leaves turn vibrant red as the weather cools. ‘Tara’ is a dwarf cultivar from a selection of the species discovered in Wisconsin. ‘Tara’ is more upright with a fantastic red-orange autumnal color. Plant it en masse for the best show.