Distinguishing Between Grasses

"Grass is grass," you say? When most people mention grass, they are talking....

"Grass is grass," you say? When most people mention grass, they are talking about the common lawn grasses that many of us have been mowing since our childhoods. But some grasses are not meant to be mowed. They are known as "ornamental grasses." Like the pachysandras described above, ornamental grasses can serve as substitutes for lawn grass.

Northern sea oats: Chasmanthium latifolium is an ornamental grass that grows 24 to 36 inches high in loose clumps of green foliage. Its name derives from its seed pods, which look like oats. This deer-resistant ornamental grass is cold hardy to zone 5. Even after its leaves have dried and died, it provides visual interest to the winter landscape.

Blue oat grass: Helictotrichon sempervirens is a cool-season ornamental grass that can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 8 and is effective for deer control. This ground cover attains a size of about 2 to 3 feet high (with a similar width) and grows in a mounded shape. Grow it in full sun and well-drained soils if you wish to enjoy the signature blue hues of its foliage to the fullest. The plant also produces spiky, dark flowers with a bluish tint in summer that turns harvest gold in autumn.

Lilyturf: For a shorter ground cover, try Liriope spicata. Lilyturf is commonly grouped with the ornamental grasses but actually is not a true grass. It can be grown in zones 4 to 10 and reaches only about 1 foot in height. It likes water, but it also prefers well-drained soil. Select an area with partial shade and soil rich, in organic matter for best results. This grass-like plant, too, has a spiky flower, ranging in color from white to lavender. In autumn it bears a dark berry. You will want to contain it, however, because it is invasive.