Ornamental grasses for zone 7 is a gardening place for cool-weather plants, ferns, and even for ornamental grasses. If you live in colder regions, you need to pick suitable ornamental grasses to decorate your lawns, garden, and outdoor spaces.
Some grasses have dazzling green or violet colors, while others have unique strips on their blades. That’s why we suggest the top zone 7 ornamental grasses that you can grow in winter and cold regions.
Contents
List of Ornamental Grasses For Zone 7
1. Zebra Grass
Zebra grass adds both privacy and visual appeal to your garden. This grass could even be called the Miscanthus Sinensis ‘Zebrinus,’ as its scientific name.
– Features
Its beautiful green foliage and texture look amazing in winter. But, the grass is equally adept for the summer days. If you want a plant to grow as a hedge, nothing beats the supremacy of the Zebra grass.
It would spread four to eight feet and grow up to seven feet with proper care. On top of it, it has a long lifespan, even in the harshest conditions.
Basically, you can see it fresh even after being buried in snow for days. It is a fantastic feature because not many ornamental grasses can survive such challenging conditions.
– Growing Season
The best time to grow zebra grass is late summer. It blooms during this time. It may also survive if you grow it during early fall. For the best look, you may plant the ornamental grass seed zone 7 in early spring and allow them enough time to grow and bloom in the next year.
– Specific Needs
Its soil should be pH neutral and moist. Also, the soil must have a proper and quick draining facility. Lastly, the grass needs full sun exposure. It means you must plant it where it receives maximum sunlight.
2. Pampas Grass
Pampas grass is perfect for cold and drought times when there’s no water source.
– Advantages
It can survive the harshest conditions without any complexity. Plus, it can flourish even without any fertilizer at all. It is a great relief, since many perineal ornamental grasses require too much fertilization.
– Features
You will find it in purple and white variations. We loved the purple one because it adds a unique texture to the garden when everything else looks dull.
The Cortaderia selloana is a subspecies of grass and is tender. If you want the hardier version, you may choose Saccharum Ravenna. It is well-known as plume grass and grows well in Zone 7, like the Pampas.
– Growing Season
This grass will bloom the best during early fall and late summer. The grass will keep its bloom throughout the winter with proper care. In addition, it shines and sparkles in springs to provide a colorful scenic in your garden.
Although winters are long and can be scary, however, this glass is considered one of the best ornamental grasses for shade zone 7, you may even add textures and the look of your garden. It will also bring colors into your life, knowing that it could draw shades of purple and whistle, so it will be changing shades throughout the year.
– Specific Needs
The soul should have medium moisture, and the grass needs total sun exposure. It grows well in dry soil too. However, you must make sure that it has a well-drainage facility because too much dampness in the soil can kill it. When you maintain these guidelines for this zone 7 grass seed, you will love its blooming beauty.
3. Big Bluestem
The big bluestem grass is our favorite for zone 7 because of its persistence, it is also known as Andropogon Gerardii.
– Growing Advantages
It can bloom in rough weather, survive drought, and still look like the most fantastic grass in the garden. It is native to North America. Which means, you shouldn’t worry about its growing condition either.
With two to three feet of spreading and six feet of growing height, it also works best for your privacy. Thus, it provides you with privacy and visual appeal simultaneously. It is also a great choice if you have dogs, cats, or deer as pets at home. Nothing can stop its growth and blooming capacity, without the pets or the rough weather.
– Growing Season
It grows better on summer days as it is a warm-season grass. Its stand moves with the winter air giving it a striking look. Also, its fall color looks fantastic.
– Specific Needs
The grass grows in average soil without any problem. Once the young grasses attain maturity, they won’t need frequent watering, but still, it must be watered right.
On the other hand, it only requires a sunny spot, and that’s all. It can grow in semi-arid to moist soils. As it is drought-tolerant, it requires little watering.
4. Northern Sea Oats
The northern sea oats will be an ideal choice if you are looking for perennial ornamental grasses with medium privacy and beautiful foliage.
It is also known as blue oat or wood oat in many regions, however, scientifically it is called the Chasmanthium Latifollium.
– Growing Conditions
It can grow well in every condition, as it spreads with rhizomes and grass seeds. Not only that, but it grows up to two to three feet. The flower head is green with jagged edges.
– Benefits
When the head of this grass flower flutters and tosses with the wind, the blue oat grass creates a beautiful rustling sound. Thus, you will enjoy a fantastic landscape with excellent music to the ear.
– Growing Season
The bloom time of the oat grass is late summer. But, it persists during the fall and winter with the green head tossing in the wind. You may grow it in late spring to give it ample time to bloom the following summer.
– Growth Requirements
The soil should be slightly acidic or pH neutral. It survives shaded with full or partial suns and needs medium watering cycles. Therefore, maintaining the grass is easy for newbie gardeners.
5. Japanese Forest Grass
This is one of the best ornamental grasses for shade zone 7, thanks to its low maintenance. Scientifically, it is called Hankonechloa Macra.
– Thriving Conditions
Pests and diseases will hardly have an impact on this grass, as it is resilient.
All you must do to keep it maintained is to spread mulch over its grass seeds as it grows, and you are all done. It will thrive even in the shadiest conditions.
– Advantages
The green and yellow flowers look fantastic when moving in the wind. Fully grown grass blades can be 12 to 18 inches long. Also, The Japanese blood grass is slow-growing, so it doesn’t need any dividing in your garden for extra space.
– Growing Season
The grass grows in spring; however, you may grow it in the fall and spread slowly. You shouldn’t grow it or fertilize it in summer, as it fails to persist in high heat.
– Specific Needs
It grows in acidic to pH-neutral soil, which means the acidity level should be 7.0, however, you can place some mulch during the growth period. Once it attains maturity, it won’t need any mulching cover either.
6. Pink Muhly Grass
This perennial pink hair grass is famous for its dazzling pink and pinkish-red flower head. This plant is called Muhlenbergia Capillari.
– Features
When the heads toss in the wind, you will become a poet and write beautiful verses. You can also choose it as a landscaping option for homes, gardens, and parks.
The pink flower plume isn’t only remarkable to look at and provides stunning aesthetics when all the flowers reach their end. Therefore, it makes even the long winters fantastic. However, the grass requires added space in the garden or lawn for proper airflow.
– Drawbacks
Sometimes the pink muhly grass suffers from fungal infections. Overall, providing it with a separate growth space will benefit it and other plants.
– Growing Season
Pink muhly grows in the spring. You can plant it during fall time as well. Usually, gardeners will plant it one month before the expected first frost so its fuzzy and pink flowers can bloom in the following fall season.
– Specific Needs
Remember that you should plant the muhly grass seed with two to three feet of separate space. It would protect the other plants from occasional fungal attacks. In addition, maintain neutral and dry soil with high-draining capability.
7. Feather Reed
For residential landscaping, this grass is a fabulous choice. The feather reed grass is perfect for all gardens, with a moderate growth rate and easy maintenance. In addition, you would even find it in the name Calamagrostis Xacutiflora.
– Features
Broadleaved ornamental grass is famous because it is the first to show foliage and plumes during the early spring.
Therefore, it announces the arrival of spring with its pinkish-purple flowers.
– Advantages
It spreads beautifully to enhance the presence of your garden and lawns. To grow this plant to maturity, you don’t need to be an expert gardener.
– Growing Season
The pinkish-purple flower will bloom in summer and fall which would resemble feather grass. On the other hand, during summer, the flowers bloom amazingly and toss with the wind. Slowly the seeds become tan until it dies in the winter.
– Specific Needs
The grass will grow in versatile soil. It survives every soil and situation, from rich, moist, and pH-neutral soil to slightly acidic and dry. Also, note that pests won’t affect it, making it an easy-growing zone 7 seed.
8. Fountain Grass
The purple fountain grass adds visual appeal and privacy to your garden, lawn, and patio space. This grass would also be called Pennisetum Alopecuroides when you search for its scientific name.
– Features
Its fuzzy and flowering spikes look fabulous with the textures. The flowers can be pink or white. Its flower and foliage combine to offer your residential or public landscape a unique appearance.
The foliage will survive until the late winter, hence, your garden remains colorful for most of the year. It adds up to its amazing features.
– Growing Season
It blooms in summer and fall. The foliage turns color in the fall and may persist for several months. For best growth, you can plant it right after the summer.
– Specific Needs
You should cover its seed with mulch to boost growth. Also, fertilization will help its blooming time. It grows in moist to dry land with good drainage.
Plus, you don’t need to maintain and fertilize it frequently. The grass can survive for countless years, even in arid conditions. Hence, purple fountain grass zone 7b is preferable for wide climate variations.
9. Blue Fescue
This forest grass, elijah blue fescue or the Festuca Glauca, is rated highly among gardeners for its awesome green and yellow flowers and leafy foliage.
The showy grass is preferable for turn-lawn applications for its plain appearance spreading over a large area shortly.
– Growing Season
The flowers of it will bloom in summer. You can plant the seedlings in summer or early fall to help them mature enough and survive the long cold season.
– Specific Needs
Although the grass strives in full sunlight, it also survives in partial shading. So, you can grow it in different parts of your garden.
For the best yielding, you should spread bark-mulch on it. It preserves moisture to help the plant grow better. Also, divide it once every two to three years to help it live longer.
10. Switchgrass
This is a type of feather grass best known for its pinkish-purple flower. Its closest relative is the Mexican Feather Grass which is also a native to North America.
– Features
Its fully bloomed flowers look dramatic, bringing unique landscaping to your residential garden. The green blades will turn golden and copper during summer. Which means that, you will enjoy both its flowers and leaves.
It is also among the low-maintenance small ornamental grasses for full sun. Long story short, this grass is perfect for homes and parks to enhance beauty and privacy at three to six feet of height.
– Growing Season
The switch grass starts growing in late spring. With adequate moisture, the forest grass will grow until the late summer. Note that it isn’t suitable for planting in winter.
– Specific Needs
The soil needs to be wet to medium dry for the best blooming result. Apply fertilizer once a year to keep up its growth rate. Also, divide it once in two years, so it doesn’t die.
11. Chinese Silver Grass
Minimal care, and maximum blooming, that’s the policy of this landscaping grass. It is also known as maiden grass and Chinese silver grass.
– Features
As it grows three to six feet tall, it also adds a cozy privacy screen to your garden.
Plus, its pink, purple, or white flowers dazzle brilliantly in the wind for a picturesque view.
– Growing Season
Its bloom time is summer and fall, which continues to the early winter. You should plant the seedlings in summer and apply mulch for faster development.
– Specific Needs
You should maintain its pH level between 5.5 to 7.5. Also, ensure the soil has perfect draining, as it won’t survive in soggy conditions. It grows best in moist, fertile, and loamy soil. However, it can survive drier soils too. It dies soon in wet soil. So, ensuring proper drainage is a must.
Conclusion
The best ornamental grasses for zone 7 will add privacy and stunning views to your space. These grasses are eye-soothing, from green blades to shades of pink, white, copper, or purple flowers. The musical sound soothes the ear as their flowers move with the wind.
- These grasses are tolerant to drought and heat. So, you need little watering and maintenance to help these grasses bloom with dazzling looks.
- You can prune the dried grasses in the early spring to boost their natural growth. Dried grasses can be a good food source for birds and smaller creatures.
- Since zone 7 grasses are for a transition period, the grasses are ideal for summer and winter with different variations. Some die in summer, and others in winter.
- Although fertilizer isn’t necessary, you can apply mild soil growers to help the zone 7 ornamental grasses develop better foliage.
If you live in moderate winter and summer regions, evergreen grass zone 7 plants will be perfect. You may read our suggestions for other zones as well.
- Grow Mango Tree Indoors: Best Tips and Tricks For You - September 21, 2023
- Are Lilacs Deer Resistant? 10 Other Deer Resistant Plants - September 19, 2023
- 7 Plants With Red Stems To Add Color to Your Garden - September 18, 2023
