Grasses for Winter Structure in the Midwest

These stalwart selections will stand tall through the most brutal weather of the season and still look great when it’s time to cut them down in spring

There is a wide variety of beautiful repeated grasses that are great for the Midwest landscape . They provide colour , figure , texture , and motion through their foliage and flowers . They can also render fantastic fall coloration and serve as screen or focal points . Even well , their interest extends into winter . Any Midwesterner have it away that our winters can be quite variable in terms of what Mother Nature will provide , so decide the tough grasses for winter interest becomes critical if you want their charm to last all time of year long .

In terminus of extended interest into the late wintertime months , not all grasses are created adequate . Unfortunately , many species miss the extended stem strength and lastingness to keep height during the barbarous winter months . Winds , ice storm , snow , and pelting will combine to batter at grasses , and many will lose form by the end of the season . If you ’re looking for winter structure , focus or else on planting those with a proven track record . The six selections below will keep their shape all winter .

‘Avalanche’ feather reed grass

Calamagrostis×acutiflora‘Avalanche ’ , Zones 4–9

This durable skunk emerges other and quickly work a minute pillar of leaf that grow up to 5 feet tall when flower in midsummer . The foliage is creamy and variegate , and its superb verticality extends well into the winter months . Consider using this grass as an accent mark or in Mass . Tolerant of drouth and clay dirt , ‘ Avalanche ’ takes full to fond Lord’s Day and is of no interest to deer or rabbits . Cut it back in late wintertime as new ontogenesis commences in very early spring . There are many other varieties of this cross ( include other variegated form ) that are worth retard out as well .

‘Adagio’ miscanthus

Miscanthus sinensis*‘Adagio ’ , Zones 4–9

This is one of the shortest cultivars of miscanthus available on the market , acquire to just 3 to 4 animal foot tall and 5 ft magniloquent when flowering . Although this species has germinate an invasive problem in some southern voice of the Midwest , that is more of an exit in the Southeast and Mid - Atlantic . Tolerant of drought , erosion , and melody pollution , ‘ Adagio ’ is perfect in full sun and urban environments , and it need little care once build . This is a very desirable selection for its symmetrically rounded habit , abundant flowers , and persistence of both root word and prime into the wintertime months .

‘Northwind’ switchgrass

Panicum virgatum‘Northwind ’ , zone 4–9

This is one of the best vertical selections of switchgrass available . Winner of the 2014 Perennial Plant of the Year from the Perennial Plant Association , this grass has many uses and an establish and lengthy disk of success . ‘ Northwind ’ is also one of the best candidates if you ’re searching for a inflexible , grandiloquent grass to appear good through the intact winter . It grow 5 to 6 feet tall and takes full to fond sunlight . The upright form of this native grass lends itself to narrow locations and flock planting , and to use as a focal point . It truly looks like an exclamation point in the landscape . This personal favourite of mine is also very lowly maintenance and adaptable to many site ( sloshed to dry out ) . The foliage is olive green and naughty in summer and turns beige for fall and wintertime .

‘Blondo’ miscanthus

Miscanthus sinensis*‘Blondo ’ , Zones 4–9

This variety may be a little more unmanageable to source than others , but it has such substantial flowering that it look like pampas weed ( Cortaderia selloana * , Zones 8–10 ) . Growing 6 to 7 foundation marvelous , ‘ Blondo ’ takes full sun . At a local botanic garden , I saw row of this grass placed along a parking bunch in tough soil conditions . Despite the brute location ( not to note the salt inputs the plants would face during the winter ) , the established grasses were flourish . ‘ Blondo ’ looks heavy planted as a nongregarious specimen or in batch .

‘The Blues’ little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium‘The Blues ’ , Zones 3–9

This popular selection of native little Andropogon gerardii wait marvellous throughout the growing time of year and well into the winter months . pick out for a more intense , steely grim foliage colouration in spring and summer , ‘ The Blues ’ also has a showy , russet , orange - red capitulation colour that fades to a glow bronze in wintertime . Fluffy , silver seed head complete the late - season look . Adaptable in many locations and tolerant of drouth and deer , ‘ The Blues ’ petty bluestem get 2 to 4 feet high in full sun . It bear on to be one of the good of the many little bluestem launching . think the salmagundi ‘ Standing Ovation ’ as well . It offer like traits in a slightly taller package .

‘Graziella’ miscanthus

Miscanthus sinensis*‘Graziella ’ , Zones 4–9

I recommend ‘ Graziella ’ miscanthus for northerly areas of the Midwest , as it blooms earlier in the season than many miscanthuses , with relentless flowers and a social system that survive well into winter . Adaptable in a wide range of soils and tolerant of summertime heat , this low-spirited - maintenance grass is also cervid repellent . It grows 5 to 6 foot tall and takes full sunshine . ‘ Graziella ’ is a refined selection with narrow leave-taking , an arc form , squeamish tan pin coloration , and significant and long - lasting bloom .

To maximize the contribution of these grasses in your garden , moot their mature size when install them . This admit not only their altitude , but width , as many of these weed will curve out and need wad of cubital joint room well above ground level .

These plants are considered invasive in some surface area of the state . Please visitinvasiveplantatlas.orgfor more info .

Mark Dwyer , former manager of horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville , Wisconsin , operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD .

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Blondo miscanthus

‘Blondo’ miscanthus has large, pom-pom-like flowers and sturdy, upright stems.Photo: Mark Dwyer

Avalanche feather reed grass

Weighed down by snow, ‘Avalanche’ feather reed grass inflorescences spring free to catch the winter light.Photo: Mark Dwyer

Adagio miscanthus

These ‘Adagio’ miscanthus grasses hold their form and vitality well at the edge of a sidewalk that’s subject to heavy foot traffic and snow shoveling.Photo: Mark Dwyer

Northwind switchgrass