The easiest ornamental grass to grow is blue fescue. This compact plant handles drought, poor soil, and neglect like a champion. It forms neat 12-inch mounds of silver-blue foliage and asks for almost nothing in return. If you've never grown a grass before, start here.
When I first planted six blue fescue clumps along my front walkway, the soil was mostly hard clay mixed with gravel. Not ideal for most plants at all. I watered them once a week through that first summer to help the roots grab hold. After that season ended, I stopped watering them for good. They kept right on thriving through two bone-dry summers with zero extra water and no fertilizer. That kind of toughness is hard to find in most garden plants you can buy.
Three traits make certain grasses much easier than others. A clumping growth habit keeps the plant right where you put it with no runners crossing your yard. Deep drought tolerance lets it live on rainfall alone once roots settle in. Natural pest resistance means you won't spray a single chemical all year. Grass expert David Trinklein agrees with this. He calls them vigorous and low-care plants. They handle many soil types and sun levels with ease.
Here are the five best low maintenance ornamental grasses ranked from easiest to almost-as-easy. Each one earns its spot by being tough and forgiving for new growers.
Blue Fescue
- Why it's easy: Extreme drought tolerance and a clumping habit mean you can plant it and walk away after the first summer.
- Size: Stays at 10 to 12 inches tall and wide, so it fits borders, rock gardens, and small spaces with no trimming.
- Best feature: Silver-blue color stands out in any garden and looks great even when you forget about it for months.
Little Bluestem
- Why it's easy: Native to North American prairies, so heat, cold, and drought don't faze this grass at all.
- Size: Grows 2 to 4 feet tall with a narrow upright form that fits into most garden spots without crowding.
- Best feature: Blue-green summer foliage turns brilliant copper-red in fall, giving you two seasons of color.
Switchgrass
- Why it's easy: Grows in wet soil, dry soil, clay, sand, and everything between without any fuss or complaint.
- Size: Reaches 4 to 6 feet with airy seed heads that catch light and last through winter for year-round interest.
- Best feature: Works as a tall screen, a background plant, or a standalone accent in medium to large yards.
Feather Reed Grass
- Why it's easy: Upright and tidy growth means no staking, no flopping, and no fuss even in heavy rain or wind.
- Size: Grows 4 to 5 feet tall in a narrow column that takes up very little ground space in your garden.
- Best feature: Feathery plumes show up in early summer, ahead of most grasses, and give you months of texture.
Pink Muhly Grass
- Why it's easy: Produces stunning pink plumes with zero effort once roots take hold in warm, sunny spots.
- Size: Reaches 3 to 4 feet with cotton-candy pink clouds that last from September through November each year.
- Best feature: No other grass comes close to the fall color show this plant puts on for so little work.
All five of these beginner friendly grasses share a common trait. They don't need you to fuss over them. No special fertilizer, no weekly watering, no pest sprays, and no hard pruning. Plant them in a sunny spot, water through the first summer, and then step back and watch them grow on their own.
My advice for your first try is to grab three clumps of blue fescue and space them about 15 inches apart. You'll see results fast and gain the confidence to branch out. The easiest ornamental grass is always the one you start with, and blue fescue makes sure that first try goes well for you.
Read the full article: 10 Best Ornamental Grasses for Your Garden
