If you like the beauty and impact that ornamental grasses bring to a garden design, you will love the many shapes, forms, and colors that North American native species offer. Whether you need a practical ground cover, a dramatic focal point, or an airy filler to knit a matrix planting together, Danielle, Carol, and guest Paula Gross have some options that will inspire you to start your spring shopping list now.
Expert guest: Paula Gross is a horticulture educator at Central Piedmont Community College and co-author of The Southeast Native Plant Primer with Larry Mellichamp and Will Stuart.
Danielle’s Plants
![Blue-eyed grass](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17081345/Blue-eyed-grass_ML.jpg)
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Zones 4–9)
![‘Carousel’ little bluestem (credit: Jim Ault)](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17081502/Schizachyrium-scoparium-Carousel_ctsy-of-Jim-Ault.jpg)
‘Carousel’ little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Carousel’, Zones 3–9)
![‘Northwind’ switchgrass](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17081742/Panicum-Northwind_Fall-color_MG.jpg)
‘Northwind’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’, Zones 4–9)
![‘River Mist’ Northern sea oats (credit: Walters Gardens, Inc.)](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17081837/river-mist-sea-oasts_ctsy-of-Walters-Gardens-inc.jpg)
‘River Mist’ northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium ‘River Mist’, Zones 5–8)
Carol’s Plants
![Pennsylvania sedge](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17081937/Sedge-Carex-pensylvanica-IMG_2608_MG.jpg)
Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica, Zones 4–8)
![Rose muhly](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17082033/20231018_162930.jpg)
Rose muhly (Muhlenbergia reverchonii, Zones 5–9)
![Purpletop](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17082104/Tridens-flavens-purple-top-seed-heads_CTC.jpg)
Purpletop (Tridens flavus, Zones 4–9)
‘Blonde Ambition’ gramma grass (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’, Zones 3–10)
Expert’s Plants
![Pink muhly](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17082515/muhlenbergia-_ctsy-Paula-Gross.jpg)
Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris, Zones 5–9)
![Little bluestem](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17082702/1-Schizachyrium-scoparium_ctsy-Paula-Gross.jpg)
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium, Zones 3–9)
![Splitbeard bluestem](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17082219/Andropogon_ternarius_ctsy-Paula-Gross-scaled.jpg)
Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius, Zones 6–10)
![Switchgrass](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17082927/Panicum-virgatum-switch-grass_ctsy-Paula-Gross-scaled.jpg)
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum, Zones 4–9)
![Indian grass](https://images.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2023/11/17083040/Sorghastrum-nutans-IMG_0288_BS.jpg)
Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans, Zones 4–9)
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