Xeriscaping: Colorful Drought Tolerant Grasses

Grasses are easy to plant and grow. They will thrive in poor soil conditions where other landscape plants would not do well, including clay. Drought tolerant grasses require little water once established. The recommendation is to water deeply about once a month in the hottest summer months. Otherwise, let rain water be the water source.

Maintenance consists of cutting back the grass when it gets too high for personal taste or after it has seeded.

In the garden, grasses attract attention because of their height, movement, texture and color. Dried grasses add decorative punch to flower arrangements.

Consider these three for top color performance in a xeriscape grass garden.

Elijah Blue Fescue

Elijah Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) is a small mounding grass that lends itself to line borders or pathways. Its color ranges from a blue-blue to gray-blue color. The plants grow to 4 to 8 inches in height and spread to 8 to 12 inches in width. The plant tolerates full sun or part shade and is drought and heat tolerant. It is slow growing and does not require cutting back.

Giant Burgundy Fountain Grass Pops with Color

To add a dramatic statement and splash of color to any garden, plant three or more Giant Burgundy Fountain Grass (Pennisetum sp.) This grass, as the name implies, brings a deep burgundy blade with burgundy plumes to the garden. It fills an area, growing upward to 5 feet high and three feet wide.

Like other tall grasses, it can be cut low twice a year for maintenance. It is part shade tolerant, but loves full sun. It is heat, drought and wind tolerant.

Deer Grass Adds Color to the Fall Garden

Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) adds another depth to a xeriscape garden by providing filler as well as color in the autumn. The stem is green that dries to a wheat color, but in the fall the grass sports a light, plum-colored plume. The grass reaches a height of about 5 feet with a width of 2 feet. It thrives in part shade or full sun and is heat and drought tolerant. To maintain, cut it down to about 12 inches; it will grow back rapidly.

Add Ornamental or Native Grasses to the Garden

Ornamental or native grasses adapt to a garden on many levels, including their ease of planting, tolerance for different soil types and the fact that they don’t demand much water. They add color and movement for a focal point of beauty.