Northern Sea Oats Grass

Sea Oats planted in a sunny garden in 

Salem, Connecticut to add fullness around 

the butterfly weed plants.   

Stunning Fall Presence. 

October 2019

Feather Reed Grass

These three Feather Reed Grass Plants were planted in Norglenwold at Sylvan Lake in April 2016 in a flower bed at the front of the house with a west exposure.  

The Feather Reed Grass was selected as perennial plant of the year for 2001.  This grass performs well in a wide range of climates, remains attractive for months on end, and is not invasive in any way.  Clumps are strongly upright, with dark green leaves. Soft feathery green plumes appear in summer, maturing into stiff wheat-coloured spikes, which last into winter.  

Height-4-5 feet tall

Spread-24-28 inches

Hardiness- minus 40 degrees C Zones 3-9 USDA

April 2016

Three more feather reed grasses were planted in the bed by the back sundeck in spring of 2019.

Three more feather reed grasses were planted on the south side of the house 

in front of the dog kennel in spring of 2020.

Five more feather reed grasses were planted in spring 2021 on the north side of the House.

"Miscanthus" Central Park Grass/"Pennisetum"Red Head Grass

USDA hardiness zones 5-9

Miscanthus sinensis/Pennisetum

These two grasses were planted this year (2011) in early September in a new bed with sandy, rocky soil in Lansing, New York.  The soil was good quality despite many rocks and only peat moss was added to freshen it.  The Red Head was planted between two Central Park plants.

The Central Park variety grows best in full sun, is deer resistant, and easy to grow in average, well drained soil.  The blades are fairly wide with a rich green colour and a silver midrib.  Miscanthus grows 4 to 5 feet high and has eye-catching, fluffy plumes that open in late October. Miscanthus is unrivaled in the diversit and beauty of its flowers, foliage, autumn colours and winter presence. 


The Red Head is a showy ornamental grass for the sun garden that does not seed like many other grasses.  It's huge, 10 inch long smoky purple flowers start to flower already in summer where most pennisetums flower in early fall.  Pennisetums thrive in full sun and well drained soil.  In fall the green foliage turns a straw colored gold.  It will grow to 48 inches high and 36 inches wide.