Crinkled Hairgrass LiƩle Bluestem Switchgrass Deschampsia flexuosa Schizachyrium scoparium Panicum virgatum (dess‐CHAMP‐see‐ah flex‐uu‐O‐ (skih‐ZAK‐ree‐um sko‐PAY‐ree‐um) (PAN‐ih‐kum vur‐GOT‐um) sah) Culvar: ‘The Blues’ Culvar: ‘Shenandoah’ Zone 4; 18” tall with gold or pur‐ Zone 3; full sun; 2‐3’ tall when in bloom, 1‐ Zone 4; full sun; 2‐3’ tall; 2’ wide; plish panicles on tall, 2’thin stems 2’ wide; tolerates moist to dry soil; dense, tolerates poor soil and drought; that twist in late summer; prefers compact, upright, blue‐nted foliate turns small red flowers on long pani‐ paral shade and moist soil; russet in fall; purple to bronze blooms. cles; red fall foliage; provides mounded habit. seeds for song birds. Culvar ‘Aurea’ has golden spring foliage. Culvar: ‘Northwind’ Zone 4; full sun; 4‐5’ tall; 3’ wide; tolerates poor soil and drought; Big Bluestem TuŌed Hairgrass vigorous growth; narrow, erect plumes in fall remain up‐ right through winter. Andropogon gerardii Deschampsia caespitosa Culvar: ‘Heavy Metal’ (an‐dro‐PO‐gon jur‐AR‐dee) (dess‐CHAMP‐see‐ah kess‐pi‐TOH‐sah) Zone 4; full sun; 5’tall, 3’ wide; tolerates moist soil; sff, Zone 3; full sun; 3’ clumps, leafy Culvar; ‘Northern Lights’ upright, bluish foliage turns yellow in fall. at base; 6‐7’ flower stalks re‐ Zone 4; 12” long, narrow leaf blades, semble turkey feed; adapts to spreads 12‐15”; full sun or paral shade; most soil and pH condions; clump‐forming; colorful variegated good nesng habitat; leaves turn green, white, gold and pinkish‐red bronze in autumn. blades; good for smaller landscape areas. Northern Sea Oats Chasmanthium laƟfolium (kas‐MAN‐thee‐um lah‐h‐FO‐lee‐um) Zone 4’ 3’ stems with 10” clusters resembling oats; prefers Indian Grass sun but adapts to shade; drought and salt tolerant; flower Prairie Dropseed heads persist through Sorghastrum nutans winter providing a seed (sor‐GAS‐trum NYOO‐tanz) Sporobolus heterolepsis source for birds, or can be Zone 3; sun/paral sun; 3‐5’ tall, (spor‐uh‐BOH‐lus het‐ur‐o‐LEP‐sis) cut and dried for orna‐ dense clumps; tolerates moist to Zone 3; full sun; 3’ tall; well‐drained to mental use; self‐sowing dry soil and acid to alkaline pH; dry soil; dense, fine‐textured, upright, plume‐like golden brown pani‐ arching mound, medium green thread‐ cles. Culvar ‘Sioux Blue’ has like leaves. waxy blue foliage What is a nave plant? There are many definions, References however most botanists would probably agree that NaƟve Plants of the Northeast by Donald Leopold, nave means plants growing in North America prior Native Ornamental Grasses 2005. to European selement. Because a plant is nave For the North Country does not mean it is problem‐free! Nave plants The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses: Sedges, grown in a non‐nave environment and lacking com‐ Rushes, ResƟos, Cat Tails and selected Bamboos by Rick petors/predators may become invasive. Cornell Cooperative Extension Darke. Clinton County With the excepon of the nave Crinkled Hairgrass, Manual of Grasses of the United States. USDA Miscella‐ which is a cool season grass, all others in this bro‐ neous Publicaon no. 200 chure are warm season. Cool season grasses produce shoot and root growth when temperatures are be‐ For more informaon concerning items in this brochure tween 55 and 65 degrees. As or other gardening quesons, please contact Cornell Co‐ such they will emerge and pro‐ operave Extension: duce bloom much earlier in the season than warm season Clinton County: 6064 Route 22 #5 grasses and go into a dormant Plasburgh, NY 12901 state during dry, hot weather. (518)561‐7450 Conversely, warm season grasses require higher temper‐ Essex County: 3 Sisco St. atures for growth and will Westport, NY 12993 emerge much later (late May (518)962‐4810 ext 408 or June) and produce blooms in early to late fall. Visit us online at: hp://ecgardening.cce.cornell.edu We have idenfied plants that will grow well, are har‐ This brochure was developed by dy for zones 3‐4 and are low maintenance. As always, the Master Gardener Volunteers in Clinton County, NY remember that careful site selecon, planning and Panicum virgatum ‘Prairie Fire’ February 2008, revised March 2012 Switchgrass care will ensure success and are the key to minimal care and beauful gardens. The principle of using the Cornell CooperaƟve Extension provides equal program With special appreciaƟon to Pat Macomber Right Plant in the Right Place applies here! and employment opportuniƟes. whose guidance, knowledge and love of naƟve We welcome all of your gardening quesons! Please plants inspired the creaƟon of this brochure. feel free to contact Cornell Cooperave Extension as noted on the back page and … Happy Gardening! .