By Valerie Seale, Colorado Master Gardener

Ornamental grasses are nature’s versatile all-stars of the garden. Handsome foliage, eye-catching fall color, showy seed heads, and texture and movement can make your garden a visual delight for nearly all months of the year.

Colorado native ornamental grasses are well-adapted to our climate and hardy enough to withstand the challenges of fluctuating temperatures and precipitation. Three of the more popular natives are discussed below.

Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis)

This grass is native to the dry, shortgrass prairies of North America, including Canada and the Central and Western United States. Blue grama grass is a great option for hot, sunny and dry areas with naturalistic or low maintenance needs and infrequent watering. This grass is considered a keystone species in shortgrass prairies, providing forage for herbivores and insects, habitat for wildlife and soil stabilization. Blue grama grass was designated the official state grass of Colorado in 1987.

‘Blonde Ambition’ – 30 to 36 inches tall and wide. This cultivar has a very distinct form that is twice the size of typical blue grama grasses. With chartreuse, eyelash-like seedheads and beautiful movement, it has many months of ornamental interest. ‘Blonde Ambition’ requires low to moderate amounts of water. 2011 Plant Select® winner.

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

This grass is native to the contiguous United States but most commonly found in Midwestern tallgrass prairies. Little bluestem is a highly ornamental grass prized for its blue-green leaf color and upright form. It performs well in full sun and dry clay or sandy soils, with low to moderate water needs. While not considered a keystone species in the traditional sense, little bluestem is a dominant species in many prairies, providing essential habitat and resources for many animals.

‘Standing Ovation’ – 2 to 3 feet tall, 15 to 18 inches wide. This cultivar provides four seasons of interest: powdery blue summer foliage, and reddish-orange, upright leaves in fall turning to tan in winter. 2016 Plant Select® introduction.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

This grass is native to North America, and is most abundant in the tallgrass prairies of the Great Plains. Switchgrass has upright clumps of blades with showy, airy seedheads of pink, red or silver in midsummer. It tolerates most soils and dry conditions, although additional water is needed during hot summer months. This grass is considered a keystone species, providing food and cover for various species, including birds, small mammals and insects. It also supports biodiversity within the prairie ecosystem, prevents soil erosion, and improves soil health.

‘Shenandoah’ – 3 to 4 feet tall, 15 to 20 inches wide. This cultivar is grown for its burgundy-colored foliage and pinkish seedhead clusters. This grass has especially nice fall color with grass blades tinted red and orange.

‘Dallas Blues’ – 4 to 6 feet tall, 18 to 24 inches wide. This cultivar boasts beautiful slate blue leaves and airy clusters of pink seedheads; the foliage turns bright yellow in fall.

For more information on these and additional native grasses, visit https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/ornamental-grasses-7-232.