Japanese Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus): Fine grass-like, foot tall semi-evergreen leaves give a texture similar to mondo grass, but thrive in constantly moist, even wet soil. They will also grow in ordinary garden soil in part shade, but need more moisture in full sun.
# ‘Licorice’ has evergreen licorice scented leaves.
# ‘Ogon’ has yellow leaves that are especially bright in spring and fall, with best color in part shade or shade.

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii): This very tall native grass grows from 3 to 8 feet tall in a narrow clump. The leaves are blue-green in summer, turning rust in fall. It needs full sun and prefers moist to average soil but is very drought tolerant once established.

Giant Reed (Arundo donax):One of the largest grasses, giant reed grows 10 to 20 feet tall. Wide blue-green semi-evergreen to evergreen leaves are arranged along bamboo like stems. Large flower plumes appear in late fall. It can be invasive. It prefers sun and moist well-drained soil, but tolerates wet soil.
# ‘Variegata’ has leaves brightly striped with creamy yellow in spring. The leaves fade somewhat by fall. Grows 6 to 12 feet tall.

Korean Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha): Arching dark leaves form a broad, mounded clump 2 ½ feet tall covered by tall pink plumes in fall. This species tolerates hot summers better than C. acutiflora. It will grow best in the South in light or part shade, and moist well-drained soil.

Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora’): This cool season clump forming evergreen grass grows best in the upper Piedmont. It grows narrowly upright 2 to 4 feet tall with slim, tall flower heads in spring that turn golden tan in summer. Sun or part shade.
# ‘Stricta’ is strongly upright.
# ‘Overdam’ has white striped foliage turning pink in cool weather. This variety must have part shade and moist soil.

Japanese Sedge (Carex morrowii): This grass-like plant is grown for its foot tall slender leaves. It grows best in part shade or shade, and moist or wet soil.
# ‘Goldband’ is evergreen, with stiff brightly striped white and green leaves.
# ‘Silk Tassel’ forms a wide spreading clump of frosted looking thread-like foliage.

Weeping Sedge (Carex pendula): Wide, weeping evergreen leaves form a wide, bright green mound 2 to 2 ½ feet tall. Grows best in part shade or shade in moist, rich soil. Reseeds moderately.

Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium): This native grass thrives in shade. It bears oval flowers prized for dried flower arrangements dangling from 3-foot tall curving stems in fall. Grow in shade or part shade. Prefers moist, rich soil, but tolerates drought once established. Self seeds abundantly.

Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana):Very large, tough clumps grow up to 12 feet tall depending on variety and soil moisture. Wide arching leaves with sharp edges spread in a fountain shape topped by dramatic 2 to 3 foot tall flower plumes on long stems in late summer and early fall. Pampas prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It spreads slowly by thick rhizomes to form a huge clump.
# ‘Gold Band’ has bright gold edged leaves on a clump only 4 feet tall. Grown mainly for its foliage, as its flowering is sparse.
# ‘Pumila’ grows to only 4 feet tall with narrow blue green foliage. The flower plumes are tan, standing 2’ above the foliage. ‘Pumila’ is the hardiest pampas grass variety.
# ‘Silver Comet’ grows 3 to 4 foot tall with narrow white edged leaves. Plumes rise to only 5 feet.

Weeping Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula): This drought tolerant grass is commonly used for erosion control on highways, but is also very ornamental. Dark green, very fine textured foliage forms dense weeping clumps 1 foot tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. Full sun.

Fescue (Festuca ovina): Fine evergreen foliage forms a low rounded tuft 12 inches tall. This cool season grass grows best in the upper Piedmont in sun or part shade. Well-drained soil. Comb out dead leaves with gloves.
# ‘Elijah Blue’ has thread-like, powder blue leaves.

Japanese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis): The species may grow up to 10 feet tall, with large whisk-like flower plumes ranging in color from reddish purple to silver. Prefers full sun and moist, rich, well drained soil, but will tolerate some drought once established. It often reseeds and can be invasive near natural areas. Avoid planting the straight species, which is most likely to be invasive.
# ‘Adagio’ is one of the smallest cultivars, growing to only 36 inches tall in a tight mound of fine green foliage. Abundant flowering in late summer
# ‘Cabaret’ has centrally white-striped, wide leaves on a strong, self-supporting 6 foot tall plant. Purplish flower heads in early fall mature to tan.
# ‘Cosmopolitan’ has white striping on the edges of its wide leaves. Strong, non-floppy habit.
# ‘Gracillimus’ has narrow leaves with a silver midrib, Five to 6 feet tall plants tend to flop unless staked. Good orange to buff fall color.
# ‘Morning Light’ is a strongly upright plant to 4 feet tall. The slender leaves appear silvery gray green due to fine white striping. Flower plumes are red on opening, fading to soft tan.
# ‘Purpurascens’ grows in a tight, upright clump 3 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are green with a red tint, turning brilliant red orange in fall. This variety performs best in the Piedmont.
# ‘Strictus’ (Porcupine Grass) is an improved, strongly upright form of zebra grass, growing to 6 feet tall. It also has bright yellow, horizontal bands across the leaf.
# ‘Variegatus’ has 5 foot tall brightly white striped foliage. This variety will have best color if planted in light shade. It needs to be staked for best appearance.

Hairgrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris): Clouds of tiny flowers form a pinkish-purple haze appearing in October and fading to tan through the winter on this showy native grass. Clumps of very fine, blue-green to gray-green foliage rise to 2 to 3 feet tall. Full sun, extremely drought tolerant once established.

Bamboo Muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa): Arching bamboo like stems with billowy light green foliage, grow 5 to 6 feet tall. Bamboo muhly is an excellent non-invasive substitute for bamboo. Full sun, drought resistant once established.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum): This beautiful native grass has many varieties with showy flowers, excellent fall color and winter interest. Switch grass prefers full sun in moist to wet soil, but is highly adaptable. It reseeds occasionally, but not invasively.
# ‘Cloud Nine’ has light blue foliage growing 6 feet tall with large airy flower heads rising another 1 to 2 feet in mid to late summer.
# ‘Heavy Metal’ has a strongly upright, narrow habit with airy flowers and 3 to 4 feet tall metallic blue foliage that turns yellow in fall.
# ‘Shenandoah’ has deep green leaves tipped with purple in summer, turning burgundy purple in fall. Flowers are reddish pink. This variety grows to only 3 to 4 feet tall.

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides): Beautiful, cream to pink, bottle brush shaped flower heads appear from mid to late summer above fine, arching mounded foliage 3 to 4 feet tall. Prefers sun and moist but well drained soil. Fountain grass reseeds and may be invasive into natural areas.
# ‘Hameln’ is compact, growing to only 2 feet tall. Performs best in the Piedmont.
# ‘Little Bunny’ grows to only 1 foot tall.
# ‘Moudry’ has striking black flower spikes in late summer to early fall. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall. This variety reseeds abundantly.

Chinese Fountain Grass (Pennisetum orientale): Soft pink or white flower spikes appear from late spring through fall above blue green foliage only 1 ½ feet tall. It spreads slowly by rhizomes, but rarely reseeds.

Annual Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum): While it must be grown as an annual throughout South Carolina, it grows 4 to 5 feet tall by summers end. Striking purplish pink flowers above slender green foliage are produced continuously through summer. Prefers sun and moist, well-drained, fertile soil.
# ‘Rubrum’ (Red Fountain Grass) has dark burgundy-red foliage and bloom spikes.
# ‘Rubrum Compacta’ grows 2 ½ to 3 feet tall, with even finer foliage, but is not quite as red.
# ‘Burgundy Giant’ is a hybrid with very broad, deep red foliage and maroon flower spikes. It is robust and grows 5 to 6 feet tall.

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium): This native grass, also called broom sedge, grows to 3 feet tall, with fluffy flower spikes in mid fall held well through the winter. Upright, light green foliage turns orange tan in fall. Prefers full sun and tolerates almost any soil.
# ‘The Blues’ has very blue leaves to only 1 ½ feet tall. It has very bright orange fall color.

Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans): This adaptable tall, upright native grass blooms with narrow, dark gold flower plumes in late summer. Foliage turns golden tan in the fall. Prefers full sun and rich, moist well drained soil, but tolerates most soil. Plants reseed, but are not invasive.
# ‘Sioux Blue’ has stiff, upright blue-gray foliage.

Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis): Very fine-textured leaves arch to form a wide clump 2 feet tall. Filmy flowers appear in late summer, well above the leaves. Prefers full sun and well drained soil. Very heat and drought tolerant once established.

Giant Needle Grass (Stipa gigantea): The flower stems are very tall, arching and airy, with gold dangling flowers in early to mid summer. Narrow evergreen foliage grows 2 tall. Prefers sun with moist, well drained soil.

Texas Needle Grass (Stipa tenuissima): Exceptionally fine textured evergreen leaves grow in a weeping mound. Fine billowing flower spikes appear in summer. Prefers sun and dry soil, avoid excessive water once established

Sea Oats (Uniola paniculata): This major native Southern beach grass tolerates harsh growing conditions and stabilizes dunes. Gray-green sharp leaves grow 3 to 8 feet tall topped by arching flower stems. . Prefers full sun and well drained sandy soil. Do not fertilize sea oats. Never collect or purchase wild collected plants.