This accent grass is hardy in zones 6 through 9. St. Augustine grass (zones 8-10)—This heat-tolerant grass has blades of a bluish-green color and coarse texture. The grass grows thick and green and keeps its color for most of the year. The Turfgrass Selection Climate Zone Map - This map, found below, is a color coded map for selection of the type of grass based on climate (rainfall, etc) and on temperatures. Features columnar, upright clumps of blue green leaves that sway in the wind. Size: To 6 feet tall. Blue Stem (Andropogon gerardi): An Illinois native grass. Alternatives: Centipede grass, Bahia grass, Seashore paspalum. It is low maintenance, drought tolerant, and grows in both full or part sun. Japanese blood grass is a showstopper in the garden, growing up to 2 feet in height and width. Well adapted and trouble free … Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis): Blooms earlier than most grasses. ... may be grown as a permanent lawn in USDA zones 3 through 6 … In southern climates it performs fairly well in semishaded areas, but the farther north you go, it’ll need more sun. Zone 4: Bermuda grass (Cynodon spp.) Zoysia grass (zones 5-10)—A popular type of warm-season lawn grass with good cold tolerance. Only apply sulfur when the outdoor temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone 5 Perennial Ornamental Grasses – Top 6 Choices. Warm-season grasses, such as Bermudagrass, Bahiagrass , Zoysia grass, and Centipede grass , peak in growth during the warmer temperatures of … Finding the right grass or MIXTURE of grasses is an important step in planting a great lawn, pasture or sport field. Name: Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil. Nitrogen-based fertilizers are typically applied to Zoysia grasses in early, mid and late summer. Hardy Pampas Grass is a more cold-hardy variety of the popular White Pampas Grass. Hardy Pampas Grass grows to about 5 feet and then sends up airy, white plumes that can reach up to 10 feet tall. Traditional warm- or cool-season grasses do not do well in this area. USDA Zones 4 to 10; Most grass-like ground cover; Also called monkey grass (though there’s a totally different family of plants that also shares the common name) and lilyturf, this easy-care perennial is a fantastic choice for borders and those awkward areas of ground between sidewalks and the road, or around trees. This warm-season perennial grass can have either coarse or fine texture, and is adapted to a wide range of soils. Hardy in USDA zones 2 through 7, these grasses prefer low-traffic areas with well-drained soil. Like many grasses, this tough plant tolerates a wide range of conditions. These grasses flourish across cooler northern climates and into the challenging “transition zone," where cool and warm regions overlap. Traits: Originally from Africa, it thrives in full sun, spreads aggressively, and needs lots of fertilizer. Manage mowing in shady spots. 60-144" tall (5-12 ft) x 48-72" wide (4-6 ft). When to plant: April . Warm-season grasses thrive in the lower Southeast and Southwest, where growing-season temperatures range between 80 and 95 degrees. The most popular ornamental grass, feather reed grass offers a distinct upright habit that looks fantastic all winter long. Saccharum ravennae 'Erianthus' will grow in colder regions down to a zone 6. Grass seed can be a challenge for zone 6. Photo by Roger Foley. Choosing Grass Seed. Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) In between, across the country, lies the transition zone, where both warm-season and cool-season grasses can do well. Adjust your mower to leave the grass taller in shaded areas. Mow 1 to 2 inches high. The best bet is to choose a grass that handles temperature extremes such as a cool-season grass that handles the heat or a warm-season grass that can handle the cold, suggests Neil Christians and Ashton Ritchie in the book, “Lawns.” Changes to a reddish, copper column in winter. If the pH of your soil is higher than 6.5, apply sulfur to get your levels between 6.0 and 6.5. Zones… Zoysia (Zoysia spp, zones 6 to 9). Turf Grass Selection Climate Zone Map Shaded areas Illinois native grass tough plant tolerates a wide range of soils and 6.5 a. ): An Illinois native grass of fertilizer full sun and well-drained.! In shaded areas: Bermuda grass ( zones 8-10 ) —This heat-tolerant grass has blades of bluish-green... Columnar, upright clumps of blue green leaves that sway in the garden, Growing up to 2 feet height. Up airy, White plumes that can reach up to 2 feet in height width! White plumes that can zone 6 lawn grasses up to 10 feet tall range between 80 and 95.... 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