Grasses & Sedges

Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic

Learn About Specific Grasses and Sedges

• Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Sedge)
• Carex plantaginea (Plantain-leaved Sedge)
• Chasmanthium latifolium (River or Wild Oats, Northern Sea Oats)
• Elymus hystrix (Bottlebrush Grass) new 2020!
• Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple Lovegrass, Tumblegrass) new 2020!
• Muhlenbergia capillaris (Hair-awn or Pink Muhly)
• Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
• Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)
• Sorghastrum nutans (Indian Grass)

Where to See These  Grasses and Sedges in our Demonstration Gardens

Many of these recommended plants can easily be seen in person at local public gardens. The following gardens feature native plants and are designed and maintained by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria.

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Glencarlyn Library Community Garden
300 S. Kensington Street, Arlington, Virginia 22204

Features:
Native plants suitable for a container garden, shade garden, or scented garden

• Chasmanthium latifolium (River or Wild Oats, Northern Sea Oats) in the Parking Lot Garden

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Shade Demonstration Garden at Bon Air Park
850 N. Lexington Street  Arlington, Virginia 22205 (near the shelter)

Features:
Native plants that thrive in morning shade and partial sun

• Chasmanthium latifolium (River or Wild Oats, Northern Sea Oat)s in section 8W
• Muhlenbergia capillaris, Hair-Awn or Pink Muhly in section 8C

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Simpson Park Demonstration Garden
420 E. Monroe Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22301 (next to the YMCA parking lot)

Features:
Native selections for waterwise gardening and host plants for butterfly gardens

• Chasmanthium latifolium (River or Wild Oats, Northern Sea Oats) in the Butterfly Garden
• Muhlenbergia capillaris (Hair-Awn or Pink Muhly) on the big berm
• Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) in the Butterfly Garden

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Sunny Demonstration Garden at Bon Air Park
850 N. Lexington Street, Arlington, Virginia 22205 (at the end of the parking lot)

Features:
Sun-loving perennials and shrubs that thrive despite  excessive humidity or drought

• Muhlenbergia capillaris (Hair-Awn or Pink Muhly) in hellstrips*
• Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) near the large sign in *hellstrips

*”The Hellstrip or curb garden is that inhospitable area where nothing seems to grow along the fence, by the driveway, or that trampled strip between the sidewalk and the street/ parking area that is difficult to water.”