As more and more of us work from home, finding a quiet retreat in our own yards has become increasingly important. Unlike traditional fences or walls, grasses offer a sustainable (and beautiful!) way to block out commotion and create a calm, private oasis. Grasses add texture and movement to the landscape, in addition to providing valuable habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Going with an ornamental grass for your privacy screen? Consider mixing grasses with a variety of perennials and shrubs. This not only adds seasonal interest but also guarantees year-round coverage for your yard. A mixed privacy screen will be more resilient to gardening challenges like pests and disease.
When choosing a species for your privacy screen, in addition to factoring in soil conditions and sunlight requirements, you’ll want to avoid known invasive grasses. These plants spread easily, either by seed or rhizomes, and can be difficult to completely remove once established.
Invasive grasses pose a number of problems, including pushing out native species, damaging the soil chemistry, and altering natural wildfire regimes. Do a bit of research and contact your state’s environmental or agricultural department before planting.
Luckily, there are plenty of non-invasive options out there! Here are 11 gorgeous ornamental grasses for creating the perfect privacy screen:
Big Bluestem
A warm-season perennial, big bluestem stands 4-8 feet tall, making it a very effective privacy screen. Along with switchgrass and Indiangrass, big bluestem is an iconic inhabitant of the tallgrass prairies of central North America. It’s a larval host for several butterflies and skippers and is an excellent native alternative to invasive fountain grasses.
It emerges gray-blue in the spring and turns bright green during the summer, then fades to an attractive, bronzed red in the fall, giving it major multi-season interest. In late summer, a 3-pronged flower cluster resembling a turkey’s foot emerges, giving this species its other common name, ‘turkeyfoot grass’.
Big bluestem is slow to get established, but once settled, it is quite drought-tolerant owing to its deep, fibrous roots. It has no specific soil requirements and grows happily in average, moderately-drained soil. Big bluestem grows best in full sun and may flop if grown in deep shade.
Muhly Grass
Muhly grass checks so many boxes: a North American native grass (check!), grows happily in average soil (check!), attracts very few pests (check!), displays show-stopping color (check!).
Clumps of wiry green stems produce rosy pink plumes of delicate flowers that billow above the plant in the fall. Also called “pink hair grass” or “pink Muhly”, this warm-season grass is a beautiful specimen plant but really makes a statement when planted en masse.
Muhly grass is native to the central and southern United States and south through Central America. Known botanically as Muhlenbergia capillaris, it is found naturally in the sandy and rocky soils of prairies and rocky woodland areas. It is drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun.
This species is relatively low maintenance, making it well-suited for privacy screens, along sidewalks, and on hard-to-reach slopes. To allow them to reach their full capacity, plant Muhly grass 24-30 inches apart. For a tidier look, it can be cut back in early spring before the new leaves emerge.
Giant Sacaton
The clue is in the name—this grass gets big! Sporobolus wrightii, known commonly as giant sacaton, stands approximately 4 feet tall but can easily reach 8 feet in height once its floral spikes form in late summer. Fountains of upright, fibrous foliage are topped with golden seedheads that feed foraging birds in addition to providing winter interest in the landscape.
Giant sacaton is native to the southwestern corner of North America, where it is found in desert floodplains. A low-maintenance species, this perennial tolerates a wide range of sites, including tricky saline, alkaline, and poorly drained soils.
Plant giant sacaton in full sun and water deeply to help it get established. This plant tolerates drought but prefers moderate moisture if it’s available. Pair with hummingbird mint and autumn sage for a colorful xeriscape that also promises to provide plenty of privacy.
Switchgrass
Switchgrass is another warm-season grass characteristic of the plains and prairies of central North America. Its native range extends from southern Canada to Mexico and it tolerates a wide variety of soil types and moisture levels. Switchgrass also varies in growth habit and height, depending on its ecotype, but can grow to a whopping 10 feet tall. All are deeply rooted, with roots that extend several feet below the soil surface.
This perennial emerges bright green in the spring and then fades to a pale yellow in the fall. Sprays of purplish red seedheads appear between August and October. There are several showy Panicum virgatum cultivars available including the compact ‘Shenandoah’, the upright, blue-green ‘Northwind’, and the red-tinged ‘Cheyenne Sky’. Pair any of these with Liatris and purple coneflower for a year-round privacy screen full of gorgeous fall color.
Switchgrass tolerates both clay and sandy soils, and will easily adapt to both wet and drought conditions. Plant in full sun; it will grow in partial shade, but may flop over. As with many other grasses, switchgrass benefits from a hard prune in early spring to promote fresh growth.
Feather Reed Grass
Feather reed grass, botanically known as Calamagrostis x acutiflora, emerges as a 2-3 foot tall deep green clump in the spring. Stiff flowering stalks, measuring 5-6 feet tall, shoot up mid-summer and produce rosy maroon seedheads that fade to a golden tan in the fall. The feathery golden stalks persist through the winter, providing an excellent year-round privacy screen.
Feather reed is one of the few ornamental grasses that thrives in partial shade and clay soils. However, it is less tolerant of drought. Add plenty of compost and a light layer of organic mulch when planting to help soil retain moisture.
As a hybrid cross between two different Asian and European species, Calamagrostis x acutiflora does not produce viable seed and will not become invasive. This species is best propagated by division in the late fall or very early spring. Cultivar ‘Karl Foerster’ is especially popular in the home garden and was the 2001 Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association.
Purple Millet
Cenchrus americanus, formerly classified as Pennisetum glaucum, is an annual grain native to Africa. Grains in the garden landscape? Yes, you read that right! Cenchrus americanus ‘Purple Majesty’ is a cultivated ornamental millet that features multi-stemmed fountains of deep plum-colored foliage that resembles that of corn. Midsummer, it produces brush-like flower spikes followed by round seed grains that may be white, brown, or purple.
Millet flower spikes are excellent cut flowers, both fresh and dried, and the seeds are a favorite among birds. With a maximum height of 5 feet, this heat-tolerant millet makes for a beautiful and very manageable backyard border.
This gorgeous grass is easily started from seed, provided temperatures are warm. Direct-sow seeds outside after your region’s last frost when soil and air temperature is at least 68°F (20°C), or start indoors 2-4 weeks before your anticipated last frost date.
Purple millet grows best in organic-rich, well-drained soil. For the richest purple color, plant this grass in full sun. Pair purple millet with cannas and coleus for a foliage-centric privacy screen with a tropical flair.
Indiangrass
Along with big bluestem and switchgrass, Indiangrass is distinctive of the tallgrass prairies of central North America. An upright, warm-season grass, Indiangrass can grow up to 8 feet tall but is more commonly seen around 6 feet in height. It forms broad, blue-green foliage in the spring and graceful, plume-like seedheads that fade to purple and gold in the fall.
Plant Indiangrass in full sun. It grows easily in a wide variety of soils, including clay, and is relatively drought-tolerant once established. Indiangrass can reseed itself vigorously and because of this, may not be suitable for smaller landscapes.
It is an excellent grass for meadows or naturalized settings and, given its tall height, is a very effective ornamental privacy screen. Pair with goldenrod, ironweed, or other tall, resilient natives that can compete with this hardy grass.
Deergrass
Deergrass is a wiry, clumping grass native to southwestern North America. Silvery green, arching foliage can reach 4-6 feet in height and width on this hardy bunchgrass. Tall stalks of pale yellow flowers and seed heads emerge in the summer.
Plant deergrass in full sun. It grows well in most soil types but prefers well-drained, sandy, or gravelly sites. This is a tidy plant that doesn’t reseed easily and doesn’t require much regular maintenance. Occasional summer watering keeps foliage looking fresh, but deergrass is extremely drought-tolerant.
Pull out dead stalks and foliage when desired, and cut back heavily every 1-3 years in late winter to encourage new growth. This grass is a popular choice for groundcover and lawn replacement scenarios, and its large reach makes it a superb ornamental privacy screen.
New Zealand Flax
The wide leaves and tall growth (upwards of 6 feet!) of this New Zealand native makes it ideal for a privacy screen with mixes of ornamental grass. It is a semi-tender perennial in warmer growing zones, but many cold-climate gardeners grow it as an annual in containers. It should be noted that New Zealand flax is an aggressive grower and is at risk of becoming invasive in the state of Hawaii. Skip this plant if you live and garden here.
This evergreen perennial sports stiff, sword-like leaves that are typically gray-green, although a number of cultivars with red, orange, pink, and variegated leaves have been created. Rusty red flowers emerge above the foliage in late spring and attract hummingbirds.
Plant New Zealand flax in full sun for the boldest and brightest foliage. It isn’t picky about soil type as long as the site is well-drained. Waterlogged or heavy clay soils can lead to root rot or rotten stems.
Northern Sea Oats
Topping out at just 5 feet tall, this grass may be on the smaller end of this list of potential privacy screens. However, Chasmanthium latifolium has one big advantage that many grasses struggle with: it is shade-tolerant. Commonly known as northern sea oats or river oats, this grass is native to the shady slopes and stream banks of central and eastern North America.
Blue-green foliage bears distinctive, nodding seed heads on 3-4 foot tall arching stems in the fall. The seed heads are a valuable food source for birds and a popular cut flower, either fresh or dried.
Plant northern sea oats in rich, fertile, well-drained soil in partial shade. It handles moist sites as well as dry shade easily. This species self-seeds easily, so plant it in an appropriate area. Pair this grass other low-maintenance shade plants for an easy and colorful ornamental privacy screen.
Bamboo Muhly
Interested in the look of bamboo without worrying that a plant will take over your garden? Bamboo Muhly is a beautiful native substitute for invasive bamboo. Growing 5-6 feet tall, it features billowy light green foliage that fades to a yellowy tan in the fall. Known botanically as Muhlenbergia dumosa, this grass is native to Arizona and northern Mexico.
Evergreen in our warmest growing climates, cold climate gardeners may want to grow bamboo Muhly in containers. It can be grown as a specimen plant, but the graceful, airy foliage of this plant looks especially impressive when planted in a group. Grow bamboo Muhly in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Water thoroughly after planting, however, this grass is relatively drought-tolerant once established.
