Grasses, Sedges and Rushes Andropogon gerardii – Big Bluestem
Exposure/Location: tallgrass prairies, meadows, savannas, dry-moist, sand - clay soils, full sun-part shade Height/Spread: 120-245cm (4-8ft) tall, clump forming Bloom: late summer and early fall, purplish/bronze seed heads. Comments: the stems and leaves have multiple colours, sometimes most the colours of the rainbow. This grass also bears the name “Turkeyfoot grass” because the seed head looks like a turkey’s foot. Food source for birds, caterpillars, butterflies.
Bouteloua curtipendula – Side-oats Grama Exposure/Location: open woods, prairies, average-dry sandy soil, sun – part shade Height/Spread: 45-85cm (18-30in) clump forming Bloom: summer-fall, little oats form on the stem with bright orange and purple accents. Comments: major food source for birds, can be used for sod. Drought tolerant. 
Carex aurea – Golden Sedge Exposure/Location: shores, meadows, moist - dry soil, full sun, part shade Height/Spread: 15cm (6 inches) Bloom: June, seeds are tiny orange yellow balls, relished by birds and small mammals Comments: : spreads aggressively, great for filling areas Carex eburnea – Ebony Sedge Exposure/Location: :sandy, gravelly, moist - dry soil, full sun, part shade Height/Spread: 15cm-25cm (6-10 inches) Bloom: May -June, black seeds form later Comments: rare, endangered in parts of North America Carex grayii – Morningstar Sedge, Gray's Sedge Exposure/Location: open wet woods, average - moist soil, full sun, part shade Height/Spread: 45cm-75cm (18-30inches) Bloom: Late June- July, seeds contained in green spiky ball Comments: tough and versatile Carex intumescens – Bladder Sedge Exposure/Location: decidous woods, open wet woods, average - moist soil, shade - part sun Height/Spread: 30cm-45cm (12-18inches) Bloom: May, seeds contained in green spiky ball Carex muskingumensis – Muskingum Sedge Exposure/Location: open wet woods, moist meadows, moist- average soil, full sun, part shade Height/Spread: 45cm-75cm (18-30inches) Bloom: June- July
Elymus canadensis – Canada Wild Rye Exposure/Location: :meadows, tall grass prairies, streams, shores, dunes, full sun, part shade Height/Spread: 60-90cm (2-3ft) Bloom: August – September, golden wheat-like seed heads Comments: looks and sounds nice in the wind Elymus hystrix – Bottle Brush Grass Exposure/Location: : forests, open woods, dry soil, full shade, part shade Height/Spread: 60-120cm (2-4ft) Bloom: July- August, seeds heads are shape of bottle brush Comments: good grass for shady locales, birds enjoy seed Elymus virginiana – Virginia Wild Rye Exposure/Location: :open woods, savannahs, moist prairies, marsh, meadows, streams, full sun, part shade Height/Spread: 60-120cm (2-4ft) Bloom: July-August, golden wheat-like seed heads Comments: feeds wildlife, waterfowl Festuca saximontana – Rocky Mountain Fescue Exposure/Location: :sandy, exposed areas full sun, part shade Height/Spread: 18-40cm (10-16 inches) Bloom: June-July, golden seed heads contrast with emerald green foliage Hierochloe odorata – Sweetgrass Exposure/Location: :meadows, fields, open wet areas, streams, shores, dunes, full sun-part shade Height/Spread: 30-60cm (1-2ft) Bloom: May-June, greenish-yellow Comments: vanilla like sweet fragrance, grass is braided for smudging, spreading NOT clump forming Panicum virgatum - Switch Grass Exposure/Location: : tall grass prairies,shores, dunes, meadows, open woods, dry-moist, sand - clay soils, full sun- part shade Height/Spread: 120-180cm (4-6ft) Bloom: August – September, foliage has nice fall colour Comments: :very drought tolerant, good for birds and other wildlife Schizachyrium scoparium - Little Bluestem Exposure/Location: : tall grass prairies, meadows, dry-moist, sand - clay soils, full sun Height/Spread: 60-90cm (2-3ft) Bloom: August – September, Comments: :very drought tolerant, marvelous fall colour Scirpus atrovirens - Dark Green Bulrush Exposure/Location: : ponds, streams, meadows, moist, full sun Height/Spread: 90-120cm (3-4ft) Bloom: August – September, Comments: :very vigorous plant, good for buffer strips, filtering water
|