Grasses

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Botanical Name	Common Name	Description
Acorus americanus	Sweetflag	This sword shaped grass is 24 to 36 inches tall and is found in pond edges and wet soils. The flower stalk is 3 inches long with tiny flowers. The leaves, when bruised have a sweet smell to them and were once used in flavoring candy.
Andropogon gerardii	Big Bluestem	Very important to prairies, this grass grows in a diverse set of conditions. It can become 5 to 8 feet tall in a sunny location. In late August, the seed heads produced resemble turkey feet and provides a food source for many species. After the first frost, the stems turn a beautiful bronze.
Carex crinita	Fringed Sedge	Found in bottomland prairies, moist upland prairies, margins of bodies of water, spring branches, and fens. Develops green, drooping grass flowers in the spring. It is a clump-forming sedge. Prefers moist to wet soil in the sun or partial shade. Grows 1-3 feet tall.
Carex laxiculmis	Spreading Sedge	An evergreen sedge with bluish green color. It grows 6-12 inches tall. It is a low maintenance plant that prefers moist, shady areas. Develops yellow to white nonshowy flowers in the spring.
Carex lurida	Lurid Sedge	A wetland sedge that can grow to 3 feet tall. Leaves are long and slender. Seed head is 3 inches long and .5 to 1 inches wide.
Carex pennsylvanica	Pennsylvania Sedge	This cutie has fine foliage and grows only 8 inches tall. Spreads by rhizomes and enjoys acid soil sites. Prefers partial shade. Great under oaks and pines!
Carex stricta	Tussock Sedge	A wetland native that forms dense mounds or tussocks, it forms distinctive hummocks in wetlands. Bright green foliage emerges from the top of the tussock. Prefers sun to partial shade. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall.
Chasmanthium latifolium	Sea Oats	A wide leaved grass with lovely nodding clusters of oatlike seedheads. It grows 2-5 feet tall and more than 2 feet wide. Its leaves and flower heads turn a rich tan to reddish bronze color in the winter.
Eleocharis palustris	Spike-rush	The leaves of this plant are slender tubes that grows 6- 18 inches tall. They are found in ponds, swamps, and marshes. It forms a single flower cluster on top of its stems.
Eriophorum virginicum	Cotton Grass	Commonly found in bogs and ditches, this flat-leaved grass grows 1-4 feet tall. It develops long, soft, cottony bristles in compact tawny masses.
Juncus effusus	Soft Rush	Leaves of this plant are slender tubes that grow 1 to 5 feet tall. The grass is dark green. They are found in ponds, swamps and marshes
Juncus tenuis	Path Rush	Grows in the cracks of well trodden paths. Can be stepped on. Prefers sun or partial shade. Spreads by rhizomes and is self-seeding. Height up to 8 inches.
Luzula multiflora	Woodrush	This ornamental grass is a handsome dark green evergreen. It produces light, fluffy, chestnut brown flowers in the spring.
Panicum lanuginosum	Wooly Panic Grass	Seeds from this grass are a fantastic food source for many types of birds. Develops flowered panicles in the early summer. Prefers light shade to full sun.
Panicum virgatum	Tall Panic Grass	This grass develops pink-tinged blooms in the summer that are good for flower arrangements. Grows 3-6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. Attracts birds. Prefers moist, sandy soil in the sun.
Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’	Grey Switchgrass	A steel blue switchgrass that grows 4-5 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. This is a tough, hardy plant! It makes a terrific vertical accent in the garden. Grass turns a golden yellow in the fall.
Schizachrium scoparium	Little Bluestem	A native, warm season grass for poor soils. Does best in full sun. Great red fall color. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Best in well drained soils.
Scirpus atrovirens	Willdenow, Black Bulrush	This grass develops dark flowering clusters. It is found in wetlands, moist meadows, and bogs. Can reach 4 feet tall. Prefers full sun.
Scirpus cyperinus	Wool Grass	A tall sedge, up to 6 feet tall with terminal drooping flowers. Stems are slightly triangular. Found in marshes, wet meadows and swamps.
Sparganium americanum	Bur-reed	This bur-reed is found on muddy shores, ponds and shallow waters. The flowers are ball-shaped heads that are arranged on a twisted stalk. Leaves are very narrow grass-like blades. Likes full sun. Blooms in summer. Flowers are green and bur-like.
Spartina pectinata	Prairie Cordgrass	This grass has dark green, glossy blades. It is salt tolerant. Grows 4-6 feet tall. Prefers sun to light shade.
Tridens flava	Purple-top Tridens	This grass grows 3-5 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide. Its flower spikes develop on pruple panicles in the summer. Does not like wet sites. Prefers sun to partial shade.
Typha angustifolia	Narrow-leaved Cattail	Narrow leaved grass-like plant found in ponds, marshes and slow moving streams. Has a long brown seed head.
Typha latifolia	Common Cattail	This wetland grass grows up to 10 feet tall It provides a nesting habitat for many birds and provides food for many wetland animals. It has long sword-like leaves and develops a dense, dark brown, cylandrical spike flower in the late spring.

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