15 Stunning Evergreen Grasses for Year-Round Landscape Beauty

Graceful blades and lasting color provide subtle movement and structure in any garden.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 10, 2025

Graceful blades and lasting color provide subtle movement and structure in any garden.

15 Evergreen Grasses for Your Landscape

Evergreen grasses and grass-like perennials bring beauty and interest to gardens and landscapes throughout the entire year. With their arching forms, diverse textures, and enduring color, these plants thrive in beds, borders, and containers, making them versatile for any garden style. In this comprehensive guide, we cover what makes a grass evergreen, the differences between true grasses and grass-like plants, and spotlight 15 exceptional evergreen selections to consider for your landscape.

Understanding Evergreen Grasses

The term evergreen grass usually refers to both true grasses and grass-like plants that keep their foliage year-round. Unlike deciduous grassesâwhich die back in the winterâevergreens provide constant visual structure and minimize seasonal bare spots.

True grasses: Belong to the Poaceae family and include thousands of species worldwide.
Grass-like plants: May resemble grasses in form and foliage but belong to different families, such as sedges (Carex) or rushes (Juncus).
Key feature: Evergreen means the foliage persists through winter, offering consistent color and texture regardless of season.

Design Benefits of Evergreen Grasses

Maintain interest and beauty in the landscape all year, including winter.
Offer movement and sound as winds ripple through arching blades.
Attract pollinators and wildlife with decorative seed heads and flowers.
Provide architectural structure, acting as living sculptures in garden beds.
Are often low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established.

The 15 Best Evergreen Grasses and Grass-Like Plants

Below you’ll find 15 carefully selected evergreen grasses and grass-like species, each bringing unique beauty and utility to borders, containers, and open garden spaces. For each, we detail appearance, cultural requirements, and ideal uses.

1. Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis)

Blue Grama is a North American native grass with delicate, arching blades in shades of blue-green. Known for its whimsical, eyebrow-shaped seed heads that flutter in the breeze, this low-growing grass remains semi-evergreen in milder climates and provides valuable habitat for pollinators.

Foliage: Thin, blue-green blades forming soft tufts.
Height: 12-18″ tall.
Usage: Mass plantings, borders, prairie gardens.
Care: Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil; drought tolerant.

2. Bunny Tails Grass (Lagurus ovatus)

This charming annual or tender perennial, often treated as evergreen in frost-free climates, stands out for its fluffy, tail-like flower heads. Bunny Tails are popular in both garden beds and dried flower arrangements.

Foliage: Soft green, forming rounded mounds.
Height: 12-24″ tall.
Usage: Containers, borders, cutting gardens.
Care: Prefers full sun; well-draining soil; moderate watering.

3. Frosted Explosion Grass (Panicum elegans)

Valued for its airy, sparkler-like seed heads, Frosted Explosion Grass creates a delicate haze in the garden. In mild climates, it may remain evergreen, adding dynamic movement to plantings even in winter.

Foliage: Fine-textured, light green blades.
Height: 18-30″ tall.
Usage: Bouquets, contemporary gardens, mixed borders.
Care: Best in full sun with rich, moist, well-drained soil.

4. Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra)

One of the most elegant ornamental grasses, Japanese Forest Grass features arching, bamboo-like leaves that elegantly cascade over the ground. Many cultivars, like âAureolaâ, offer vibrant golden or variegated foliage that glows in shade gardens year-round.

Foliage: Graceful, arching, often gold-striped blades.
Height: 12-18″ tall, spreads gently.
Usage: Woodland gardens, shade borders, containers.
Care: Prefers moist, organic, well-drained soil; tolerates light to full shade.

5. Carex (Sedge)

Carex is a diverse genus of grass-like perennials, many of which are evergreen in mild regions. With forms ranging from petite mounds to larger tufts, colors vary from deep green to silver and gold variegation. These plants excel at filling in shady spots or as groundcover under trees.

Foliage: Blade-like, often variegated or finely textured.
Height: Ranges from 6″ to 2′ depending on species.
Usage: Groundcover, mass plantings, rain gardens, woodland edges.
Care: Adaptable to sun or shade; moist, well-drained soil ideal.

6. Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)

Not a true grass but a lily relative, Mondo Grass creates dense, dark green or near-black carpets of evergreen foliage. Itâs popular for edging, groundcovers, or between stepping stones, and is extremely shade-tolerant.

Foliage: Thin, arching, deep green blades; some cultivars are nearly black.
Height: 6-10″ tall.
Usage: Edging, mass plantings, pathways.
Care: Thrives in shade to part sun; prefers moist, fertile soil.

7. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)

This petite, clump-forming grass is valued for its striking blue-gray foliage, which stays colorful year-round. Itâs drought-tolerant, easy to grow, and fits well in rock gardens, borders, or as an accent in containers.

Foliage: Fine, needle-like, blue to silver.
Height: 8-10″ tall.
Usage: Massing, edging, rock gardens, pots.
Care: Full sun; well-drained, average to dry soil.

8. New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax)

Phormiums are prized for their sword-shaped leaves, which come in dramatic shades of bronze, pink, red, and green. In frost-free zones, their bold foliage is evergreen and adds year-round architectural drama.

Foliage: Upright, colorful, strap-like leaves.
Height: 3-10′ depending on variety.
Usage: Specimen plantings, contemporary borders, large containers.
Care: Sun to part shade; well-drained soils; protect from hard frosts.

9. Liriope (Lilyturf)

Liriope is a tough, evergreen, grass-like perennial particularly useful for edging and groundcover. It produces clumps of glossy green or variegated leaves and charming spikes of purple or white flowers in late summer.

Foliage: Strap-like, bright green or variegated.
Height: 10-18″ tall.
Usage: Pathways, borders, mass plantings under trees.
Care: Sun to full shade; moist, well-drained soils preferred but very adaptable.

10. Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’)

This striking grass features horizontal yellow bands across its green blades. While usually grown as a warm-season grass and semi-evergreen in milder climates, it retains much foliage through winter, providing structure and color.

Foliage: Tall, green with gold striping.
Height: 5-8′ tall.
Usage: Screening, background plant, accent in large beds.
Care: Full sun; moist, fertile, well-drained soils are best.

11. Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’)

Japanese Blood Grass is renowned for its bright red-tipped blades, which maintain their color into late autumn. In mild climates, the foliage may persist through the winter, lending a fiery accent to the landscape.

Foliage: Upright, green base with red upper tips.
Height: 18-24″ tall.
Usage: Borders, mass plantings, accent groups.
Care: Sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil; watch for invasiveness in some regions.

12. Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus)

Often mistaken for a grass, Sweet Flag is a wetland plant with grass-like, fragrant foliage that is evergreen where winters are mild. Varieties like ‘Ogon’ have luminous, gold-striped leaves for all-season color.

Foliage: Shiny, narrow, aromatic, often variegated green and gold.
Height: 6-12″ tall.
Usage: Rain gardens, pond edges, containers.
Care: Moist or boggy soils; sun to shade.

13. Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’)

This dramatic, small evergreen perennial boasts glossy, black-purple leaves. Beautiful for contrast and edging, it stays compact and spreads slowly.

Foliage: Strap-shaped, deep black-purple.
Height: 6-8″ tall.
Usage: Borders, containers, groundcover, contrast planting.
Care: Sun to part shade; prefers even moisture.

14. Sedges (Various Carex species)

Sedges are a huge group of grass-like perennials, many remaining evergreen or semi-evergreen, particularly in moderate climates. Excellent for areas too shady or damp for true grasses.

Foliage: Varied shades and textures.
Height: 6-24″ tall, species dependent.
Usage: Groundcover, naturalizing, tough spots under trees.
Care: Tolerant of wet and dry; sun or shade, adaptable.

15. Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella tenuissima)

This fine-textured ornamental grass forms airy, feathery tufts that move gracefully in the lightest breeze. While not as long-lived as some other species, it adds magnificent movement and softness to formal or naturalistic gardens.

Foliage: Wispy, green, thread-like.
Height: 12-24″ tall.
Usage: Mass plantings, borders, containers.
Care: Full sun; well-drained soil; drought tolerant.

Design Tips and Creative Uses

Mass Planting: Group several of the same evergreen grass together for bold sweeps of color and texture. This works especially well in borders or as groundcover.
Contrasting Forms: Pair upright grasses with mounding groundcovers or arching ferns for visual interest.
Year-Round Interest: Place near entrances or in focal points to ensure winter structure remains attractive.
Containers: Use evergreen grasses as anchor plants in pots for patios or decks. Their form pairs beautifully with trailing annuals and perennials.
Wildlife and Ecology: Many species provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects through all seasons.

Maintenance and Growing Tips

Watering: Establish young plants with regular moisture, but most evergreen grasses are drought-tolerant once mature.
Trimming: Unlike deciduous grasses, do not cut evergreen types back severely in late winter. Instead, comb out dead or damaged foliage to preserve their year-round shape.
Dividing: Divide clump-formers in early spring only; avoid disturbing roots when cold or hot weather prevails.
Feeding: Enrich the soil with organic matter at planting time; light spring feeding may benefit some varieties.
Pests/Diseases: Evergreen grasses are generally low-maintenance and not prone to serious pest issues.

**Evergreen Grasses: Characteristics at a Glance**
Common Name	Height	Preferred Light	Best Use	Foliage Color
Blue Grama Grass	12â18″	Full sun	Borders, prairies	Blue-green
Bunny Tails Grass	12â24″	Full sun	Containers, beds	Green
Japanese Forest Grass	12â18″	Shade	Woodland borders	Gold, variegated
Carex (Sedge)	6â24″	Sun/Shade	Groundcover	Green, variegated
Mondo Grass	6â10″	Shade/part sun	Edging, pathways	Dark green/black

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are evergreen grasses truly green in winter?

A: Most evergreen grasses maintain substantial foliage color through winter, though some may bronze or fade slightly depending on climate conditions.

Q: Do evergreen grasses need to be cut back annually?

A: Unlike deciduous types, evergreen grasses do not require hard cutting back. Instead, comb or lightly trim out old and damaged foliage in late winter or early spring.

Q: Are these grasses deer-resistant?

A: Many evergreen and grass-like plantsâincluding sedges, mondo grass, and liriopeâare deer-resistant, but young or tender growth may occasionally be nibbled.

Q: Can evergreen grasses grow in shade?

A: Several species such as Japanese Forest Grass, Liriope, and many Carex thrive in shady or partially shaded locations.

Q: Which evergreen grass is best for containers?

A: Compact selections like Blue Fescue, Carex, and Black Mondo Grass perform very well in pots and troughs year-round.

Conclusion

Evergreen grasses and grass-like perennials offer essential color, texture, and architectural interest for gardens in every season. By combining a variety of forms and species suited to your climate and design vision, you can build a landscape that remains lively and attractive all year. Invest in these versatile plants for effortless, enduring beauty throughout your outdoor space.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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