Low-Maintenance and Elegant Ornamental Grass This easy to grow plant is all you need for a four-season display. Maiden Grass will give you something to beautiful see at nearly every time of year. It gives so much but needs very little in return. It just asks for sun and a little water to grow a dense clump of elegantly arching grass to accent your landscape. Maiden Grass is a versatile ornamental grass with many faces. You cut it back to a height of about 6 inches or less in the late winter or early spring. From the stubble emerges an array of lance-shaped leaves with a silvery midrib. The clump formed is thick and dense. As summer hits its stride, the flower stalks appear. These are no ordinary blooms. They begin as coppery tassels and transition into buff-colored feathery plumes before going to seed. They stand very tall above the foliage. The stalks will stay upright through the fall when the foliage turns yellow. They will stick around even into winter as the leaves age to a shade straw beige. Zones 4 through 9 will enjoy watching this plant progress through its stages. Gardeners in the cooler regions will be able to see the plumes accented with frost and snow. Those in the warmer climes will appreciate the tolerance Maiden Grass shows for heat and humidity. Maiden Grass isn't fussy about soil conditions either. It will adapt to clay or sandy soils even if its preference is a moist loam. It does appreciate being planted in full sun and will show its approval by giving the best show of flowers. A little shade will be acceptable but the bloom may not be quite as dramatic. Its size can be dramatic, too. The big clumps make a dense screen for your property lines or for unattractive features like well housings or septic pumps. Maiden Grass is beautiful as an accent to a pond or water feature. It can also be the anchor for a natural area, giving it height and structure. Deer don't like it... so it can grow undisturbed, even if you live near wildlife. Use it as the backing for smaller, more colorful plants like annuals or blooming perennials. The dark green color makes a pretty contrast to bright blossoms. It might even attract birds to your yard. Wherever you plant it, you're sure to enjoy the easy elegance of Maiden Grass in every season. Note: If you purchase this grass in fall-winter, it may be cut back for the plant’s health. If your grass is cut back, don’t worry - it will grow even happier and healthier next spring!
