Growing guide

How to grow ornamental grasses

Grasses are easy to grow, versatile and beautiful. With their fountains of elegant foliage and plumes of feathery seedheads, they bring drama and movement as they sway in the breeze. They're a great asset in any setting, from traditional to contemporary, formal to relaxed, mingling well among other plants or as stand-alone features. Every garden should have plenty!

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Quick facts

  • Easy to grow
  • Flowers in summer and autumn, with seedheads into winter
  • Plant in autumn or spring, depending on the type
  • Cut back deciduous types in late winter to spring
  • They need very little ongoing care
  • Make new plants by dividing clumps or sowing seeds
  • Most like a sunny, open site, but there are grasses to suit most locations

All you need to know

Before you get started
Planting
Ongoing care
Pruning and training
Propagating
Problems
While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.