The Best Ornamental Grasses for Tampa Landscapes

Whether you’re a homeowner or a property manager, your landscaping does a lot of the heavy lifting for your property. From setting the tone with curb appeal to making your property feel and function better, designing and maintaining a thoughtful landscape can improve practically everything about your outdoor space.

While perfectly manicured lawns and vibrant flowers may steal the show, Florida decorative grasses are the unsung heroes of a gorgeous landscape. From adding layers and textures to providing privacy and good looks, the best ornamental grasses for Florida can work wonders for your property.

So, what are the top ornamental grasses in Tampa? We’re glad you asked. Read on for a guide to our favorites.

The Best Florida Ornamental Grasses for Your Tampa Bay Property

The Sunshine State is a magical place packed with swaying palms, sandy beaches, stunning properties, and a host of native plants and fascinating wildlife. Its natural beauty may only be matched by its challenging climate.

With oppressive heat, high humidity, frequent storms, and occasional droughts, there’s no question that finding plants that thrive in Tampa’s climate is easier said than done. If you’ve struggled to populate your property with low-maintenance plants that boost curb appeal and add visual intrigue to your landscape, you’re not alone.

Florida ornamental grasses are a superb solution to this particular problem. Many of them tend to be drought-tolerant, highly adaptable, and beautiful year-round. By selecting the right ornamental grasses in Tampa, you can set your property up for success and easy maintenance, making the following options incredibly compelling.

Muhly Grass

Many of the best ornamental grasses for Florida are native to the state. While this doesn’t ensure a flawless experience or promise that a plant will be durable, many native plants do contribute to reduced maintenance demands.

Muhly grass is no exception, as it thrives in sunny conditions and is drought-tolerant once established. It can also endure the occasional cold spell and is tolerant of salt–a must in the coastal areas of Tampa.

Aesthetically, muhly grass is impossible to overlook. It features striking plums of pink and purple in the fall, and its leaves are soft and dark green. You can often see this Florida ornamental grass waving peacefully in the breeze, bringing beauty and comfort to any property it graces.

Purple Fountain Grass

If you’re looking for a splash of color, purple fountain grass should be on your shortlist. This ornamental grass is a perennial that bursts with vibrant foliage and plumes that range from burgundy to purple.

This particular Florida ornamental grass is extremely hardy. It does not struggle with pests and loves full sun. One thing to note about purple fountain grass is that some varieties can be mildly invasive. As such, it’s important to work with a professional landscaper to ensure that you only use plants that won’t reseed.

Fakahatchee Grass

Another native ornamental grass, fakahatchee grass grows well in either full sun or light shade. It can withstand standing water (for a short time), is extraordinarily salt tolerant, and thrives in moist areas. 

Because it is easy to grow and maintain, it is one of the best ornamental grasses for Florida landscapes. Don’t let its durability fool you, though–fakahatchee grass is a beautiful option that adds spectacular texture to any property.

It can grow between four and six feet tall and wide, making it phenomenal for filling blank space, complementing trees, and otherwise giving your property a textural element that elevates its overall appearance.

Zebra Grass

With a name that conjures images of eye-catching animals sprinting across the Serengeti, zebra grass sets high expectations for beauty and boldness. It delivers on these promises with tall, striking foliage that grows in shades of gorgeous green striped with gold.

This quick-growing ornamental grass can reach heights of seven feet. Its feathery plumes are impossible to ignore, adding both brilliance and privacy to any property. While it is drought tolerant once established, it requires full sun to thrive and prefers soil that is moist.

Blue Oat Grass

Among the best ornamental grasses for Florida is blue oat grass, a stunning plant that sports an unusual color. With slender blades that grow in blue, green, and gray shades, this ornamental grass is as visually appealing as it is tough.

Blue oat grass is drought tolerant and able to grow in mild shade (though it prefers full sun). It should ideally be planted in moist soil, but it is able to grow in a variety of soil types, especially those with good drainage.

This Florida ornamental grass excels as a complement to your other landscaping, whether you nestle it under a tree or intersperse it in a rock garden.

Lemongrass

Versatility is the name of the game with many Florida decorative grasses, and no plant embodies this principle better than lemongrass. This ornamental grass is notable for its incredible texture, lovely scent, and the fact that it is edible. That’s right; it’s the same lemongrass you enjoy in your favorite Thai soups and curries!

Lemongrass is an appealing shade of green nearly year-round before shifting to a dark red in the winter. With an ability to grow in full or partial sun, reach six feet in height and four feet in width, and add significant textural intrigue to your landscape, this Florida ornamental grass can be used in a variety of ways.

We particularly like lemongrass for creating privacy, edging fencelines, and creating ambiance along larger walkways.

The best ornamental grasses for Florida are adaptable, beautiful, and durable. Every option on this list checks those boxes (and more). If you would like more information about ornamental grasses in Tampa–including specialized guidance for your unique property–be sure to contact your friendly landscaping experts at Landcrafters.

After 25 years in the Tampa Bay area, we have the experience and expertise to help your ornamental grasses thrive and your landscape shine!

Image Sources: Muhly Grass, Purple Fountain Grass, Fakahatchee Grass, Zebra Grass, Blue Oat Grass, Lemongrass