Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Across Washington, D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic, a grass for structure and bird seed, turning cotton-candy pink and standing 2–3 ft tall through the cold.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
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Washington, D.C. · Zone 7
Native Ornamental Grasses in Washington, D.C.
Native grasses and sedges that bring movement, winter structure, and bird seed — the matrix that ties a planting together. Every species here is genuinely native to Washington, D.C. and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zone 7 — proven performers for Washington, D.C.'s humid, four-season climate across Northern Piedmont & Potomac fall line, not a generic list. Local standouts include Pink Muhly Grass and Little Bluestem. Native grasses are the connective tissue of a natural planting, weaving between the flowers, holding the soil, and standing handsome through the whole winter. Warm-season grasses want full sun and lean soil and green up late, so don't give up on them in May. Cut everything back to a hand's height in late winter, just before new growth, and that's the entire job.
The plants
7 native species for Washington, D.C.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zone 7 · see this collection in other states.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Across Washington, D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic, summer texture, blue-green to copper autumn color, and winter standing presence on a 2–4 ft-tall native grass.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Across Washington, D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic, warm-season grass turning bronze-purple seed heads in fall and holding its form all winter, 2–3 ft wide.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Across Washington, D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic, turns airy pink-gold panicles as the season ends and holds that form till spring cleanup, for sand, clay, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Across Washington, D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic, a grass that earns its keep in fall and winter — fine emerald to amber color, 2–3 ft tall, seed for the birds.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Across Washington, D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic, warm-season grass turning bronze-gold plumes in fall and holding its form all winter, happy in sand, clay, and loam soil.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Across Washington, D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic, a grass for movement and bird seed, spreading 1–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Washington, D.C.
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.