Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
In New York, where the flora of the Northeast reaches in, 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
New York · Zones 3–7
Native Ornamental Grasses in New York
Native grasses and sedges that bring movement, winter structure, and bird seed — the matrix that ties a planting together. New York sits in a landscape of Adirondacks, Finger Lakes & Hudson Valley, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its humid continental character. The list below — led by Pink Muhly Grass and Sideoats Grama — is filtered to species genuinely native to New York and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–7. 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
8 native species for New York
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–7 · see this collection in other states.
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
In New York, where the flora of the Northeast reaches in, fine-textured native grass weaving the planting together, spreading 12–18 in.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
In New York, where the flora of the Northeast reaches in, a grass that earns its keep in fall and winter — bronze-gold plumes color, 4–7 ft tall, seed for the birds.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
In New York, where the flora of the Northeast reaches in, summer texture, bronze-purple seed heads autumn color, and winter standing presence on a 4–7 ft-tall native grass.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
In New York, where the flora of the Northeast reaches in, turns airy pink-gold panicles as the season ends and holds that form till spring cleanup, cold-hardy to zone 4.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
In New York, where the flora of the Northeast reaches in, a grass for structure and bird seed, turning blue-green to copper and standing 2–4 ft tall through the cold.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
In New York, where the flora of the Northeast reaches in, movement in summer, fine emerald to amber color in fall — a native grass that holds all winter, hardy in zones 3–8.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
In New York, where the flora of the Northeast reaches in, a 6–12 in-tall native grass that knits the bed together and feeds seed-eaters.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in New York
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.