Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Warm-season grass turning cotton-candy pink in fall and holding its form all winter, hardy in zones 6–10.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
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North Carolina · Zones 6–8
Native Ornamental Grasses in North Carolina
Native grasses and sedges that bring movement, winter structure, and bird seed — the matrix that ties a planting together. For North Carolina, the right natives are shaped by Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain and a humid subtropical to montane climate. Every species below, from Pink Muhly Grass and Little Bluestem to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to North Carolina and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. 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 North Carolina
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Warm-season grass turning blue-green to copper in fall and holding its form all winter, spreading 1.5–2 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Fills the gaps between the flowers with fine 6–12 in-tall texture, 6–12 in tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
A grass that earns its keep in fall and winter — airy pink-gold panicles color, 3–6 ft tall, seed for the birds.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Movement in summer, bronze-gold plumes color in fall — a native grass that holds all winter, 4–7 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Movement in summer, bronze-purple seed heads color in fall — a native grass that holds all winter, for sand, clay, and loam ground.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
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
Sourcing
Where to find these in North Carolina
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.