Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Summer texture, cotton-candy pink autumn color, and winter standing presence on a 2–3 ft-tall native grass.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
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Pennsylvania · Zones 5–7
Native Ornamental Grasses in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Pennsylvania's humid continental climate across Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont, not a generic list. Local standouts include Pink Muhly Grass and Sideoats Grama. 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 Pennsylvania
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
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
A grass for structure and bird seed, turning bronze-gold plumes and standing 4–7 ft tall through the cold.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
A grass that earns its keep in fall and winter — bronze-purple seed heads color, 4–7 ft tall, seed for the birds.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
A native grass that glows fine emerald to amber and stands through winter, 2–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Turns airy pink-gold panicles as the season ends and holds that form till spring cleanup, reaching 3–6 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Turns blue-green to copper as the season ends and holds that form till spring cleanup, good through zone 9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Fine-textured native grass weaving the planting together, hardy in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Pennsylvania
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.