low growing ornamental grasses

Why Choose Low Growing Ornamental Grasses?

Low growing ornamental grasses excel in bringing subtle structure and charm to garden designs. Their compact habit means they won’t overwhelm smaller spaces or crowd out neighbouring plants. Instead, they offer soft, flowing foliage that gently sways in the breeze, softening hard edges and creating a harmonious transition between lawns, patio areas, and flower borders. Many varieties are evergreen, providing visual interest during winter when other plants fade back. These grasses are also ideal for suppressing weeds, stabilising soil on slopes, and attracting beneficial insects.

Top Choices for Low Growing Ornamental Grasses in New Zealand

There’s a wide selection of ornamental grasses suited for compact plantings. Among the most popular and reliable are:

Lomandra Varieties

Lomandra Misty Green is a stunning, fine-leafed Australian native that’s proved its toughness in New Zealand gardens. Growing to about 60cm tall and wide, it forms neat, low mounds of soft green foliage, ideal for borders, mass plantings, or under trees. This variety is celebrated for its drought tolerance and tidy habit.

If you’re seeking an even more compact grass, consider Lomandra Little Pal. With its petite, fountain-like shape and dense green leaves, it rarely exceeds 40cm in height, making it perfect for small spaces, pots, or edging garden beds.

Low Growing Miscanthus

While some Miscanthus species can grow quite tall, Miscanthus sinensis offers a range of cultivars, some of which remain relatively low and are excellent for creating soft, textured mounds in garden designs. An outstanding compact selection is Miscanthus 'Morning Light', acclaimed for its graceful, arching silvery-green blades and its relatively restrained height, rarely reaching more than a metre. It brings an elegant touch to mixed borders or as a low screening plant.

Tough and Textural: Juncus Blue Dart

If you love blue foliage or have moist areas in the garden, Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush) is a superb choice among low growing ornamental grasses. With its upright blue-green stems and tidy clumping habit, it’s perfect for modern gardens, water features, and rain gardens. It grows to about 40-50cm tall and excels in both wet and dry conditions.

How to Use Low Growing Ornamental Grasses

These grasses are at their best when planted in drifts or grouped in repeating patterns along paths and borders. Pair them with flowering perennials, shrubs, or contrasting foliage for a dynamic, layered look. Low growing ornamental grasses are also perfect for filling gaps between stepping stones, softening driveway edges, and underplanting trees.

By incorporating varieties like Lomandra Misty Green, Lomandra Little Pal, Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus 'Morning Light', and Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush), you can create lush, low-maintenance landscapes that thrive year after year. Embrace the beauty and versatility of low growing ornamental grasses for a timeless addition to your New Zealand garden.