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ornamental grasses for shade

If you’re searching for striking, low-maintenance options to brighten those dim corners of your garden, ornamental grasses for shade offer the perfect solution. New Zealand’s lush climate is a natural fit for a wide range of attractive, easy-care grasses that not only thrive in low light but also add movement, texture, and year-round structural interest. Whether you have a sheltered border, woodland area, or a shaded courtyard, there’s a shade-loving ornamental grass ready to enhance your garden style.

Lomandra White Sands with elegant, variegated foliage in a courtyard garden.

Lomandra White Sands

5 from 4 customers

Lomandra White Sands is a fabulous ornamental grass renowned for its variegated foliage. It features arching, cream, and green-striped leaves and forms tidy clumps approximately 50–60 cm tall and wide. Thriving in full sun to partial shade, this low-maintenance plant is highly tolerant of drought, frost, wind, and coastal conditions. Ideal for mass plantings, borders, containers, and around outdoor living areas, Lomandra White Sands adds year-round texture and colour to a garden.

From $25.58

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Grasses
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 45 cm
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Parks, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas, Specimen
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern
juncus-blue-dart-

Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush)

5 from 4 customers

Juncus Blue Dart is a popular ornamental grass that features rigid leaves that are a fantastic shade of blue. It typically grows to 30 cm tall and the same wide, with a tidy growth habit. Juncus Blue Dart is popular with landscape designers owing to its versatility and great aesthetics. It is commonly planted around pool and other outdoor areas, used to border a fence or entrance, or mass planted for an amazing display.

From $17.89

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Grasses
Height: 30 cm
Spread: 30 cm
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wet, Wind
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Riparian
Lomandra 'Seascape' grass with elegant, blue-green foliage growing beside a pond.
Lomandra confertifolia Seascape

Lomandra confertifolia 'Seascape' is a hardy, evergreen ornamental grass featuring slender, blue-grey foliage with a graceful, weeping habit. Forming...

From$20.93
Lomandra 'Misty Green' plants with cascading green foliage growing a bank.
Lomandra Misty Green

Lomandra Misty Green is an ornamental grass with delicate, dark green foliage and a tidy, rounded form. Growing to about 40 cm in height and width...

From$20.93
Lomandra longifolia plant beside a path with lush, green foliage.
Lomandra longifolia (Basket Grass)

Lomandra longifolia (Basket Grass) is a resilient, evergreen ornamental grass native to Australia. Growing to approximately 60 cm in height and 65 cm...

From$16.13
Lomandra 'Arctic Frost' plant in a pot with variegated foliage.
Lomandra Arctic Frost

Lomandra Arctic Frost is a hardy ornamental grass featuring variegated blue and cream foliage held upright with a gentle arch. Growing to...

From$20.93
Lomandra Little Pal plants with lush green foliage.
Lomandra Little Pal

Lomandra Little Pal is a compact ornamental grass grown for its fine, green-yellow foliage and tidy, rounded form. Growing to approximately 60 cm in...

From$16.13
Carex 'Frosted Curls' plants with elegant green foliage growing in a pot with other plants.
Carex Frosted Curls

Carex Frosted Curls is an ornamental grass with slender, hair-like, iridescent foliage that shimmers in light breezes. It typically grows to 30 cm...

From$13.43
Lomandra Evergreen Baby growing as a ground cover with lush, green foliage.
Lomandra Evergreen Baby

Lomandra Evergreen Baby is a compact, evergreen ornamental grass known for its delicate, deep-green foliage and tidy, rounded form. Growing to...

From$17.48
Hakonechloa albostriata plant with variegated foliage.
Hakonechloa macra 'Albostriata'

Hakonechloa macra 'Albostriata', commonly known as Japanese Forest Grass, is a stunning ornamental grass. It features variegated green foliage with...

From$22.88
A large Calamagrostis 'Overdam' grass with elegant, variegated foliage.
Calamagrostis 'Overdam'

Calamagrostis ‘Overdam’ is a striking variegated ornamental grass that delivers elegant upright form and delicate texture to garden borders and...

From$22.88
Lomandra Tankia with lush green foliage bordering a path.
Lomandra 'Tanika'

Lomandra Tanika is a hardy, Australian Native grass that is commonly known as Mat Rush. This grass features fine, deep-green foliage and a graceful...

From$24.23
Anemanthele lessoniana grass with colourful, orange and green foliage growing in a pot.
Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's Tail Grass)

Anemanthele lessoniana, also known as Pheasant's Tail Grass or New Zealand Wind Grass, is a graceful, clump-forming ornamental grass native to New...

From$16.88
Zebra grass (Miscanthus 'Zebrinus') leaves with cream and green stripes.
Miscanthus 'Zebrinus'

Miscanthus 'Zebrinus' (Zebra Grass) is a striking ornamental grass recognised for its bold horizontal yellow banding across arching green leaves...

From$21.53
Poa cita grass plants on a plateau overlooing the sea.
Poa cita

Poa cita, commonly known as Silver Tussock, is a clump-forming NZ native grass with delicate, green foliage that wafts gracefully in the breeze. It...

From$14.18
Lomandra Frosty Tops with lush blue foliage in a garden.
Lomandra Frosty Tops

Lomandra Frosty Tops is a hardy, evergreen grass featuring elegant, blue-grey foliage and a soft, weeping form. Growing to around 50 cm tall and...

From$18.83
Imperata 'Red Baron' with colourful, red foliage
Imperata Red Baron

Imperata 'Red Baron', commonly known as Japanese Blood Grass, features leaves that are green at the base and become red further up the blade. Through...

From$18.83
Acorus gramineus variegata plants growing in pots with green and cream foliage.
Acorus gramineus variegatus

Acorus gramineus variegatus, commonly known as Variegated Sweet Flag, is an attractive ornamental grass-like plant prized for its elegant green and...

From$20.18
Lomandra Lime Tuff in a garden showing elegant foliage.
Lomandra Lime Tuff

Lomandra 'Lime Tuff' is a hardy evergreen ornamental grass valued for its vibrant lime green foliage and compact tidy growth habit. This versatile...

From$17.48
isolepsis-cernua-1
Isolepis cernua (Fiber-Optic Grass)

Isolepsis cernua (aka Scirpus cernua), commonly known as Fiber Optic Grass, grows as a tidy clump to about 25 cm tall and the same wide with green...

From$16.13
helicotrichon-sempervirens-3
Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Oatgrass)

Helictotrichon sempervirens, commonly known as Blue Oatgrass, is a lovely and popular ornamental grass featuring distinct, blue foliage. It grows as...

From$16.88
Ophiopogon japonicus (Green Mondo Grass) growing as a groundcover in a woodland garden.
Ophiopogon japonicus

Ophiopogon japonicus, commonly known as green Mondo Grass, is a striking ornamental grass. It grows as a clump and produces a dense tuft of...

From$8.78
Dactylis glomerata plant with a cat.
Dactylis glomerata (Cat Grass)

Dactylis glomerata, commonly known as Cat Grass or Catnip Grass, is a popular grass that is loved by cats. It features flowing, green foliage held as...

From$21.53
Lomandra 'Echidna' grass growing as a mass planting beside a path.
Lomandra Echidna

The Lomandra Echidna grass is a tough and reliable plant with outstanding aesthetics. It features lush, mid-green foliage held upright with a gentle...

From$16.13
Ophiopogon japonicus Silver Mist grass in a garden.
Ophiopogon Silver Mist (Silver Mondo Grass)

Ophiopogon 'Silver Mist' is a dwarf silver Mondo Grass, and features fine, grass-like foliage that is variegated dark green and white. It typically...

From$8.78
Sisyrinchium californicum plants with yellow flowers and fine, green foliage.
Sisyrinchium californicum

Sisyrinchium californicum, commonly known as the Golden Eyed Grass, is an herbaceous perennial grown for both its foliage and flowers. It bears...

From$17.48
Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens (Black Mondo) plants with lush, black foliage.
Ophiopogon japonicus nigrescens

Ophiopogon japonicus nigrescens, commonly known as Black Mondo Grass, is a clump-forming plant with fine, near black foliage. The foliage is...

From$8.78
Carex flagellifera Red plants.
Carex flagellifera Red

Carex flagellifera Red is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its colourful and attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, copper-red...

From$13.43
Carex flagellifera Green plant with lush and colourful foliage.
Carex flagellifera Green

Carex flagellifera Green is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, green leaves as it grows to...

From$13.43
festuca-banks-peninsula-blue-1
Festuca 'Banks Peninsula Blue' (Blue Fescue Grass)

Festuca 'Banks Peninsula Blue' is a striking ornamental grass valued for its fine, steel blue foliage that forms neat, compact clumps. This hardy...

From$14.18
Carex 'Everlime' plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
Carex 'Everlime' (Lime Grass Plant)

Carex ‘Everlime’ (Japanese Sedge) is a popular evergreen sedge valued for its graceful arching green foliage edged with bright lime cream margins...

From$26.33
Libertia paniculata plant with white flowers.
Libertia paniculata (Grass Flag)

Libertia paniculata is an elegant evergreen perennial admired for its fine, upright foliage and delicate white flowers that appear in airy clusters...

From$15.86
Lomandra White Sands

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Acorus, Anemanthele, Calamagrostis, Carex, Dactylis, Festuca, Hakonechloa, Helictotrichon, Imperata, Isolepis, Juncus, Libertia, Lomandra, Miscanthus, Ophiopogon Poa and Sisyrinchium, or related Categories - Grasses Mondo Grass and Perennials.

Search ornamental grasses for shade

Why Grow Ornamental Grasses for Shade?

One of the biggest challenges for gardeners is finding beautiful plants that perform well in shaded spots. Ornamental grasses for shade are highly valued for their adaptability and resilience. They provide visual softness that contrasts beautifully with the bold foliage of ferns, hostas, and shrubs, while their subtle movement brings life to still spaces. Many species also cope with dry shade, making them ideal beneath established trees or in tricky garden corners where other plants might struggle.

Top Shade-Loving Ornamental Grasses for New Zealand Gardens

Choosing the right grass is essential for success in shady areas. Here are some standout varieties that have proven themselves in New Zealand’s microclimates:

How to Use Ornamental Grasses for Shade

Ornamental grasses for shade are wonderfully versatile. Use them as groundcovers under trees, contrast them with bold-leafed perennials, or plant them in mixed borders for year-round structure. Many also thrive in pots and containers, ideal for shady decks or entrances. Try combining several grass varieties for a relaxed, naturalistic look, or plant swathes of a single species for bold, contemporary style.

Simple Care Tips

Most ornamental grasses suited for shade are quite low maintenance. Water new plants regularly until they are established, and mulch to help retain soil moisture. Once settled in, many of these grasses are drought-tolerant and rarely need dividing or pruning—just a tidy-up of old foliage in late winter or early spring keeps them looking their best.

Transform shaded spaces in your garden with the beauty and simplicity of ornamental grasses for shade. For expert advice or to find the perfect grass for your needs, browse our selection of low-light loving varieties today.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Illustration of plant leaves.
You know Agapanthus 'Gayles Lilac' and Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile), but have you met Tilia europaea, Betula 'White Spire', and Abutilon Hot Pink? These beauties are worth a closer look.
–The Plant Company

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