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tall ornamental grasses for privacy

Looking to create a lush, private sanctuary in your garden? Tall ornamental grasses for privacy are an increasingly popular choice for New Zealand gardeners. These elegant, fast-growing grasses not only shield your outdoor spaces from prying eyes, but also add striking texture and movement to your landscape throughout the year. Whether you’re after a modern look, a naturalistic design, or a soft backdrop for your entertaining areas, screening with ornamental grasses offers endless possibilities.

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

Miscanthus 'Zebrinus'

5 from 1 customers

Miscanthus 'Zebrinus' (Zebra Grass) is a striking ornamental grass recognised for its bold horizontal yellow banding across arching green leaves. This dramatic variety adds strong visual interest and movement to New Zealand gardens throughout the growing season. Its upright clumping habit makes it ideal for borders mass planting and feature positions. Easy to grow and low maintenance Miscanthus 'Zebrinus' is perfect for adding texture and contrast to garden landscapes.

From $21.53

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Grasses
Height: 1.50 m
Spread: 1.20 m
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Containers, Living areas, Ponds, Pool areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Riparian
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
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 Shara displaying fabulous blue-green foliage and growing beside a gravel path.

Lomandra Shara

Lomandra Shara is an ornamental grass renowned for its delicate, dark green foliage and graceful arching form. Reaching approximately 60 cm in height...

From$20.18
Miscanthus Morning Light growing as a clump with variegated leaves.

Miscanthus 'Morning Light'

Miscanthus 'Morning Light' (Maiden Grass) is a refined ornamental grass valued for its fine narrow foliage edged with silvery white. This elegant...

From$18.83
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 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$20.18
Lomandra Nyalla grass with blue-green foliage in a border planting.

Lomandra Nyalla

Lomandra Nyalla is a hardy ornamental grass featuring delicate, lush green foliage and a graceful, arching form. Reaching approximately 80 cm in...

From$20.18
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
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$15.53
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
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
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
juncus-blue-dart-

Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush)

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...

From$17.89
A large planting of Stipa gigantea (Golden Oat Grass) as a feature garden.

Stipa gigantea

Stipa gigantea, commonly known as the Golden Oat Grass, is a large, ornamental grass. It grows as a clump and produces narrow, dark green leaves. The...

From$14.78
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 '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$17.48
Carex comans green plants with dense, green foliage in a garden.

Carex comans Green

Carex comans Green is a NZ native, ornamental grass featuring slender and arching, lime green foliage. It grows as a tidy clump to about 40 cm tall...

From$13.43
An elegant Miscanthus sinensis grass with cream-coloured flower plumes and lush green foliage.

Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis is an ornamental grass that grows as a clump of narrow, arching, green leaves. The colouring gives a light silver-green effect to...

From$21.53
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$9.38
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
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
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
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$21.53
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
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
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
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
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 Green Allure plant with lush, green foliage.

Lomandra Green Allure

Lomandra Green Allure is widely used in landscaping projects across NZ. It is commonly mass planted as a ground cover or on a bank, included in...

From$20.18
Apodasmia similis growing in a rock garden.

Apodasmia similis (Oi Oi)

Apodasmia similis, commonly known as Oioi or Jointed Wire Rush, is a hardy native grass-like plant found throughout New Zealand. It is ideal for...

From$13.43
Miscanthus 'Zebrinus'

Did you find what you are looking for?

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

Search tall ornamental grasses

Why Choose Tall Ornamental Grasses for Privacy?

Unlike solid fences or hedges, tall ornamental grasses for privacy bring a light, graceful touch to your garden. Their upright habit and dense, swaying foliage provide instant screening without feeling heavy or imposing. Many varieties thrive in New Zealand’s climate, are easy to maintain, and offer year-round appeal. With their varied heights, colours, and leaf types, these grasses can be used to create privacy screens, windbreaks, or living dividers in both urban and rural settings.

Top Tall Ornamental Grasses for Privacy in New Zealand

When considering which tall ornamental grasses for privacy will suit your garden best, think about sun exposure, soil type, and the overall look you’re after. Here are some standout varieties found at our nursery:

Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush)

With its upright blue-green stems, Juncus Blue Dart (Blue Rush) creates an architectural statement perfect for modern gardens. Ideal for wet areas and tough conditions, this grass reaches impressive heights while remaining tidy and low-maintenance.

Restio tetraphyllus (Tassel Grass)

For a softer, more lush privacy screen, Restio tetraphyllus (Tassel Grass) is a stunning native with finely textured foliage that dances in the breeze. Its tall, arching stems form a dense display, making it perfect for naturalistic plantings or pondside retreats.

Isolepis cernua (Fiber-Optic Grass)

If you're after something unique, try Isolepis cernua (Fiber-Optic Grass). While not as tall as some, it pairs beautifully with other grasses to create a tiered effect, softening the base of higher plantings.

Carex Frosted Curls

Carex Frosted Curls shines in massed plantings, offering shimmering silver foliage that cascades elegantly. Use it in conjunction with taller species to create a layered privacy screen that's both beautiful and effective.

Lomandra White Sands

For year-round interest and robust performance, Lomandra White Sands bursts with variegated foliage and forms sturdy clumps. Its tolerance of drought and coastal conditions makes it a popular option for low-maintenance privacy.

How to Plant and Maintain Your Ornamental Grasses

To achieve the best privacy, space your tall ornamental grasses for privacy closely, allowing them to grow together into a living wall. Most grasses thrive in free-draining soil and full sun, but be sure to check each variety’s preferences. Regular watering during establishment and a yearly tidy-up keep your screen healthy and looking its best.

Whether you want to create secluded relaxation zones, enhance your boundary, or simply enjoy the beauty of swaying foliage, tall ornamental grasses for privacy offer a practical and stylish solution for all New Zealand gardens. Discover our full range of ornamental grasses and transform your outdoor space into a private retreat.

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.
Our garden favourites Ficus benjamina variegata and Anemanthele lessoniana (Pheasant's Tail Grass) get lots of love, but don’t miss out on a few lesser-known delights: Olive El Greco, Rose Raspberry Ice, and Hebe 'First Light'.
–The Plant Company

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