Pampas grass is hardy in zone 7 if given good drainage.
Ornamental grasses add a casual, naturalistic element to gardens, particularly to large landscapes. Gardeners in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zone 7 enjoy long, warm summers and average winter temperatures of only 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Many of the most versatile ornamental grasses thrive in zone 7's moderate climate.
Fountain Grass
Fountain grasses add movement to the garden.
Fountain grasses (Pennisetum alopecuroides) get their common name from the cascading habit of their leaves and flowers. Most fountain grasses grow 3 to 4 feet high and about as wide. The bottle brush-like seed heads sway in the slightest breeze. Fountain grasses grow best in well-drained soil in sun or light shade. Little Bunny is a dwarf cultivar suitable for edgings and rock gardens. Red fountain grass (P. setacum "Rubrum"), which is sold in the spring with bedding annuals, makes an excellent garden or container specimen, but is not winter hardy in zone 7.
Maiden Grass
One of the most commonly sold ornamental grasses, maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis) is also called Eulalia grass in the South. The leaves form a large, arching clump that's topped by feathery plumes in late summer or fall. The cultivar Zebrinus has yellow-striped leaves, while Gracillimus has very fine, green leaves with a silver stripe. Maiden grass seed heads dry well for winter decorations. Grow maiden grasses in full sun, as the the clumps open up in the middle in shade.
Northern Sea Oats
Northern sea oats are native to zone 7.
Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) is an ornamental grass native throughout the area covered by zone 7. The foliage resembles bamboo and is topped in the fall with distinctive, oat-like seed heads that change from green to copper as the season progresses. Northern sea oats grow 3 to 5 feet tall in sun or partial shade. They're a good choice for seaside plantings, and the seed heads dry well for winter arrangements.
Feather Reed Grass
Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) is most effective when planted in masses rather than as a solitary specimen. This 4- to 5-foot grass grows only 1 or 2 feet wide, making it a vertical accent in the garden. The most commonly seen cultivar is Karl Foerster, with green leaves and golden seed heads in mid- to late-summer. Plant feather reed grass with other late-season plants like black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), stonecrops (Sedum) or Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium) for a beautiful finish to the gardening season. Feather reed grass grows best in full sun and moist soil.
Other Suitable Grasses
Several cultivars of pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) thrive in zone 7 if planted in well-drained soil. Look for Pumila, a 5- to 7-foot variety, Patagonia, with 7-foot plumes, or Bertini, a 4-foot dwarf. Blue fescue (Festuca ovina var. glauca) forms small clumps of fine, blue leaves topped with tan seed heads in midsummer. Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) has stiff, upright leaves, but the delicate fall flowers look like a purple haze has settled over the plant. Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) is another upright grass, but the flower stems on switchgrass also grow stiffly upright, giving the whole plant a distinctly vertical appearance. The cultivar Heavy Metal has metallic blue leaves.
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