FERNS
Adiantum pedatum
Maidenhair Fern
Ht. 12-24". Requires wet to mesic,
well-drained, high organic soils. Part shade to shade.
Delicate, bright green lacy leaves. Black stems. Excellent
in a shady rock or water garden. Zone 3-4.
Athyrium filix-femina
Lady Fern
Ht. 18-24". Wet to mesic, well-drained
rich loam soils. Part sun to shade Protect from afternoon
sun. Soft, fine textured foliage. Vase shaped form.
Rhizomatous. Zone 4-5.
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ostrich Fern
Ht. 2-4'. Wet to mesic, acidic loam
soils. Full sun to shade. Vase shaped with large feather-like fronds. Wonderful in a massing or as a
specimen. Zone 3-4.
Onoclea sensibilis
Sensitive Fern
Ht. 1-2'. Moist humus soils. Full sun
to shade. Sufficient moisture is necessary in sunny
locations. Deeply pinnatifid. Found in marshes and moist
meadows. Rhizomatous. Zone 3-5.
Osmunda cinnamomea
Cinnamon Fern
Ht. 3-4'. Mesic soils. Part sun to
shade. Erect fronds become cinnamon brown. Found in
marshes, swamps, and moist forests. Flood tolerant. Zone 3-5.
GRASSES & SEDGES
Andropogon gerardii Big Bluestem
Ht. 3-8' W 18". Wet to dry loam/clay soils. Full sun to part
shade. "Turkey foot" shaped flower/seed head. Bronze-silvery
blue fall color. Clump forming. Excellent for erosion control. Warm season. Zone 3-5.
Bouteloua curtipendula Side-Oats Grama
Ht. 2-3' W 18". Prefers dry-mesic sandy or loam soils.
Prefers full sun to partial shade. A classic prairie grass
that is excellent for your garden. Perfect for massing with
shorter wildflowers and grasses. Clump. Warm season. Zone
3-4.
Calamagrostis canadensis Blue Joint Grass
Ht. 3-5'. Wet to moist soils. Full sun to light shade.
Graceful and attractive seed plumes in Fall. Found in wet
prairies and marshes. Cool season. Zone 3-5.
Carex bebbii Bebb's Sedge
Ht. 2-3' W 18". Wet
to moist soils. Full sun to part shade. An wonderful, clump forming
sedge for wetland restoration, lake shores and rain gardens. An
essential food source for many birds and waterfowl.
Cool season. Zone 3-4.
Carex crinata Fringed Sedge
Ht. 2-5'. Wet to moist soils. Full sun to part shade.
Attractive nodding seed head. Light green arching foliage.
Clump forming. Cool season. Zone 4-5.
Carex pennsylvanica Pennsylvania Sedge
Ht. 6-12" x spread. Mesic-dry sand/loam soils. Full sun-part
shade. Graceful arching dark green foliage.
Excellent for massing in woodland gardens. Rhizomatous
roots. Cool season. Zone 4-5.
Carex sprengelii Sprengel's Sedge
Ht.1-2' W 18". Mesic -wet mesic soils. Full sun to part shade. Long,
slender stalks. Often found in sugar maple forests and rich woodlands. Zone
3-4.
Carex stricta Tussock Sedge
Ht. 1-3'.
Wet to moist soils. Full sun. Graceful, fine
textured foliage. Clump forming.
Useful in wetland and
shoreline restoration, as well as raingardens. Cool season. Zone 2-5.
Hierchloe odorata
Sweet Grass
Ht. 1-2'
x spread. Wet to moist soils. Full sun. Sweet
aromatic fragrance. Leaves are used by Native Americans as
incense. Shorter than Canadian species. Rhizomatous. Cool
season. Zone 3-7.
Hystrix patula
Bottlebrush Grass
Ht. 3-4'
W 12". Mesic, well-drained soil. Full sun to light
shade. Attractive seed head. Found along woodland margins.
Cool season. Zone 3-5.
Juncus effusus Soft Rush
Ht. 2-4' W 18". Wet to moist soils. Full sun to part shade. Clump
forming. Flowered inflorescence appear on the sides of the stems in
July-August. Found in wet meadows, marshes and shorelines. Zone 3-4.
Juncus tenuis Path Rush
Ht. 2-14"
W 12". Prefers mesic to dry soils. Full sun to
part shade. Rhizomatous. Excellent for making a seamless
prairie garden. Cool season. Zone 2-5.
Koeleria macrantha June Grass
Ht. 1-2' W 12". Prefers dry loams or sandy soils. Full sun.
Silvery-green seed heads in early summer. Compliments small
wildflowers in your garden or prairie. Cool season. Zone
3-5.
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass
Ht. 4-5'
W 18". Prefers wet-mesic to mesic loam soils.
Tolerates dry soils. Showy delicate seed heads. Full sun to part shade. Readily self-seeds. Rhizomatous. Warm season.
Zone 3-5.
Schizachyrium scoparius Little Bluestem
Ht. 2-3' W 18". Mesic-dry soils. Full sun-part shade. Amber
with blue-red cast fall color. Does not over-shadow smaller
wildflowers and helps support floppy plants. Warm season.
Zone 4-5.
Sorghastrum nutans Indian Grass
Ht. 3-6' W 18".
Wet-mesic to dry loam soils. Full sun-part shade.
Clump forming. 6-10" dark golden plume-like flower panicles
bloom in August-September. Excellent behind garden borders.
Warm season. Zone 3-5.
Spartina pectinata Prairie Cordgrass
Ht. 6-8' W 24". Prefers wet to mesic soils. Full sun to part
shade. Tall stout stems with gracefully arching foliage.
Forms dense stands in wet prairies and along stream banks.
Bright golden color in autumn. Zone 4-5.
Sporobolus heterolepis Prairie Dropseed
Ht. 2-4' W 24". Mesic-dry sand/loam soils. Full sun-part
shade. Fine-textured leaves form fountain-like hummock.
Excellent for garden borders or massing. Warm season. Zone
3-5.