Good ornamental grasses for Zone 6B include ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass, little bluestem, switchgrass, ‘Hameln’ dwarf fountain grass, maiden grass, prairie dropseed, blue fescue, Japanese forest grass and a range of sedges. Pink muhly grass is also a good choice if you can give it full sun and well-drained soil. All of these are generally hardy at Zone 6B winter lows, and all return each year.
What Zone 6B means
Zone 6b is the colder half of USDA zone 6, with average winter lows of about -5°F to 0°F. That is mild enough for almost all common perennial grasses. A few big, tender ones (true pampas grass, purple fountain grass) are not reliable at these temperatures, but most others are fine. For a fuller guide to the surrounding zones, see our overview of grasses for zones 5 and 6.
Tall grasses (about 4 feet and up)
- ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis × acutiflora): narrow and upright with wheat-colored plumes in early summer; it tolerates heavier soil better than many grasses.
- Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis, e.g. ‘Gracillimus’ or the more compact ‘Adagio’): a classic for screens and focal points. It can self-seed in some areas, so look for low-seeding cultivars and check local guidance.
- Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum, e.g. ‘Shenandoah’, ‘Northwind’): a native with airy flowers and good fall color.
Medium grasses (about 2 to 3 feet)
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium): blue-green leaves turning copper and red in fall; it likes lean soil.
- ‘Hameln’ dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides): soft plumes and gold fall color.
- Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris): a pink haze in fall; typically rated for zones 6 to 9, so 6b is near its colder limit. Plant it in a warm, sunny, well-drained spot (see how to grow pink muhly grass).
- Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis): a fine, arching mound with fragrant blooms.
Short grasses (under about 2 feet)
- Blue fescue (‘Elijah Blue’, ‘Boulder Blue’): icy-blue clumps for edging and rock gardens, best with sharp drainage.
- Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens): steel-blue and spiky.
- Dwarf fountain grasses, such as ‘Little Bunny’.
Shade
- Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra): arching gold or variegated foliage; best with part shade and even moisture.
- Sedges (Carex), such as ‘Everillo’, ‘Ice Dance’ and Pennsylvania sedge: tolerant of part shade and often semi-evergreen.
- Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium): tolerates light shade but self-seeds.
Tips for Zone 6B
- Plant in full sun with good drainage. Wet winter soil harms many grasses more than the cold does.
- Spring is the safest planting time, especially for warm-season grasses. Early fall also works if roots have time to settle before freeze-up.
- Leave the foliage standing over winter, then cut deciduous grasses back to a few inches in late winter or early spring.
- Divide crowded clumps in spring or early fall, depending on whether the grass is cool-season or warm-season.
For tall grasses that suit containers, see good tall grasses for pots.