You can find ornamental grass seeds from online seed companies, native plant and prairie nurseries, large garden retailers and some local garden centers, especially in late winter and spring. Specialty native nurseries usually have the widest choice of true species, while general seed companies tend to sell a few popular ornamental grasses and mixes.
Where to buy
- Online seed companies. General seed retailers sell packets of popular ornamental grasses and annual ornamental grass mixes. Examples that appear in search results include Bulk Seed Store, Bulk Wildflowers, Summertime Seed, EverWilde Farms and Swallowtail Garden Seeds. Listing a company here is not an endorsement, so compare germination information, seed quality and shipping before you buy.
- Native plant and prairie nurseries. If you want little bluestem, switchgrass, big bluestem, Indian grass or blue grama, a nursery that specializes in native seed is usually the best source. Prairie Nursery is one that sells native grasses and seed mixes. Regional suppliers often sell seed from local sources, which can suit your climate better.
- Garden centers and hardware stores. In spring, seed racks usually include a few ornamental grasses, though selection is limited.
- Local seed swaps, native plant societies and botanical gardens. These sometimes sell or share seed collected from local plants, and are a good way to find uncommon species.
- Collecting your own. You can collect seed from grasses in your own garden in fall, once the seed heads are dry. Do not collect from wild areas without permission, and avoid collecting from plants that are protected.
What to check before you buy
- Species or cultivar? Many named cultivars, such as ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass, are sterile or do not come true from seed, so they are sold as plants, not seed. If a listing offers seed for a named cultivar, read it carefully.
- Hardiness. Make sure the grass is hardy in your zone, or accept that it will be an annual. Our guides to zones 3 and 4 and zones 7 and 8 list plants by climate.
- Annual or perennial. Some “ornamental grass” seed mixes are annuals that last one season.
- Invasive potential. Some ornamental grasses spread by seed. Check your state’s invasive plant list before sowing species that self-seed heavily, and see non-invasive ornamental grasses.
- Sowing instructions. Some native grasses benefit from cold, moist stratification, a period of chilling before sowing. The packet or supplier should say.
Which grasses grow well from seed
Many native and fast-growing species are reasonable from seed:
- Little bluestem, big bluestem, Indian grass and switchgrass
- Blue grama and sideoats grama
- Annual ornamental grasses and seed mixes, which are made for sowing
Seed-grown perennial grasses are usually small the first year. Expect to wait a season or two for a full-sized clump. Prairie dropseed is slow from seed and can take patience.
Which grasses are better bought as plants
Cultivars of Miscanthus, feather reed grass, fountain grass and many sedges are usually sold as divisions or container plants, since seed from them may not give the same plant. Once you have one, you can divide it for more. For small gardens, a handful of potted plants can be easier than raising seedlings. See our list of good ornamental grasses for Zone 6B for plants often sold in containers.
When and how to sow
Timing depends on whether the grass is warm-season or cool-season. In general:
- Warm-season grasses (bluestems, switchgrass, Indian grass, grama) are usually sown in spring once the soil has warmed.
- Cool-season grasses are often sown in spring or early fall.
- Species that need stratification can be sown in fall to let winter do the chilling, or chilled in the refrigerator before spring sowing.
Sow on prepared, weed-free soil with good sun, press the seed in lightly without burying it deeply (many grass seeds need light), and keep the area evenly moist until seedlings are established. Native prairie seed for larger areas is often broadcast and raked in lightly, a common approach when replacing a lawn with ornamental grasses.
For a bigger picture on native planting, see our guide to Midwest and native prairie grasses.