Their fast growth rate makes them ideal for privacy hedges because new plants can rapidly fill in any gaps.

Moreover, ornamental grasses can be an economical way to achieve privacy on your property.

Here are the best types of ornamental grass that will add privacy and beauty to your landscape.

pampas grass

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Tip

When choosing ornamental grass, first verify that the variety is hardy in your climate.

Its clumping habit makes it ideal to grow as a hedge.

Water zebra grass regularly until its established.

Zebra grass plant with long thin blades of variegated golden and green leaves

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Then, it likely will only need watering during an extended dry spell.

Moreover, the plant can benefit from alayer of composteach year.

Water bamboo enough to keep it moderately moist.

Hardy clumping bamboo with golden yellow-green tortoiseshell pattern and green branches

The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy

Fertilizer usually isnt necessary, but a layer of compost can promote growth.

Keep in mind that all bamboo will spread and can be difficult to eradicate once established.

Pampas Grass

The tender variety of pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) can beinvasivein mild climates.

Pampas grass with tan colored plumes on thin stems

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

This grass is drought tolerant and likely will only need watering during extended dry spells once its established.

Fertilizer also usually isnt necessary.

Pinkish-purple, feathery flower spikes grow above the leaves a couple feet in the summer.

Feather reed grass blowing in wind closeup

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

It grows to about 5 feet tall with a 2-foot spread.

The grass, including the popular’Karl Foerster’cultivar, needs above-average moisture conditions to thrive.

This grass prefers consistently moist soil, so regular watering often is necessary.

Big bluestem native grass with tall and thin bluish-green stems

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Cut back the plant either in the fall or early spring to promote new growth.

Neither deer nor drought can faze this tough grass.

Plant it in a sunny spot, and it will adapt to a range of soil conditions.

Purple fountain grass clustered together with fuzzy tan catkins on brown stems

The Spruce / Autumn Wood

Water young plants regularly.

Established plants are fairly drought tolerant and dont usually need watering.

Showy pink flowers appear in September and linger to give the garden some winter interest.

Switchgrass with tall dark yellow stalks clumped in bunches in sunlight

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Pink hair grass tolerates lean soil anddry conditionsand can help to ease erosion on slopes.

When given consistent moisture, the plant can grow taller.

This plant does best in full sun, though it can tolerate some shade.

New Zealand flax grass with thick yellow-green blades closeup

The Spruce / Letí­cia Almeida

And its foliage usually remains attractive through winter.

It grows in clumps that are around 3 to 5 feet in both height and spread.

Water a young plant once or twice a week until its established.

chinese silvergrass

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You likely wont have to water mature plants unless you dont get occasional rain.

Fertilizer isnt necessary, but it can boost growth.

It is an adaptable plant that grows in both moist and dry conditions.

River oats

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The grass tends to prefer sandy or clay soil and might flop in soil that is too rich.

Thus, it’s possible for you to skip fertilizer unless you have nutrient-deficient soil.

Switchgrass also is an important plant in the ecosystem, providing oil-rich seeds for birds in winter.

Porcupine grass

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Plant in full sun where the soil is fertile and moist.

This perennial does best when cut back in the spring before new growth arrives.

As long as it’s planted in an area with shade, this clump-forming grass should thrive.

Purple grass

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It also looks nice as it dries, making it a lovely addition to floral arrangements.

The purple seedheads that appear on the ends add to its unique look.

This grass, which is hardy in almost every USDA zone, does well in sun and heat.

Giant needle grass

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Pampas grass and Chinese silver grass are two of the tallest types of ornamental grass.

When you trim an ornamental grass, first, confirm it doesn’t have sharp edges.

If it does, put on gloves and take necessary precautions.

It may be easiest to tie the grass in a bundle before trimming with sharp garden shears.

Some types of ornamental grasses spread, while others clump.

Some kinds both clump and spread.