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Grasses grow in a wide range of colors, but blue tones are among the most striking, especially when used as contrast in a landscape dominated by shades of green. Ornamental grasses also offer benefits such as low maintenance, as most species grow to a maximum size and don't require pruning. Blue grasses can be grown in small clusters, as focal points or specimen plants, or in large groups to form borders or living screens of moving, rustling color.
There are annual and perennial bluegrass plants. The perennial Kentucky bluegrass is a very common turfgrass that makes a green and lush lawn. The annual bluegrass is commonly called poa, and often takes up residence in a perennial lawn. It is considered a weed and has a rough clumping appearance that doesn't complement the smooth Kentucky bluegrass turf. This annual grass and many others can be controlled with herbicides, but due to the fact that they are all in the same family, Poaceae, the Kentucky bluegrass must be tolerant of the chemical used.
Small but graceful, blue and yellow-eyed grasses are plants to use in rock gardens, at the edges of beds and in pots where their beauty can be enjoyed nearby. Not grasses at all but members of the iris family, their clumps of narrow leaves have a grass-like effect but the 1/2-inch wide flowers look like tiny stars.
All vegetable plants are susceptible to a range of fungal diseases that can diminish crop yields. Corn crops in particular are commonly attacked by fungal diseases that can render harvested corn inedible because of the presence of harmful toxins. One such fungal disease of corn crops is blue-eye mold.
Juncus spiralis, commonly called corkscrew rush, grows in standing water and boggy areas. The foliage grows in a corkscrew or spiraling shape and reaches mature heights of 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall. The plant spreads gradually through underground roots. Juncus spiralis grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9, making it ideal for the cold climate water gardens, bogs and other landscape water features. The plant does not perform well in hot climates above zone 9.
Juncus plants are a variety of warm-season grasses also known as rushes. They grow in stands and can reach up to 2 feet tall. These rushes are resistant to drought and thrive in hot weather. They are common in coastal areas and the southern states, and can grow well in U.S. cold hardiness zones 4 through 9. Pruning warm-season rush grasses involves clipping them back to tidy up your fall garden. Pruning wilting grasses also prevents wild fires in warmer climates.
Corkscrew rush is a wetland or bog plant that grows in a clump and looks much like an ornamental grass. The foliage is long and twisting, growing out of the plant's center. Corkscrew rush is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 to 10 but may die back when temperatures become cold, re-sprouting in spring. Juncus effusus is found growing in flooded plains, damp ditches and freshwater wetlands on every continent. The rush is an acid lover that performs well in either sun or partial shade. Propagation is by periodic division in spring or by seed.
Juncus is a genus of grassy plants commonly known as rushes. Juncus spiralis is a evergreen perennial rush native to North America with common names like corkscrew rush and spiral rush. It has spiraling leafless stems, and grows to a height of 3 feet with a spread of 2 feet. Juncus spiralis requires constant moisture, and it is typically grown around ponds. Division is the most common method of propagating Juncus spiralis. The trees are reliably hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 through 9; they can grow in areas where the minimum temperature during the year is…
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum S. Watson) is a perennial prairie and meadow grass that resides in a variety of climates. The plant features 12- to 16-inch-long bright green leaves and small dark purple or blue spring flowers.
Juncus is the genus of plants commonly known as "rush plants," which grow naturally in temperate marshes and wetlands. They are often planted around the edges of farm and garden ponds, but are also grown in containers as houseplants or in normal garden beds as landscape pieces. Caring for juncus plants, no matter where you've planted them, is fairly easy because they are quite hardy as long as they are watered frequently. Most rush plants thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 8, but some grow in zones 9 and 10.
Kentucky Bluegrass thrives in cool, humid regions, specifically growing in the South and Western United States. It grows 18 to 24 feet tall and boasts a broad leaf tip. The roots grow best when the soil is 60 degrees F and decline when it gets warmer.
Juncus Inflexus Blue Arrow Grass is a warm-season grass that mixes in well with other ornamental grasses in a landscape. It gets its name from the blue-colored foliage.
Blue grama grass tolerates droughts as well as soil that contains some salinity and alkalinity. However, it does not fare well with shade, acidic soil or flooding. It is a perennial, warm-season grass that is common in the Southwest and Great Plains regions of the United States. You will find it growing on rocky slopes and open plains. Blue grama grass doesn't need much care. It is durable and mixes well with buffalo grass. When seeding blue grama grass, it's essential to prepare the site properly.
There are three basic varieties of bluegrass, including Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass and rough bluegrass. Of these three varieties, annual and rough bluegrass are considered weeds because they are lighter in color than other grasses and they grow rapidly. Some bluegrass plants are perennials and return yearly, while others are annuals and last only one season. If you desire complete eradication, killing the grass is the best option.
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), despite its name, is not a member of the grass family. Blue-eyed grass is a type of iris, a perennial that grows in many parts of North America with all the characteristics displayed by that family of plants. Blue-eyed grass has the narrow leaves of the average iris that develop at the base of a stalk. On the top of the stalk is a delicate showy flower.
Bitter Blue is one of several varieties of St. Augustine grass and is a popular choice for lawns in the United States. The grass is native to warm regions, such as the Caribbean and Mediterranean areas, but it does well in most parts of the U.S.
Blue oat is an ornamental grass that offers steel-blue foliage. It reaches a height of 2 feet and a width of 3 feet, and it resembles blue fescue. Blue oat grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones three to eight. The plant is easy to care for and maintain with minimal effort.
Blue grama is a native North American grass that can be used for erosion control, lawn and soil stabilization. It is tolerant to a wide range of soil conditions and even endures drought and burning. Blue grama is also used with other grasses but will not tolerate cool-season grasses. It is commonly found with buffalo grass. Growing blue grama from seed is simple given the right soil, grade and climate. Careful preparation of the soil prior to seeding will give the best results.
