Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Where New Jersey meets the Mid-Atlantic, a grass for structure and bird seed, turning cotton-candy pink and standing 2–3 ft tall through the cold.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
- Home
- By state
- New Jersey
- Grasses
New Jersey · Zones 6–7
Native Ornamental Grasses in New Jersey
Native grasses and sedges that bring movement, winter structure, and bird seed — the matrix that ties a planting together. Every species here is genuinely native to New Jersey and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 6–7 — proven performers for New Jersey's humid, four-season climate across Pine Barrens & Piedmont, not a generic list. Local standouts include Pink Muhly Grass and Prairie Dropseed. Native grasses are the connective tissue of a natural planting, weaving between the flowers, holding the soil, and standing handsome through the whole winter. Warm-season grasses want full sun and lean soil and green up late, so don't give up on them in May. Cut everything back to a hand's height in late winter, just before new growth, and that's the entire job.
The plants
7 native species for New Jersey
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–7 · see this collection in other states.
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Where New Jersey meets the Mid-Atlantic, warm-season grass turning fine emerald to amber in fall and holding its form all winter, good through zone 8.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Where New Jersey meets the Mid-Atlantic, summer texture, blue-green to copper autumn color, and winter standing presence on a 2–4 ft-tall native grass.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Where New Jersey meets the Mid-Atlantic, movement in summer, bronze-purple seed heads color in fall — a native grass that holds all winter, good through zone 9.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Where New Jersey meets the Mid-Atlantic, soft motion in every breeze and seed for the birds, on a 6–12 in-tall native grass.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Where New Jersey meets the Mid-Atlantic, warm-season grass turning airy pink-gold panicles in fall and holding its form all winter, for sand, clay, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Where New Jersey meets the Mid-Atlantic, summer texture, bronze-gold plumes autumn color, and winter standing presence on a 4–7 ft-tall native grass.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Sourcing
Where to find these in New Jersey
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.