650+Types of Grass Names

When people search for types of grass names, they may be looking for lawn grasses, ornamental varieties, native prairie plants, forage grasses, or simply a broad list of grass species to identify what they see growing. This guide brings those categories together in one place. You’ll find familiar lawn choices, warm- and cool-season grasses, decorative varieties, shade-loving options, drought-tolerant species, and useful agricultural grasses.

Popular Lawn Types of Grass Names for Everyday Yards

These familiar lawn grasses are commonly associated with home landscapes, playing areas, parks, and maintained green spaces.

1. Kentucky Bluegrass — Dense, classic cool-season turf.
2. Perennial Ryegrass — Quick-establishing, fine-textured lawn grass.
3. Tall Fescue — Tough, adaptable, deep-rooted turf.
4. Creeping Red Fescue — Fine grass suited to shade.
5. Chewings Fescue — Fine-textured, bunch-forming fescue.
6. Hard Fescue — Low-input, durable cool-season grass.
7. Sheep Fescue — Blue-green ornamental lawn option.
8. Rough Bluegrass — Cool-season grass for moist sites.
9. Creeping Bentgrass — Fine turf used on closely mown surfaces.
10. Colonial Bentgrass — Upright bentgrass for cool climates.
11. Velvet Bentgrass — Very fine, dense turfgrass.
12. Buffalograss — Low-growing warm-season native turf.
13. Blue Grama — Drought-tolerant native lawn grass.
14. Zoysiagrass — Dense warm-season lawn choice.
15. Bermudagrass — Heat-loving grass for sunny lawns.

Cool-Season Types of Grass Names for Cooler Climates

Cool-season grasses generally perform their strongest growth during cooler periods, making them important choices for many northern and transitional lawns.

1. Annual Bluegrass — Small, cool-season turf species.
2. Texas Bluegrass — Bluegrass adapted to warmer regions.
3. Canada Bluegrass — Hardy bluegrass for varied sites.
4. Supina Bluegrass — Shade-tolerant turf option.
5. Roughstalk Bluegrass — Moisture-loving cool-season grass.
6. Red Fescue — Versatile fine fescue species.
7. Strong Creeping Red Fescue — Rhizomatous fine fescue.
8. Slender Creeping Red Fescue — Fine-leaved spreading grass.
9. Highland Bentgrass — Upright cool-season bentgrass.
10. Redtop — Tall-growing bentgrass species.
11. Crested Wheatgrass — Hardy cool-season bunchgrass.
12. Alkaligrass — Grass adapted to alkaline conditions.
13. Meadow Fescue — Useful cool-season forage grass.
14. Festulolium — Fescue-ryegrass hybrid grass.
15. Virginia Wildrye — Native cool-season bunchgrass.

Warm-Season Types of Grass Names for Hot Sunny Areas

Warm-season grasses are especially useful where summer heat drives active growth and lawns need species adapted to warmer conditions.

1. St. Augustinegrass — Broad-leaved warm-season turf.
2. Centipedegrass — Slow-growing, low-input lawn grass.
3. Bahiagrass — Durable warm-season pasture and turf.
4. Seashore Paspalum — Coastal and salt-tolerant turf option.
5. Common Carpetgrass — Moist-site warm-season grass.
6. Tropical Carpetgrass — Warm-climate carpetgrass species.
7. African Bermudagrass — Bermudagrass species used in turf.
8. Hybrid Bermudagrass — Selected hybrid turf type.
9. Japanese Zoysiagrass — Dense, warm-season zoysia.
10. Manilagrass — Fine-textured zoysia species.
11. Korean Templegrass — Very fine zoysia type.
12. Seymourgrass — Warm-season tropical grass.
13. Durban Grass — Warm-climate turf species.
14. Queensland Blue Couch — Australian warm-season turf.
15. Kikuyugrass — Vigorous warm-season spreading grass.

Ornamental Types of Grass Names for Decorative Gardens

Ornamental grasses add texture, movement, height, and seasonal interest, making them useful around borders, beds, pathways, and landscape screens.

1. Feather Reed Grass — Upright, architectural growth.
2. Fountain Grass — Soft, fountain-like flower plumes.
3. Purple Fountain Grass — Dark foliage with feathery plumes.
4. Pink Muhlygrass — Airy pink flowering clouds.
5. Purple Lovegrass — Fine grass with purple seedheads.
6. Japanese Forest Grass — Graceful shade-loving foliage.
7. Northern Sea Oats — Flat, dangling seedheads.
8. Blue Oat Grass — Blue-gray ornamental clumps.
9. Maiden Grass — Tall, graceful landscape grass.
10. Porcupine Grass — Striped foliage with upright form.
11. Ravenna Grass — Very tall ornamental screen.
12. Plume Grass — Large, showy flowering heads.
13. Little Bluestem — Colorful native ornamental grass.
14. Indian Grass — Tall native grass with golden plumes.
15. Prairie Dropseed — Fine-textured native landscape grass.

Tall Types of Grass Names for Privacy and Screening

Tall grasses can create visual barriers, soften property boundaries, or provide vertical structure without relying entirely on shrubs and trees.

1. Giant Miscanthus — Large, upright screening grass.
2. Giant Chinese Silver Grass — Tall architectural miscanthus.
3. Giant Feather Grass — Large grass with airy heads.
4. Big Bluestem — Tall native prairie grass.
5. Switchgrass — Upright, adaptable screening species.
6. Eastern Gamagrass — Tall warm-season native grass.
7. Giant Reed — Fast-growing tall reed grass.
8. Chinese Silver Grass — Plumed ornamental screen.
9. Saccharum Plume Grass — Tall, dramatic landscape grass.
10. Ravenna Plume Grass — Large grass with silvery plumes.
11. Indiangrass — Golden flowering native grass.
12. Coastal Panicgrass — Warm-season native bunchgrass.
13. Canada Wild Rye — Arching seedheads and tall stems.
14. Western Wildrye — Tall native bunchgrass.
15. Great Basin Wildrye — Large grass for dry landscapes.

Shade-Friendly Types of Grass Names for Low-Light Spaces

Shady gardens need carefully selected plants, and several grass-like species and ornamental grasses can perform better beneath trees or in filtered light.

1. River Oats — Attractive shade-loving seedheads.
2. Hakone Grass — Graceful Japanese woodland grass.
3. Golden Wood Millet — Bright foliage for shade.
4. Tufted Hairgrass — Fine foliage and airy heads.
5. Eastern Bottlebrush Grass — Native woodland grass.
6. Pennsylvania Sedge — Low groundcover-like sedge.
7. Palm Sedge — Architectural shade-loving foliage.
8. Carnation Sedge — Tough ornamental sedge.
9. Eastern Star Sedge — Compact woodland groundcover.
10. Porcupine Sedge — Upright sedge for moist shade.
11. Long-Stalked Sedge — Small, delicate woodland plant.
12. Woodrush — Evergreen-looking woodland foliage.
13. Bowles Golden Sedge — Golden foliage for shaded gardens.
14. Blue Fescue — Compact blue-green grass.
15. Blue Oatgrass — Textured grass for lighter shade.

Drought-Tolerant Types of Grass Names for Water-Wise Landscapes

For dry landscapes, grass selection should consider local climate, soil, sunlight, and establishment needs rather than relying on a single “drought-proof” choice.

1. Indian Ricegrass — Native grass for dry soils.
2. Desert Needlegrass — Drought-tolerant native bunchgrass.
3. Needle-and-Thread Grass — Fine native prairie grass.
4. Mexican Feather Grass — Delicate, drought-adapted texture.
5. Red Grama — Small grass for dry sites.
6. Threeawn Grass — Native grass for dry landscapes.
7. Palmer’s Saltgrass — Grass adapted to saline soils.
8. Western Wheatgrass — Hardy native grass.
9. Sandberg Bluegrass — Small dryland bluegrass.
10. Buffalograss — Water-conscious warm-season turf.
11. Blue Grama Grass — Low-water native lawn option.
12. Crested Wheatgrass — Hardy dryland bunchgrass.
13. Great Basin Wildrye — Tall grass for dry regions.
14. Side-Oats Grama Grass — Attractive drought-adapted native.
15. Prairie Junegrass — Small native grass for dry ground.

Native Prairie Types of Grass Names for Natural Landscapes

Native prairie grasses can create a more natural appearance while supporting regionally appropriate landscape designs and habitat goals.

1. Big Bluestem Grass — Iconic tall prairie species.
2. Little Bluestem Grass — Shorter colorful prairie grass.
3. Indian Grass — Golden-headed warm-season native.
4. Switch Grass — Upright prairie landscape favorite.
5. Blue Grama Grass — Short, drought-adapted prairie grass.
6. Side-Oats Grama — Distinctive one-sided seedheads.
7. Prairie Dropseed Grass — Fine texture and graceful form.
8. Prairie Cordgrass — Tall grass for wetter prairie sites.
9. Sand Lovegrass — Fine native grass for sandy areas.
10. Purple Lovegrass — Purple-toned flowering grass.
11. Prairie Wedgescale — Native cool-season grass.
12. Alkali Sacaton — Grass adapted to alkaline soils.
13. Vine Mesquite — Warm-season native grass.
14. Scribner’s Panicum — Native panic grass.
15. Tumblegrass — Distinctive dryland native grass.

Meadow and Forage Types of Grass Names for Open Fields

Meadow and forage grasses are valued for pasture, hay, grazing systems, conservation plantings, and agricultural landscapes.

1. Orchardgrass — Popular cool-season forage grass.
2. Timothy Grass — Traditional hay and forage grass.
3. Smooth Bromegrass — Productive perennial forage.
4. Meadow Bromegrass — Adaptable pasture grass.
5. Tall Soft-Leaved Fescue — Soft-textured forage fescue.
6. Canarygrass — Tall perennial forage grass.
7. Intermediate Wheatgrass — Productive cool-season forage.
8. Meadow Foxtail — Moist-site pasture grass.
9. Crested Wheatgrass — Hardy grazing and conservation grass.
10. Tall Wheatgrass — Salt-tolerant forage option.
11. Western Wheatgrass — Native forage species.
12. Virginia Wildrye — Cool-season native forage.
13. Canada Wildrye — Arching native meadow grass.
14. Perennial Ryegrass — High-quality pasture grass.
15. Red Fescue Grass — Useful cool-season forage species.

Warm-Season Forage Types of Grass Names for Summer Growth

Warm-season forage grasses can provide useful summer growth when cool-season pastures slow down, although management requirements vary considerably among species.

1. Switchgrass Forage — Perennial warm-season forage.
2. Big Bluestem Forage — Tall native grazing grass.
3. Little Bluestem Forage — Shorter native forage grass.
4. Indiangrass Forage — Productive native warm-season grass.
5. Coastal Panicgrass — Summer-growing perennial forage.
6. Eastern Gamagrass Forage — Tall native forage grass.
7. Bermudagrass Forage — Widely used warm-season forage.
8. Johnsongrass — Competitive summer forage grass.
9. Crabgrass — Annual summer forage option.
10. Goosegrass — Warm-season annual grass.
11. Pearl Millet — Summer annual forage grass.
12. Foxtail Millet — Short-season annual forage.
13. Sudangrass — Fast-growing summer forage.
14. Forage Sorghum — Tall summer forage crop.
15. Sorghum-Sudangrass — Hybrid summer forage grass.

Annual Types of Grass Names for Seasonal Planting

Annual grasses can be useful for seasonal forage, cover cropping, grain production, or temporary ground cover depending on the species and management system.

1. Annual Ryegrass — Quick cool-season annual.
2. Cereal Rye — Hardy winter annual grass.
3. Oat Grass — Common cool-season annual.
4. Barley Grass — Useful cereal grass.
5. Triticale Grass — Wheat-rye hybrid cereal.
6. Wheatgrass — Common cereal-related grass name.
7. Teff Grass — Fine warm-season annual.
8. Japanese Millet — Warm-season annual grass.
9. Pearl Millet Grass — Tall heat-loving annual.
10. Foxtail Millet Grass — Short-season millet type.
11. Proso Millet — Grain-producing annual grass.
12. Finger Millet — Traditional warm-climate cereal grass.
13. Barnyard Millet — Annual millet crop.
14. Browntop Millet — Useful warm-season annual.
15. Italian Ryegrass — Annual ryegrass form.

Beautiful Plume Types of Grass Names for Decorative Borders

Plume-producing grasses are especially useful when you want movement and changing texture rather than a conventional green lawn.

1. Karl Foerster Grass — Narrow upright feathered plumes.
2. Little Bunny Fountain Grass — Compact fountain grass.
3. Hameln Fountain Grass — Compact flowering cultivar.
4. Black Fountain Grass — Dark-toned ornamental form.
5. Fireworks Fountain Grass — Colorful striped foliage.
6. Ginger Love Fountain Grass — Soft ornamental fountain form.
7. Piglet Fountain Grass — Small fountain grass cultivar.
8. Northwind Switchgrass — Strong upright habit.
9. Standing Ovation Bluestem — Upright colorful native cultivar.
10. Blonde Ambition Grama — Decorative seedhead form.
11. Pink Crystals Ruby Grass — Pink flowering ornamental.
12. Purple Majesty Millet — Dark purple ornamental foliage.
13. Jade Princess Millet — Compact ornamental millet.
14. Beni-kaze Forest Grass — Colorful Japanese forest grass.
15. Aureola Forest Grass — Golden-striped woodland grass.

Blue and Silver Types of Grass Names for Modern Landscapes

Blue, gray, and silvery foliage can create strong visual contrast against green shrubs, colorful flowers, stone, and contemporary garden materials.

1. Elijah Blue Fescue — Compact blue foliage.
2. Beyond Blue Fescue — Strong blue ornamental color.
3. Cool as Ice Fescue — Pale blue-gray appearance.
4. Boulder Blue Fescue — Compact blue foliage.
5. Blue Hair Grass — Fine blue-green texture.
6. Blue Wheatgrass — Upright blue-toned foliage.
7. Blue Oat Grass — Clumping blue-gray leaves.
8. Silver Banner Grass — Bright variegated foliage.
9. Silver Feather Grass — Fine, silvery seedheads.
10. Silver Beard Grass — Soft ornamental texture.
11. Blue Switchgrass — Cool blue-green prairie foliage.
12. Blue Lyme Grass — Strong blue foliage.
13. Blue-eyed Grass — Grass-like ornamental flowering plant.
14. Blue Hesperaloe Grass — Architectural blue-green form.
15. Glaucous Wildrye — Blue-gray native grass.

Fragrant and Useful Types of Grass Names for Home Gardens

Some grass species are grown not only for appearance but also for fragrance, culinary use, fiber, erosion control, or other practical purposes.

1. Lemongrass — Citrus-scented culinary grass.
2. Citronella Grass — Aromatic tropical grass.
3. Vetiver Grass — Fragrant-rooted erosion-control plant.
4. Palmarosa Grass — Aromatic essential-oil grass.
5. Ginger Grass — Fragrant tropical grass.
6. Khus Grass — Traditional name for vetiver.
7. Napier Grass — Tall fodder and biomass grass.
8. Elephant Grass — Large, productive tropical grass.
9. Guinea Grass — Tall tropical forage grass.
10. Molasses Grass — Warm-climate forage species.
11. Gamba Grass — Tall tropical forage grass.
12. Para Grass — Moisture-loving forage grass.
13. Signal Grass — Tropical pasture grass.
14. Rhodes Grass — Drought-adapted tropical forage.
15. Guinea Millet Grass — Tropical grass used for forage.

Less familiar names can be especially helpful when identifying wild grasses, unusual ornamentals, or species encountered outside ordinary lawns.

1. Eastern Gamagrass — Corn relative with grass-like form.
2. Bottlebrush Grass — Distinctive bottlebrush seedheads.
3. Mosquito Grass — Small native ornamental grass.
4. Indian Ricegrass — Fine desert bunchgrass.
5. Prairie Sacaton — Tall native bunchgrass.
6. Saltmeadow Cordgrass — Coastal wetland grass.
7. Prairie Cordgrass — Robust wet-soil native.
8. Marshhay Cordgrass — Wetland-forming perennial grass.
9. Eastern Gammagrass — Tall native warm-season species.
10. Sand Dropseed — Grass adapted to sandy habitats.
11. Prairie Sandreed — Native grass of sandy ground.
12. Switch Cane — Bamboo-like native grass.
13. River Cane — Native bamboo-forming grass.
14. Giant Cane — Large bamboo-like grass.
15. Reed Canarygrass — Tall moisture-loving grass.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the main types of grass?
The broad groups include cool-season turfgrasses, warm-season turfgrasses, ornamental grasses, native prairie grasses, forage grasses, and annual grasses.

2. Which grass is best for a lawn?
There is no universal choice. Climate, sunlight, soil, traffic, water availability, and maintenance expectations should guide the selection.

3. What is the difference between cool-season and warm-season grass?
Cool-season grasses generally grow strongest during cooler weather, while warm-season grasses are adapted to stronger growth during hot weather.

4. What grass is good for drought-prone areas?
Buffalograss, blue grama, certain fescues, Indian ricegrass, and other regionally adapted native grasses can be useful, depending on local conditions.

5. Which grass names are ornamental?
Examples include fountain grass, feather reed grass, maiden grass, pink muhlygrass, blue oat grass, little bluestem, and Japanese forest grass.

6. Are all grass-like plants actually grasses?
No. Sedges and rushes can resemble grasses but belong to different plant groups. For example, many Carex species are sedges rather than true grasses.

7. What should I consider before choosing a grass?
Look at your climate, soil drainage, sunlight, expected foot traffic, mowing needs, water availability, and whether you want turf, ornament, forage, or habitat.

8. Why are there so many different grass names?
Grass is a very large plant family containing many species, cultivars, regional common names, and specialized landscape or agricultural varieties.

Conclusion

The world of types of grass names is much broader than the familiar lawn grasses found around homes. From Kentucky bluegrass and bermudagrass to fountain grass, little bluestem, Indian ricegrass, and forage species, each type has different characteristics and potential uses. The best choice depends on what you want the grass to accomplish. Use the names in this guide as a starting point for identifying and researching the grasses suited to your particular space.