- bamboos
- Chinese reed
- pampas grasses
- moor grasses
- riding grass
- sedges
- More privacy grasses
- frequently asked Questions
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In order to achieve privacy with grasses and ornamental grasses in pots, they should grow densely and at least one meter high, depending on the height of the pot. The most popular and beautiful specimens are listed below.
In a nutshell
- Winter, summer and evergreen grasses available
- often not a reliable privacy screen in winter
- almost all specimens need protection from the cold despite winter hardiness
bamboos
Umbrella bamboo (Fargesia rufa)
- growth: very dense and broad; upright
- Growth height: between 200 and 300 centimeters
- Flower: very rare; then the plant dies
- Location: partially shaded; tolerates sun, slightly acidic, well-drained soil rich in nutrients and humus
- Special features: evergreen; hardy; fast growing; use at least 40 liter buckets
Zigzag bamboo 'Spectabilis' (Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis')
- growth: compact; dense; upright
- Growth height: between 250 and 300 centimeters
- Flower: very rare; then the plant dies
- Location: partially shaded, tolerates sun; well-drained, nutrient- and humus-rich soil
- Special features: evergreen; hardy; lemon yellow foliage; Use at least 40 liter buckets (conical).
Chinese reed
Malepartus (Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus')
- growth: dense; upright flowers; overhanging leaves
- Growth height: between 180 and 200 centimeters
- Flower: reddish changing to silvery-white; August to October
- location: sun; sandy and humus-rich soil; pH: 5.5 to 7.5
- Special features: reddish culms; yellow autumn colour, fully grown from the third year
Elephant Grass/Jumbo Grass (Miscanthus x giganteus)
- growth: sprawling; upright; slightly overhanging
- Growth height: between 300 and 400 centimeters
- flower: red; October
- Location: sunny to semi-shady; Substrate fresh to moderately moist, sandy to loamy; pH value: neutral
- Special features: hardy; lime tolerant; autumn coloring; only suitable for large buckets
Large Fountain (Miscanthus sinensis "Big Fountain")
- growth: dense; arched inclined; erect flower stalks; very spreading
- Growth height: between 180 and 250 centimeters
- flower: silvery-white; August to October
- location: sunny; Soil fresh to moderately moist, sandy to loamy
- Special features: very fast-growing; deciduous; no offshoots
Porcupine grass/zebra reed 'Strictus' (Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus')
- growth: dense; upright; slim shape
- Growth height: between 130 and 150 centimeters
- flower: brown; September to October; only in warm, sheltered locations
- location: sunny; normal substrate with moderate moisture
- Special features: cross-striped green-yellow foliage; ideal for "hedge design" in pots
pampas grasses
American pampas grass/silver grass (Cortaderia selloana)
- Growth: curved; upright
- Growth height: between 90 and 250 centimeters
- flower: silvery-white; September to October
- location: sunny; fresh, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: hardy; needs wide bucket
Pampas grass "Citaro" (Cortaderia selloana "Citaro")
- Growth: taut; erect inflorescences
- Growth height: between 200 and 250 centimeters
- flower: white-yellow; August to November
- location: sunny; fresh, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: imposing appearance; hardy
Tip: High-growing ornamental grasses such as pampas grass and bamboo are almost all hardy, but they usually need protection from the cold. To do this, simply tie the leaves together loosely in a bundle.
Pampas grass "Rosea" (Cortaderia selloana "Rosea")
Source: Photo by David J. Stang, Cortaderia selloana Rosea 1zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Growth: curved foliage; sweeping
- Growth height: between 80 and 180 centimeters
- flower: pink; September to October
- location: sunny; fresh, well-drained, very nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: gray-green foliage color; hardy
Pampas grass "White Feather" (Cortaderia selloana "White Feather")
- Growth: curved; erect inflorescences
- Growth height: between 90 and 250 centimeters
- flower: silver-white; September to October
- location: sun; fresh substrate rich in humus and nutrients
- Special features: hardy with cold protection; silky flower fronds Spanish reed (Arundo donax)
"Mother" of the pole reeds (Arundo donax)
- Growth: rhizomes; curved foliage; upright stems
- Growth height: between 300 and 400 centimeters
- flower: delicate white; July to August; rarely blooms during hot summer months
- location: sun; fresh, well-drained soil rich in nutrients and humus
- Special features: high space requirement between two and three meters, hardy
Tip: The roots of the reed are growing enormously. Also use a root barrier when planting in tubs, otherwise the rhizomes will press so hard against the tub walls that they will quickly break.
'Variegata' reed (Arundo donax 'Variegata')
- Growth: upright and curved foliage
- Growth height: between 200 and 300 centimeters
- flower: brown; July to August; rarely blooms during hot summer months
- location: sun; fresh, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: requires a large bucket; grey-green foliage striped white lengthwise; is more sensitive to frost than other varieties
moor grasses
Tall moor grass 'Windspiel' (Molinia arundinacea 'Windspiel')
- Growth: taut, upright flower stalks
- Growth height: between 60 and 250 centimeters
- flower: yellow-brownish; August to October
- Location: sun to semi-shade; fresh, moist, well-drained and nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: golden-yellow autumn colour; hardy
Reed moor grass (Molinia arundinacea)
Source: Stefan.lefnaer, Molinia arundinacea sl13, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- growth: grass-like; minimally arching foliage; erect inflorescences
- Growth height: between 90 and 250 centimeters
- flower: yellow-brownish; July to September
- Location: sun to semi-shade; fresh to moist and nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: attractive autumn colors; hardy; relatively small stature
Giant moor grass "Transparent" (Molinia arundinacea "Transparent")
- growth: grass-like; slightly curved foliage; erect inflorescences
- Growth height: between 50 and 200 centimeters
- flower: yellow-brownish; August to September
- Location: sun to semi-shade; fresh to moist, permeable and nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: golden-yellow autumn colour; hardy
riding grass
Reed grass "Karl Foerster" (Calamagrostis x acutiflora "Karl Foerster")
Source: Photo by David J. Stang, Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster 0zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Growth: upright; clump-forming; tight
- Growth height: between 80 and 120 centimeters
- flower: yellow, red; June to August
- Location: sun to semi-shade; Soil sandy to loamy, moderately dry to fresh; pH value: neutral
- Special features: hardy
Reed grass "England" (Calamagrostis x acutiflora "England")
- growth: bushy; taut, upright flower stalks, dense foliage
- Growth height: between 100 and 150 centimeters
- flower: yellow-brownish; June to July
- Location: sun to semi-shade; moderately dry to moist, loamy-sandy and nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: hardy
Reed grass "Overdam" (Calamagrostis x acutiflora "Overdam")
Source: F.D. Richards from Clinton, MI, Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam' 6 2022 Feather Reed Grass-(51264786804) edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- growth: bushy; tight-upright
- Growth height: between 80 and 130 centimeters
- flower: yellow-brownish; July to August
- Location: sun to semi-shade; moderately dry to fresh, nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: Foliage has vertical white stripes; good hardy; very decorative in winter
Tip: Due to the growth height of up to a maximum of 150 centimetres, the riding grasses offer ideal privacy protection in low-lying places, such as sandpits or paddling pools.
sedges
Cyprus grass sedge (Carex pseudocyperus)
Source: Christian Fischer, CarexPseudocyperus, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Growth: curved; dense; strong growth
- Growth height: between 50 and 100 centimeters
- flower: green; June to July
- Location: sun to semi-shade; nutrient-rich moist soil
- Special features: hardy; deciduous; lime intolerant
Palm frond sedge (Carex muskingumensis)
- Growth: slightly curved, upright, grassy, dense clumps
- Growth height: between 60 and 80 centimeters
- flower: brown; July to August
- Location: sun to semi-shade; nutrient-rich moist soil
- Special features: hardy; red-brown autumn color; deciduous; ideal for balcony box planting
Notice: Although the minimum growth height of one meter for a privacy screen is not given here, you should still know that the palm frond sedge is ideal as a privacy screen for larger balcony boxes.
Giant forest sedge (Carex pendula)
- growth: bushy; slightly bent; very close; strong growth
- Growth height: between 40 and 120 centimeters
- flower: green-brownish; June to July
- Location: partial shade to shade; fresh, moist, loamy soil; likes calcareous
- Special features: hardy; wintergreen
More privacy grasses
Pennisetum alopecuroides var. viridescens
Source: Photo by David J. Stang, Pennisetum alopecuroides Viridescens 1zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Growth: upright; foliage overhanging
- Growth height: between 60 and 120 centimeters
- flower: black-brown; August to October
- location: sun; sandy-loamy soil rich in humus and nutrients
- Special features: yellow autumn colour; deciduous; hardy
Fluffy feather grass (Stipa pennata)
- Growth: upright; slightly bent
- Growth height: between 25 and 100 centimeters
- flower: silver-white; June to July
- location: sun; moderately dry, well-drained soil
- Special features: evergreen; Wrap buckets with fleece in winter; undemanding; ideal for tall tubs
Nest Bluegrass (Sesleria nitida)
Source: 阿橋 HQ, Sesleria nitida -巴黎植物園 Jardin des Plantes, Paris- (9229787096), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Growth: nest-forming; declining stems and leaves
- Growth height: between 50 and 80 centimeters
- flower: light green; early April to late May
- Location: sun to semi-shade; moderately dry, humus-rich substrate
- Special features: very decorative due to filigree stems; slightly sensitive to frost; very popular tub grass
Switchgrass 'Northwind' (Panicum virgatum 'Northwind')
Source: Photo by David J. Stang, Panicum virgatum Northwind 3zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Growth: tightly upright; declining stems and leaves
- Growth height: between 120 and 140 centimeters
- flower: brown; July to September
- location: sun; well-drained, sandy-loamy soil
- Special features: yellow autumn colour; easy-care; robust; hardy; blue-green foliage color; deciduous
Bluegrass (Poa chaixii)
Source: Daderot, Poa chaixii - Berlin Botanical Garden - IMG 8535, edited by Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
- Growth: archingly inclined; upright stems
- Growth height: between 80 and 100 centimeters
- flower: yellow-green; June to August
- Location: sun to semi-shade; lime-poor, humus and nutrient-rich soil
- Special features: evergreen
Forest Zwenke (Brachypodium sylvaticum)
Source: Stefan.lefnaer, Brachypodium sylvaticum (subsp. sylvaticum) sl18, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Growth: slightly curved; erect inflorescences
- Growth height: between 40 and 130 centimeters
- flower: green; June to October
- Location: penumbra; sandy-loamy, well-drained soil
- Specialties: deciduous; hardy
frequently asked Questions
Why do grasses in buckets need protection against the cold?Because they lack the cold protection provided by thick layers of earth. The cold penetrates faster and easier through the bucket walls. In addition, ground frost rises unfiltered through the bucket bottom. This means that the cold quickly reaches the roots, which can subsequently suffer from frostbite.
Can several grass varieties or species be planted in one bucket?That depends on whether you can keep the required planting distance for the grasses and whether the bucket is big enough.
How can a high grass screen from the ground be achieved?If you want to create a kind of privacy wall with grasses in buckets, you should choose buckets with straight walls that you can place next to each other without gaps. It is best to put wide-growing grasses in the tubs, with the stalks growing into the neighboring grasses - like a hedge. It is important that you adjust the size of the bucket to the space required by the grass. If the stalks get in each other's way too much, you can cut/correct them as you wish.