Choosing planting

5 red ornamental grasses to colour your garden

The most beautiful red-leaved grasses

Contents

Modified the 12 January 2026 by Virginie T. 4 min. Difficulty: Beginner

In the broad family of ornamental grasses, there are some with red foliage. They are distinguished by their ribbon-like leaves, ranging from orange-red to blood red, through burgundy. Some find their place in small gardens and within perennial borders or among low shrubs, others in the heart of wild meadows with other tall grasses. Most are versatile, adapting to a wide range of garden situations, and even in pots. Whether deciduous or evergreen, they fit in anywhere, bringing a fabulous touch of warm colour to any décor. They form lovely associations with many plants, in wild, naturalistic or contemporary gardens. They are undemanding, and easy to grow and maintain. Discover our selection of the most beautiful ornamental grasses with red foliage to plant in the garden or in pots!

Difficulty

Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'

Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’, or “Japanese blood grass”, is characterised by its long olive-green variegated leaves whose tips turn blood-red from early summer. The flower spikes, discreet, appear in summer and are less conspicuous than the foliage. It forms a neat, upright clump that does not exceed 50 cm in height. Hardy down to -20°C, it will grow almost anywhere. It prefers well-drained, cool to moist soil and full sun, which will intensify its fiery colours. It can be used as groundcover along pond margins or in mixed borders where it will provide colour contrasts. It remains a compact grass, handy for pot plantings. On the sunny margins of a pond, it will contribute to a superb autumn display, alongside Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Bloody Mary’ with its very colourful, vivid red spikes.

In the foreground on the right, Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’. On the right, close-up of the foliage

Panicum virgatum 'Hot Rod'

Here is another compact grass, not exceeding 1 m in all directions, exceptionally colourful. Native to the fertile plains of the American Midwest, the Panicum virgatum ‘Hot Rod’ also features deciduous foliage with striking colour changes. Its young leaves emerge blue-green before quickly turning red at the start of summer, then to a reddish hue as autumn approaches. It grows in a neat, upright clump, yet flexible. It is particularly valued for its erect habit and vibrant colours. The flowering, in tones of brown, bronze and purple, occurs in late summer, in the form of airy panicles of flowers with a feathery texture. Very adaptable, hardy to -20°C, it tolerates a wide range of soils, resists drought, cold, salt spray, and thrives in sun. It adapts well to a pot on the terrace as well as in the ground in a sunny border. It suits contemporary gardens and gravel gardens. In an urban and modern garden, it will soften the strict lines. You will achieve an exotic effect by pairing it with the Phormium ‘Pink Panther’ or the Phormium tenax ‘Pupureum’, with lush purplish foliage. In the same vein, Panicum virgatum ‘Sangria’ is a new variety whose foliage is largely blood-red.

red-burgundy-purple grasses

Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'

Besides its warm colour, the Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ is less hardy in cold weather. This grass with feathery spikes is ideal for punctuating planting beds, borders along paths or rock gardens in mild climates. Not very hardy, it is most commonly grown as an annual, and its compact size makes it suitable for container planting. It forms a fountain of arching leaves, burgundy-coloured, about 1 m tall in bloom and 30 cm wide. It carries particularly rich colours varying with exposure, from deep red-purple to chocolate, almost black if grown in full sun. Flowering takes place from summer to early autumn, with feathery spikes in pink-purple to reddish hues. This Pennisetum prefers well-drained soil and full sun to develop its distinctive colour. In an exotic and elegant pairing, it will gently encircle the base of a Dahlia ‘Happy Single Kiss’ whose salmon-coloured flowers contrast with the Dahlia’s very dark bronze foliage.

red-purple fountain grass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Miss'

Another remarkably colourful grass forming a two-tone clump!This compact Chinese reed features very fine, deciduous foliage, green at the centre of the clump, while the outer leaves take on red to purple hues from May to November.The Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Miss’ forms a fountain of linear leaves, both upright and slightly trailing, not exceeding 80 cm in height and 50 cm in width. Flowering occurs in late summer, with plume-like flowers that are rose-silver turning red in cold weather. It prefers a rich, well-drained soil with sun or partial shade. It is hardy to -20°C. With its fantastic colour and graceful habit, it is perfect for small spaces, rock gardens or even container gardening. This Miscanthus pairs easily with summer-flowering perennials such as Heleniums or Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’ with bright red blooms that will make good companions beside it in autumn.

ornamental grass with red foliage

Uncinia rubra ‘Everflame’

The Uncinia rubra ‘Everflame’ stands out for its evergreen foliage of a unique reddish colour. The leaves, in fiery tones, are variegated with cherry red, orange, coppery pink and bronze-green. Beautiful all year round, it grows in a dense, gracefully arching clump, reaching a height of 30 to 40 cm. The summer flowering is discreet. More frost-tender (-10°C at the extremes), it will favour mild gardens and those by the sea. It needs cool, moist soil and exposure in full sun or partial shade in the most exposed regions. It is particularly well suited for pots or as groundcover in damp areas where this “fire herb” can sit alongside Astilbe chinensis ‘Mighty Chocolate Cherry’ with bright red flowers and green foliage tinted with chocolate, or the Carexes with which it is closely related.

variegated foliage red and orange