Best Grasses & Bamboo for Zone 7
21 varieties that thrive in USDA Hardiness Zone 7. Compare planting dates, growing difficulty, and find the best picks for your garden.
Varieties
21
for Zone 7
Beginner
15
easy to grow
Heirloom
2
heritage varieties
Container
11
pot-friendly
Zone 7 Coverage
Planting Timeline â All Varieties
Growing Grasses & Bamboo in Zone 7
Zone 7 offers a sweet spot for grass cultivation, with its moderate climate and generous 210-day growing season creating ideal conditions for both cool-season and warm-season varieties. The relatively late spring frost (around April 1st) and extended fall growing period until late October give you flexibility to establish lawns, plant ornamental grasses, and even experiment with borderline varieties that might struggle in colder zones. What makes Zone 7 particularly exciting is this transition zone status â you can successfully grow Northern favorites like Fine Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass alongside Southern staples like Bermuda and Zoysia.
The key to success in Zone 7 lies in understanding your specific microclimate and choosing varieties that match your intended use. For lawn applications, you'll want grasses that can handle both summer heat stress and occasional winter cold snaps. Ornamental grass enthusiasts will find Zone 7 perfect for dramatic specimens like Pampas Grass and Zebra Grass that provide year-round structure, plus delicate beauties like Japanese Forest Grass for shaded areas. The extended growing season also means you have two prime planting windows â early spring for cool-season varieties and late spring through early summer for warm-season types.
Variety Comparison
| Variety â | Days | Difficulty | Size | Type | Indoor | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Ryegrass | 50-70 | Very easy | 200 lb. | Heirloom | â | â |
| Bermuda Grass | â | Easy | Fine to medium texture blades | OP | â | â |
| Blue Fescue | â | Easy | 10-12 inch spread | OP | â | â |
| Carpetgrass | N/A | Easy | N/A | OP | â | â |
| Centipede Grass | N/A | Easy | Medium texture, moderate density | OP | â | â |
| Fountain Grass | â | Easy | Individual clumps 2-3 feet wide | OP | â | â |
| Japanese Forest Grass | â | Moderate | 18-24 inch spread | Hybrid | â | â |
| Japanese Sedge | N/A | Easy | Clumps 12-18 inches wide | Hybrid | â | â |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | â | Moderate | Medium-textured blades | OP | â | â |
| Little Bluestem | N/A | Easy | Clumps 12-18 inches wide | OP | â | â |
| Maiden Grass | â | Easy | Clumps 3-4 feet wide | Hybrid | â | â |
| Mondo Grass | â | Easy | Spreads 8-12 inches wide per plant | OP | â | â |
| Monkey Grass | â | Very easy | Clumps 12-18 inches wide | OP | â | â |
| Northern Sea Oats | N/A | Easy | Clumps 18-24 inches wide | OP | â | â |
| Ornamental Blue Oat Grass | N/A | Easy | Clumps 18-24 inches wide | OP | â | â |
| Pampas Grass | â | Easy | Plumes 1-3 feet long | OP | â | â |
| Perennial Ryegrass | N/A | Easy | Dense, fine-textured blades | Hybrid | â | â |
| Purple Top Timothy | 60-90 | Easy | Dense cylindrical seed heads 2-6 inches long | Heirloom | â | â |
| St. Augustine Grass | N/A | Easy to moderate | Coarse, broad blades | Hybrid | â | â |
| Zebra Grass | â | Easy | Clumps 4-5 feet wide | Hybrid | â | â |
| Zoysia Grass | â | Easy once established | Fine to medium texture | OP | â | â |
Variety Details
Annual Ryegrass
Ryegrass is a great nitrogen scavenger and can assimilate as much as 200 lb./acre/year of nitrogen. Most of that nitrogen then becomes available to subsequent crops, thus saving on fertilizer input. Annual ryegrass is a very competitive winter annual, with good seedling vigor, fast germination (with adequate moisture) and rapid establishment. Annual ryegrass is a bunch grass, yellowish-green at the base, with long glossy green leaves up to 12" each. It will overwinter in certain years. When used as a cover crop, annual ryegrass is killed in the spring before it reaches seed formation stage. Sow from early spring through late summer. As winter cover, ryegrass will winter kill, but still help protect the soil. Sow, then rake to lightly cover.
Bermuda Grass
A warm-season perennial grass prized for its exceptional drought tolerance and ability to create a dense, durable lawn that withstands heavy foot traffic. This aggressive spreader quickly fills in bare spots and recovers rapidly from damage, making it ideal for active families and sunny locations. Its fine texture and vibrant green color create an attractive carpet-like appearance when properly maintained.
Blue Fescue
A compact ornamental grass that forms perfect blue-silver tufts, adding cool-toned color and fine texture to rock gardens, borders, and contemporary landscapes. This drought-tolerant Mediterranean native maintains its striking blue color year-round and produces delicate flower spikes that add movement and interest to the garden.
Carpetgrass
A creeping, low-maintenance grass that forms a dense carpet-like lawn in the humid Southeast. Carpetgrass thrives in wet, acidic soils where other grasses fail, making it ideal for low-lying areas and coastal regions. Its aggressive spreading habit quickly fills in bare spots, creating a uniform, soft lawn that's perfect for areas with challenging drainage.
Centipede Grass
Often called the 'lazy man's grass,' this low-maintenance warm-season variety thrives with minimal fertilization and care. Its naturally slow growth means less mowing, while its dense, medium-textured appearance creates an attractive, uniform lawn. Perfect for homeowners who want a beautiful lawn without the high-maintenance requirements of other grass types.
Fountain Grass
A stunning ornamental grass that creates dramatic focal points with its arching foliage and distinctive bottlebrush plumes that dance in the breeze. This low-maintenance perennial grass offers four seasons of interest, turning golden-tan in fall and providing winter structure before fresh green growth emerges in spring.
Japanese Forest Grass
An exquisite shade-loving ornamental grass with cascading golden-yellow leaves striped with green that brings luminous color to dark garden corners. This graceful Japanese native moves beautifully in the slightest breeze and turns bronze-pink in fall, making it one of the most sought-after ornamental grasses for shade gardens.
Japanese Sedge
An elegant evergreen sedge with distinctive cream-edged leaves that brightens shady areas year-round. This low-maintenance groundcover forms neat clumps and tolerates both wet and dry conditions, making it incredibly versatile for problem areas.
Kentucky Bluegrass
The quintessential cool-season lawn grass that creates the classic American lawn with its rich blue-green color and soft, dense texture. Self-repairing through underground rhizomes, it forms a luxurious carpet that feels wonderful underfoot and maintains its beauty through spring and fall. This premium grass is the gold standard for northern lawns where its cold tolerance and lush appearance make it unmatched.
Little Bluestem
A native prairie grass that transforms from blue-green summer foliage to brilliant orange-red fall color. This adaptable bunch grass is perfect for naturalized areas and provides four-season interest with fluffy white seed heads that persist through winter.
Maiden Grass
An elegant ornamental grass that creates stunning focal points with its graceful, fountain-like form and silvery plumes that catch the light beautifully. This refined cultivar features narrow, arching leaves with a distinctive white midrib that adds year-round interest to the landscape. Maiden grass provides four-season beauty, from fresh spring growth to gorgeous fall color and winter structure.
Mondo Grass
A versatile evergreen ground cover that forms dense, dark green carpets perfect for edging, borders, and areas where traditional grass struggles. Despite its name, this hardy plant is actually a lily family member that maintains its rich color year-round and requires minimal maintenance once established.
Monkey Grass
A versatile evergreen perennial that forms neat clumps of arching, grass-like foliage topped with spikes of purple or white flowers. Despite its common name, this isn't a true grass but provides similar landscaping benefits with superior drought tolerance and shade performance. Monkey grass is the go-to choice for low-maintenance borders, groundcover, and problem areas where other plants struggle.
Northern Sea Oats
A graceful native grass prized for its distinctive flat, oat-like seed heads that rustle beautifully in the wind. Excellent for naturalizing and providing movement in the garden, this adaptable grass thrives in both sun and shade with stunning fall color.
Ornamental Blue Oat Grass
A stunning ornamental grass that forms perfect blue-gray clumps with graceful arching foliage. This drought-tolerant perennial produces delicate oat-like seed heads that dance in the breeze, making it a favorite for modern landscape design and xeriscaping.
Pampas Grass
A dramatic ornamental grass that creates stunning focal points with its towering plumes of creamy-white to pink feathery flowers. This fast-growing perennial forms impressive clumps that add movement and texture to landscapes while providing excellent privacy screening. The showy plumes are highly prized for dried flower arrangements and last for months when cut.
Perennial Ryegrass
A fast-establishing, cool-season grass that's perfect for high-traffic areas and quick lawn repairs. Known for its rapid germination and excellent wear tolerance, making it ideal for sports fields and family lawns. Its fine texture and bright green color provide an attractive lawn that can handle kids and pets.
Purple Top Timothy
A premium cool-season grass variety prized for its distinctive purple-tinged seed heads and excellent performance in northern climates. This hardy perennial forms dense, uniform stands that provide excellent ground cover and erosion control. Timothy grass is beloved by wildlife and creates a naturalistic meadow appearance that's perfect for eco-friendly landscaping.
St. Augustine Grass
A thick, luxurious warm-season grass that creates a dense, carpet-like lawn perfect for Southern climates. Known for its excellent shade tolerance and aggressive spreading habit, it quickly fills in bare spots to create a lush green lawn. Its broad, flat blades give it a distinctive coarse texture that many homeowners love for its tropical appearance.
Zebra Grass
A show-stopping ornamental grass famous for its distinctive horizontal yellow bands that create a striking zebra-like pattern across the green foliage. This eye-catching variety forms large, dramatic clumps that serve as living sculptures in the landscape, topped with feathery copper-colored plumes in fall. Zebra grass is perfect for gardeners who want to make a bold statement while enjoying easy-care, drought-tolerant beauty.
Zoysia Grass
An elegant warm-season grass that creates one of the most beautiful and low-maintenance lawns possible, with a dense, carpet-like texture that crowds out weeds naturally. Once established, this slow-growing grass requires minimal watering and fertilizing while providing excellent heat and drought tolerance. Its fine texture and rich green color make it a premium choice for homeowners wanting a gorgeous lawn with less work.
Zone 7 Growing Tips
Timing is everything in Zone 7, and you have distinct advantages for both spring and fall plantings. For cool-season grasses like Fescue varieties and Kentucky Bluegrass, plan your seeding for late August through mid-September when soil is still warm but air temperatures are cooling â this gives roots time to establish before winter dormancy. Spring planting works too, but get seeds down by early to mid-March, well before your April 1st average last frost, to take advantage of cool, moist conditions.
Warm-season varieties like Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede perform best when planted after soil temperatures consistently reach 65°F, typically late April through May in Zone 7. Don't rush these plantings â cold soil will significantly slow germination and establishment. For ornamental grasses, most can be planted in spring after frost danger passes, though fall planting of hardy varieties like Little Bluestem and Northern Sea Oats often produces stronger root systems by the following growing season.
Zone 7's biggest challenge is the transition between seasons, particularly the unpredictable spring weather patterns. Always have row cover or other protection ready for newly planted areas when late cold snaps threaten. Summer drought stress can also be significant, so focus on deep, infrequent watering during establishment and choose drought-tolerant varieties like Bahia Grass or Eco-Lawn Mix if water conservation is important.
Season Overview
Your extended growing season from April through October is a tremendous asset, giving newly planted grasses nearly seven months to establish strong root systems before winter dormancy. The April 1st average last frost date means you can typically begin spring planting activities in mid-March, while your October 30th first frost allows for late summer seedings to mature well into fall. This long season particularly benefits slow-establishing varieties like Zoysia and ornamental grasses that need time to reach maturity â what might be risky plantings in Zone 6 become reliable choices in Zone 7's forgiving climate.