Plant library · Ornamental Grasses
Saccharum ravennae
Ravenna Grass is a giant ornamental grass that makes its strongest statement as a tall, silvery-plumed vertical feature from late summer into fall. At about 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide, it has the scale for a major backdrop rather than a filler planting. Its clumping form and late-season display suit open, sunny parts of the garden where height can be seen from a distance.
Use Ravenna Grass at the rear of a broad border, along a property edge, or as a single accent set back from patios and paths. Its 10-foot height can create a strong seasonal screen, but it should not sit immediately beside a narrow walk, door, or seating area. Give the planting a clear viewing distance and preserve a route for cutting back the old growth in winter.
Plant on 5-foot centers, measuring from one crown to the next. That matches its roughly 5-foot mature spread, so a row will read as a continuous tall planting once established. Leave additional open ground on the path-facing side where possible: the mature clump occupies a substantial portion of the bed, and the tall stems need room without leaning into circulation space.
Reserve a full-sun position and plan it for a low-water part of the landscape. A well-drained site helps the stems remain more self-supporting; moist or highly fertile ground can make support necessary. Avoid placing it where routine irrigation for nearby plants will keep the root zone consistently wet.[1]
The plumes arrive from late summer into fall, extending the planting’s height and presence after many border plants have peaked. Keep the dry stems as part of the winter composition if desired, then allow enough access to cut the whole clump down near ground level in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.[1]
This grass is identified as weedy and potentially invasive in Midwestern gardens, including the St. Louis region. Before using it as a screen or repeated border plant, check local invasive-plant guidance and choose a site where unwanted seedlings can be noticed and removed. A single, accessible specimen is easier to monitor than a dense planting along an unmanaged boundary.[1]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.