With its striking “zebra” stripes, this ornamental grass is a total showstopper in any landscape. Because it can get pretty tall, it offers a ton of cool design possibilities for your yard. Here’s the lowdown on how high this grass grows and how to keep it looking sharp with the right pruning.
How High Does Zebra Grass Actually Get?
Don’t let the term “ornamental” fool you—this grass is anything but dainty! Depending on the variety, it can tower anywhere from six to nearly ten feet tall. This height really lets those unique horizontal stripes shine. Plus, because it gets so big, it’s a fantastic choice for creating a natural hedge or a living privacy screen.
There are a few different varieties out there to choose from. If you go with a variety that has an upright growth habit, the blades will shoot straight up toward the sky. Other types have more of a weeping or arching habit, which means they stay a bit shorter and look a lot bushier.
Here are a few popular varieties:
- Strictus: Grows very upright and straight.
- Cosmopolitan: A giant that can reach over ten feet tall.
- Adagio: Stays shorter and has a lovely bushy shape.
Care and Pruning Tips
If you want your zebra grass to reach its full potential, location is everything. It loves soil that’s a mix of loam and sand because it holds onto moisture well, which encourages healthy growth. To give it a real boost, make sure to prune it back almost to the ground in early spring before the new growth starts.
To keep those iconic stripes looking vibrant as the grass gets taller, there’s one thing you can’t skip: sunshine. Make sure your grass is in a spot that gets plenty of light. If it’s stuck in the shade, it might still grow tall, but those beautiful patterns will eventually start to fade away.
Zebra grass looks amazing planted directly in the garden as a privacy barrier, but it’s also a rockstar in large containers. You can set a pot on a sunny patio or balcony, and I promise it’ll be the first thing your guests notice!
