Grasses in buckets: 20 ornamental grasses suitable as privacy screens

In order for grasses in the tub to offer privacy protection in premium quality, there are fundamental requirements. When making your selection, please look out for species and cultivars with these attributes:

• minimum growth height: 100 cm
• maximum growth height: 250 cm
• very hardy, suitable for winter hardiness zones Z6 and Z5
• ideally evergreen

The local lighting conditions at the intended location determine the final decision. Please adjust the framework conditions on the balcony and terrace to the species-specific requirements of the favored ornamental grasses. The desired visual protection effect falls by the wayside if you assign grasses to a shady spot for full sun locations or place shade-loving grasses on the south-facing balcony.

Growth as a winter green ornamental grass is desirable, but not obligatory. Deciduous species and varieties gradually retract their stems in winter. Tied together in a tuft, the grasses still keep their composure and continue to offer the desired privacy screen in the bucket, decorated with decorative ears of corn.

Sun worshipers for the south-facing balcony

Chinese reed ‘Federweißer’, elephant grass (Miscanthus sinensis)

The premium variety ‘Federweißer’ shines with inimitable elegance as a curved, upright ornamental grass in the tub. The highlight of the annual splendor are silvery-white, fluffy panicles of spikes that magically attract the eye, but don’t let them through. In its Asian ranges, the verdant beauty is known as elephant grass because it is cultivated as a crop. In our regions, Chinese reed acts primarily as an ornamental and privacy plant for beds and balconies.

• Growth height: 150 to 180 cm
• Flowering period: August and September
• summer green

Feather grass, giant feather grass (Stipa gigantea)

Feather grass leaves the gardener in the dark about its status as a privacy plant until June. The narrow, green clumps of grass remain at a height of 40 centimetres. Just in time for the start of the outdoor season, majestic inflorescences rise above the tuft of grass, transforming the balcony and terrace into an undisturbed refuge. The taut ears of corn suggest filigree transparency without actually letting peeks through. After the end of the late summer flowering period, the dried ears of corn tower over the evergreen stalks for a long time, which guarantees unobserved lingering on the autumn balcony.

• Growth height: 150 to 180 cm
• Flowering period: June to August
• wintergreen

Pampasgras ‚Rosa Feder ‘(Cortaderia selloana)

The wonderful pampas grass ‘Rosa Feder’ is a prime example of an ornamental grass in a tub with a privacy function. The best planting time is in spring in a large pot with a volume of at least 20 litres. Thus, the time window is open long enough for the growth of upright culms, which gather in the stately, opaque eyrie. At the end of the summer, opulent, pink fronds rise with a furious long-distance effect. An interesting side effect is that the picturesque stalks of corn can be easily cut to conjure up pretty dried bouquets.

• Growth height: 180 to 200 cm
• Flowering time: September to November
• wintergreen

Rutenhirse ‚Northwind‘ (Panicum virgatum)

Switchgrass ‘Northwind’ already dresses up in summertime with delicate, veil-shaped spike flowers. By this time, the upright, linear, pointed blades of grass in the bucket have long since reached the height of the privacy screen. The sunnier the location, the more magnificently the robust grass species of the North American high-grass prairies presents itself. In autumn the green blades of grass turn golden yellow and

keep prying eyes away until spring. Only then does a pruning clear the way for fresh leaf sprouting.

• Growth height: 170 to 180 cm
• Flowering period: July to September
• summer green

Stachelschweingras, Zebraschilf ‚Strictus‘ (Miscanthus sinensis)

The multifaceted genus Chinese reed gives balcony and terrace gardeners a top-class ornamental pot grass. Porcupine grass lives up to its name with yellow horizontal stripes on tautly upright, broad, linear stalks. So much subtle blaze of color makes it easy to get over the loss of spike flowers, which only appear during long, warm summer weather. Nevertheless, zebra reed fulfills its function as a distinctive ornamental grass in the tub and as a privacy screen with flying colors.

• Growth height: 130 to 150 cm
• Flowering time: September and October (frequently fails)
• summer green

Strandhafer, Sandhafer, Amerikanischer Strandhafer (Ammophila breviligulata)

The blazing sun on the south-facing balcony is just the right thing for beach grass to present itself from its most beautiful side in the bucket. A wind-exposed location affects its stability, because sand oat is used to grief from its windy distribution areas along the Atlantic coasts of North America. A well-drained substrate, ideally peat-free and enriched with coconut fibers and sand, is important for successful cultivation in the pot. A pruning in early spring motivates American beach grass to exchange the retracted stalks for fresh green.

• Growth height: 100 to 130 cm
• Flowering period: August to September
• summer green

Dwarf Chinese reed ‘Adagio’ (Miscanthus sinensis)

With its compact growth and silvery shimmering flower spikes, the dwarf Chinese reed is recommended for cultivation in tubs. In contrast to majestic conspecifics in the garden bed, the easy-care ornamental grass is characterized by reduced growth potential without the desired privacy protection falling by the wayside. The best winter protection for the Asian jewel is to avoid pruning in autumn in favor of early spring.

• Growth height: 100 to 150 cm
• Flowering time: September to October
• summer green

Zebra-Chinaschilf ‚Giraffe‘ (Miscanthus sinensis)

With its yellow striped culms, zebra reed ‘Giraffe’ looks confusingly similar to the pretty porcupine grass at first glance. The variety is recommended for gardeners who want a reliably flowering grass in the bucket as a privacy screen.

• Growth height: 150 to 180 cm
• Flowering period: August to October
• summer green

Privacy screen for partially shaded locations

Goldbandgras ‚Aureomarginata‘ (Spartina pectinata)

Strong-growing golden ribbon grass leaves no doubt that good privacy protection is one of its many advantages. A sufficient growth height in combination with a dense, clump-like growth ward off bold gazes. The long, ribbon-shaped culms are edged in golden yellow, which underlines the decorative aspect for balconies and terraces.

• Growth height: 120 to 150 cm
• Flowering period: August to September
• summer green

Pampasgras ‚Pumila‘ (Cortaderia selloana)

Impressive privacy protection in the form of pampas grass is also guaranteed in a partially shaded location if you choose the adaptable ‘Pumila’ variety. 4 to 6 hours of sunshine per day are enough for the popular ornamental grass to present its palm-frond-like spikes. It is important to note in the care program that you only comb out the winter green grass clump in the bucket in early spring and do not cut it back.

• Growth height: 100 to 180 cm
• Flowering time: September to November
• wintergreen

Moor-grass, Tall Moor-grass ‘Skyracer’ (Molinia arundinacea)

With upright stalks and inflorescences, Tall Moor-Eye ‘Skyracer’ proves that the name of the variety was aptly chosen. As a sky storm, the attractive ornamental grass in the bucket is useful as an easy-care and extremely frugal privacy screen. The charming grass is satisfied with a partially shaded location for the magnificent, very large panicles. A special treat of the picturesque guardian of your privacy is the colorful autumn colors of the strap-like stalks.

• Growth height: 200 to 220 cm
• Flowering period: August to October
• summer green

Ruten Hirse ‚Prairie Sky‘ (Panicum virgatum)

Subtle color contrasts are the special strength of this recommended grass variety. With steel-blue, linear leaves and silvery to delicate pink shimmering spikes, this switchgrass also inspires in a partially shaded location. At the end of the season, the opaque foliage turns reddish-brown and adorns the tub until late winter. Only then should you carry out moderate trimming by simply combing out dead stems with gloved hands.

• Growth height: 120 to 150 cm
• Flowering period: August to October
• wintergreen

Sandrohr ‚Karl Foerster‘, Reitgras (Calamagrostis acutiflora)

Would you like a privacy screen with natural charm for your balcony and terrace? Then you can’t get past this ornamental grass. Early shoots, straight culms and wheat-colored, man-high inflorescences are the outstanding attributes. The legendary perennial breeder Karl Foerster personally discovered the natural hybrid and gave it the variety name ‘Stricta’ because of its stiff, upright habit. After his death, the natural beauty was renamed in his honor.

• Growth height: 100 to 150 cm
• Flowering period: July to September
• summer green

Silber-Bartgras (Andropogon ternary)

When the stalks sway in the tub in the summer wind, they shine with a white to silvery sheen. Passers-by are welcome to enjoy the idyllic spectacle. Anyone who is sitting at the seat on the other side of the filigree grass wall cannot be seen by strangers. In a sunny to semi-shady location, the culms turn different colors from green to pink to reddish over the course of the season, giving the rather inconspicuous spikes a decorative background.

• Growth height: 100 to 150 cm
• Flowering period: June to September
• summer green

Shadow-tolerant guardians of privacy

Mäusedorn-Bambus (Phyllostachys ruscifolia)

A life on the north balcony presents all plants with special challenges. However, under the influence of a lack of light and rather cool temperatures, ruscus bamboo masters the task of thriving in a pot in an exemplary manner. The bushy, miniature bamboo does not bloom and prefers a shady location for the dense foliage.

• Growth height: 120 to 150 cm
• Flowering time: not applicable
• evergreen

Moor-Pfeifengras ‚Edith Dudszus‘ (Molinia caerulea)

As a pure species, moor grass does not reach the required height for a privacy function. The masterpiece is mainly achieved by the successful breeding ‘Edith Dudszus’ with extra dense clumps of leaves. A place in the light shade and a bucket with a volume of 7.5 liters or more made of acidic bog bed soil elicit flocks of lush green stalks and dark spikes from the noble grass variety.

• Growth height: 100 to 120 cm
• Flowering period: August to October
• summer green

Riesen-Segge (Carex pendula)

When looking for suitable ornamental grasses as a privacy screen, gardeners don’t have to let their gaze wander into the distance. The native giant sedge likes to be there to ward off curious looks as a container plant. Its decorative strengths lie in its glossy green, slightly curved leaves, which lose little of their beauty well into next spring. A pronounced aversion to blazing sun makes the giant sedge the perfect candidate for the north-facing balcony or shady patio.

• Growth height: 100 to 120 cm
• Flowering period: June and July
• wintergreen

Evergreen grasses – privacy screens with no seasonal gaps

Bambus Simba’ (Fargesia murielae)

Simba is one of the few bamboo varieties that thrive vigorously and magnificently in the bucket. Placed side by side in a semi-shady location, the monumental grasses form an impenetrable, green wall in the bucket without any bulwark character. The potting soil should be fresh, moist, rich in nutrients and slightly acidic so that the ‘Simba’ bamboo can fulfill its task as a privacy screen for many years.

• Growth height: 150 to 250 cm
• Flowering time: not applicable
• evergreen

Pampasgras ‚Sunningdale River‘ (Cortaderia selloana)

Creamy-white, huge fronds of flowers announce from afar where this stately pampas grass variety is set in scene. The dark green, sharp-edged stalks alone reach a height of a whopping 140 centimetres, which does not allow prying eyes towards the balcony or terrace. In the spring, pull the few leaves that only die off in severe frost with gloved hands from the tuft of grass.

• Growth height: 140 to 250 cm
• Flowering period: August to October
• wintergreen to evergreen

Zick-Zack-Bambus

What better weed could round off this selection than the 2018 Bamboo of the Year? With the zig-zag bamboo, the ideal privacy plant finds its way onto the balcony and terrace. Special features are lemon-yellow stalks, which sometimes zigzag towards the sky, as well as glossy green leaves with isolated white stripes. The most important criterion for pot culture is a sufficiently large container with a volume of 40 liters or more for the first few years. So that you can later repot the fast-growing bamboo without any problems, please leave bulbous pots aside and grab a straight or conical container with smooth walls.

• Height of growth: 250 to 300 cm, rarely higher
• Flowering time: not applicable
• evergreen