The following photos will allow you to identify grasses. Click on image to view plant details.
![Acorus gramineus Variegatus](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Acorus-gramineus-Variegatus.jpg)
Grass-Leaf Flag, Slender Sweet Flag
Origin: "Variegatus" is a cultivar. Acorus gramineus is native to Eastern Asia.
![Carex acutiformis](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Carex-acutiformis-480x480.jpg)
Lesser Pond Sedge
Origin: Europe to Asia
![Carex brunnea](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Carex-brunnea.jpg)
Greater Brown Sedge
Origin: Tropical Africa, Asia, Australia
![Carex foliosissima Irish Green](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Carex-foliosissima-Irish-Green-480x480.webp)
Irish Green Sedge
Origin: The wild type is native to Japan
Height: 20 to 40 centimeters
USDA zone: 5 (-9.4 °F/-23 °C)
![Carex ornithopoda Variegata](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Carex-ornithopoda-Variegata-480x480.jpg)
Greater Brown Sedge
Origin: Carex ornithopoda "Variegata" is a cultivar. The wild type is native to Europe.
![Carex oshimensis Evergold](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Carex-oshimensis-Evergold-480x480.jpg)
Japanese Sedge
Origin:"Evergold" is a cultivar. Carex oshimensis is native to Japan.
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Carex-pendula-480.jpg)
Pendulous Sedge, Hanging Sedge
Origin: Europe, Asia, North Africa and invasive in some parts of the USA.
![Cyperus Sedge](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/cyperus-sedge-480x480.jpg)
Cyperus Sedge, Hop Sedge
Origin: Europe, Asia, North America
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Chasmanthium-latifolium-480.jpg)
Woodoats, Inland Sea Oats
Origin: Canada to Mexico
![Chlorophytum comosum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Chlorophytum.jpg)
Spider Plant, Airplane Plant
Origin: "Bonnie" is a cultivar. Chlorophytum comosum is native to Africa.
![Chlorophytum comosum Variegatum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Chlorophytum-comosum-Variegatum-480x480.webp)
Spider Plant, Airplane Plant, Ribbonplant
Origin: The wild type is native to Africa (tropical Africa, South Africa) and a naturalized species in other regions.
Height: 20 to 60 centimeters
![Pampas Grass](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pampas-grass.jpg)
Pampas Grass
South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay)
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Cortaderia.jpg)
Pampas Grass
Origin: "Gold Band" is a cultivar. Cortaderia selloana is native to South America.
![Cortaderia selloana Pumila](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Cortaderia-selloana-Pumila-480x480.jpg)
Dwarf Pampas Grass
Origin: The wild type is native to South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay).
Height: 90 to 150 centimeters
![Cortaderia selloana cv](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Cortaderia-selloana-cv-480x480.jpg)
Pampas Grass
Origin: The wild type is native to South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay).
Height: 90 to 250 centimeters
![Cyperus alternifolius](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Cyperus-alternifolius-480x480.webp)
Umbrella Papyrus, Umbrella Palm
Origin: Tropical and subtropical Africa
Height, habit: 50 to 150 centimeters, herbaceous plant
USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)
![Cyperus haspan](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Cyperus-haspan.jpg)
Dwarf Papyrus Sedge, Haspan Flat Sedge
Origin: Subtropical and tropial regions in Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and South America.
![Dactylis glomerata](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Dactylis-glomerata-12-480x480.jpg)
Cock's-Foot, Orchard Grass, Cat Grass
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe and as a naturalized species also in some North and South American regions as well as in Australia and New Zealand.
![Dianella tasmanica Variegata](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Dianella-tasmanica-Variegata-480x480.webp)
Origin: The wild type is native to Australia
Height, habit: Up to 1.5 meters, evergreen herbaceous plant
USDA zone: 10 (36 °F/2 °C)
![Echinochloa crus galli](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Echinochloa-crus-galli-480x480.webp)
Cockspur, Barnyard Millet
Origin: Nearly global
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Hakonechloa-macra-480.jpg)
Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass
Origin: Japan
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Hakonechloa-macra-Aureola-480.jpg)
Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass
Origin: The wild type is native to Japan.
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Hakonechloa-macra-480.jpg)
Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass
Origin: The wild type is native to Japan.
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Hakonechloa-macra-480.jpg)
Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass
Origin: The wild type is native to Japan.
![Hordeum vulgare](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hordeum-vulgare-480x480.jpg)
Barley
Origin: The wild type is native to Asia, Europe (Greece), North Africa (Egypt, Libya).
![Imperata cylindrica Red Baron](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Imperata.jpg)
Japanese Bloodgrass, Blady Grass
Origin: "Red Baron" is a cultivar. Imperata cylindrica is native to South Eastern Asia and Africa.
![Juncus effusus Spiralis](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Juncus-effusus-Spiralis-5-480x480.jpg)
Corkscrew Rush, Common Rush
Origin: The wild type is native to Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Koeleria-glauca-480.jpg)
Blue Hair Grass
Origin: Europe, Asia (Siberia, Kazakhstan)
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Luzula-nivea-480.jpg)
Snow-White Wood-Rush, Snowy Wood-Rush
Origin: Europe
![Miscanthus sinensis Strictus](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/miscanthus-sinensis-strictus.jpg)
Chinese Silver Grass, Eulalia Grass
Origin: China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Russia, Taiwan
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Miscanthus-sinensis-Rotsilber-480.jpg)
Chinese Silver Grass, Eulalia Grass
Origin: The wild type is native to China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Russia, Taiwan.
![Miscanthus sinensis Strictus](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Miscanthus-sinensis-Strictus-480x480.jpg)
Zebra Grass, Chinese Silver Grass
Origin: The wild type is native to China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Russia, Taiwan.
![Ophiopogon planiscapus](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Ophiopogon.jpg)
Black Mondo
Origin: Ophiopogon planiscapus is native to Japan.
![Oryza sativa](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Oryza-sativa.jpg)
Asian Rice
Origin: Oryza sativa is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions.
![Pennisetum orientale](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Pennisetum.jpg)
White Fountaingrass, Oriental Pennisetum
Origin: Caucasus, Greece, Northern Africa, Western Asia
![Phalaris arundinacea Picta](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Phalaris-arundinacea-Picta-480x480.jpg)
Reed Canarygrass, Gardener's-Garters
Origin: Only cultivated. Phalaris arundinacea is native to Europe, Asia and North America.
![Reed Grass](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Phragmites-australis-2-480x480.jpg)
Reed, Common or Ditch or Giant Reed
Origin: Nearly global
Height: 100 to 400 centimeters
![Pleioblastus fortunei Variegata](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Pleioblastus-fortunei-Variegata-480x480.jpg)
Pygmy Bamboo, Dwarf White-Stripe Bamboo
Origin: The wild type is native to Asia (China).
Height: 50 to 100 centimeters
![Baby Panda](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Pogonatherum-paniceum-6-480x480.jpg)
Baby Panda, Pygmy Bamboo
Origin: Subtropical and tropical Asia, Arabian Peninsula
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rhynchospora.jpg)
White Star Sedge, White-Topped Sedge
Origin: USA to South America
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Sesleria-autumnalis-480.jpg)
Blue Grass
Origin: Albania, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, France, Spain, Morocco, Lebanon
![Setaria palmifolia](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Setaria-palmifolia-480x480.webp)
Palmgrass
Origin: Asia, Australia
Height, habit: 70 to 200 centimeters, herbaceous plant
USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)
![Setaria pumila](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Setaria-pumila-480x480.webp)
Yellow foxtail
Africa, Asia, Europe and as an introduced species also in some parts of North America and South America
Habit, height: Herbaceous, grassy plant, 10 to 100 centimeters
USDA zone: 5 (-9.4 °F/-23 °C)
![Setaria viridis](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Setaria-viridis-480x480.webp)
Green Foxtail
Origin: Asia, Europe, North Africa
Height, habit: 5 to 50 centimeters, herbaceous plant
USDA zone: 5 (-9.4 °F/-23 °C)
![Trisetum flavescens](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Trisetum-flavescens-480x480.webp)
Yellow Oatgrass, Golden Oat Grass
Origin: Europe, Asia (Caucasus, West Asia, Central Asia), North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia)
Height: 40 to 100 centimeters
![Triticum aestivum cv](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Triticum-aestivum-cv-480x480.webp)
Common wheat
Origin: The first cultivar of wheatgrass is said to have originated in Western Asia
Height: 40 to 120 centimeters
USDA zone: 5 (-9.4 °F/-23 °C)