- Sedges are grasses that refer to any one of the 1,000 species in the Carex genus. Many sedges are native to United States and occur naturally in woodland settings where part shade is the norm. Carex morrowi "Ice Dance" is a popular ornamental cultivar for shady situations. Clump forming, Ice Dance features green leaves with white stripes along the edges. At maturity, Ice Dance reaches 18 inches tall and wide.
- Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa) thrives in part shade and has an arching habit. Japanese forest grass cultivars are available in green, variegated green and white striped, variegated yellow and green striped, and all gold. Yellow cultivars are hardy to zone 6. The green and variegated cultivars are hardy to zone 5.
- Switchgrass (Panicum spp.) performs best in sunny sites but will tolerate some shade. Switchgrass form upright clumps that reach 3 to 7 feet tall depending on cultivar. Prized for color variations, switchgrass cultivars include "Heavy Metal," which has a distinct blue-gray hue, and "Shenandoah," which takes on a red orange hue in the fall.
- Purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis) is a clump-forming low-grower reaching 18 inches tall. It is hardy to zone 5 and will tolerate light shade. Self seeding readily, purple love grass lends itself to naturalistic gardens or ground cover.