# Ornamental grasses for Dubai gardens

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/category/ornamental-grass · Updated: 2026-10-05
Source: Ghaf Gardens (https://plantguide.ae/plants/category/ornamental-grass)

Ornamental grasses add movement and fine texture to beds, borders and gravel gardens without the mowing a lawn needs. They are planted as clumps to look at rather than walk on, and some handle Dubai's heat and dry spells on very little water. Each grass below lists its mature size, water needs and the best months to plant.

More: [Lawn, ornamental and artificial grass compared](https://plantguide.ae/grasses)

## Ornamental grasses (8)

- **Desert grass** (desert-grass) — Pennisetum divisum · ثمام · ornamental-grass, native · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 1 ease 5 · plant/sow Sep–Dec · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/desert-grass.md)
- **Purple fountain grass** (fountain-grass) — Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' · ornamental-grass, adapted · full sun, low water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 4 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/fountain-grass.md)
- **Lemongrass** (lemongrass) — Cymbopogon citratus · ornamental-grass, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 2 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lemongrass.md)
- **Pink muhly** (pink-muhly) — Muhlenbergia capillaris · ornamental-grass, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 4 salt 4 drought 4 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pink-muhly.md)
- **Mondo grass** (mondo-grass) — Ophiopogon japonicus · ornamental-grass, exotic · part shade, moderate water · heat 3 salt 4 drought 2 shade 5 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/mondo-grass.md)
- **Vetiver** (vetiver) — Chrysopogon zizanioides · ornamental-grass, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 4 shade 2 ease 5 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/vetiver.md)
- **Lomandra** (lomandra) — Lomandra longifolia · ornamental-grass, exotic · sun to part shade, low water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 4 shade 3 ease 5 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lomandra.md)
- **Pampas grass** (pampas-grass) — Cortaderia selloana · ornamental-grass, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 4 drought 3 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Mar (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pampas-grass.md)