• There is a type of ornamental grass for nearly any part of Oregon.very beautiful ornamental vegetation image by JoLin from Fotolia.com
  
  The climate of Oregon is diverse, with the Cascade Mountains creating a boundary between two distinct climates. Western Oregon's marine climate, mild with occasional light winter freezes, encompasses primarily USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 9. The dry eastern side of the state is largely high desert with cooler winters and warmer summers. In some areas, plants must be hardy enough to tolerate the cool temperatures of USDA Hardiness Zone 3. Choosing ornamental grass for Western Oregon is an easy task, and selecting grasses for Eastern Oregon is slightly more difficult, but there is a lovely ornamental grass appropriate for nearly any part of the state.
  
  

Feather Reed Grass

• The dark, arching leaves of feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) form a mounded clump that will reach heights of only 2 1/2 feet at maturity. In fall, the plant will send out tall pink plumes. The foliage is a greenish color during May and June before turning a golden wheat color, then a bleached tan that lasts through the winter months. Feather reed grass is hardy to USDA Zones 5 to 9.
  
  

Plume Grass

• Plume Grass (Saccharum ravennae), hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 10, is well-suited for the marine climate of the coastal Pacific Northwest, but won't survive the colder temperatures of Central and Eastern Oregon. The plant is a show stopper with lush green foliage that can reach heights of up to 8 feet at maturity. The flowers are cream colored, and can add an additional 5 feet.
  
  

Switch Grass

• Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) is a hardy ornamental grass, and one of the few that will tolerate the dry, cool climates of Eastern Oregon, and will also do well in Western Oregon's damp, mild climate. Hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 10, switch grass varieties include Heavy Metal, with steely blue foliage, sky blue Prairie Sky and burgundy-red Red Ravs. A mid-sized plant, switch grass will reach 4 to 5 feet at maturity.
  
  

Fountain Grass

• Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) is an attractive plant with fine, feathery, bright green foliage that will bend and sway in the breeze. The grass will grow to 3 to 5 feet tall, depending on the variety. The showy flowers, shaped like bottle brushes in colors of red, silver or pink, appear in mid to late summer. Fountain grass is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9.