Resources

Quick Links to Resources on our Site

Below is a direct link to the PDF of our catalog, along with charts, lists, and materials found in the print version and on this website.

• New! Hoffman Nursery Catalog of Grasses - the 2023-2024 issue
• New! Drought Tolerant & Low Water Use Grasses & Sedges - see which of our plants are drought tolerant and have low water needs
• New! Regional Plant List - not only are these grasses and sedges resilient in the region, they are also customer favorites
• New! Ornamental Grasses for the Golf Course - see how the grasses we grow play an important role on golf courses
• Green Infrastructure Guide and Plant Chart - overview of common green infrastructure features and recommended plants 
• Covering Ground Chart - plants that are well suited as ground covers, lawn alternatives, and matrix plantings
• Carex Comparison Chart - with over 35 different taxa, figure out which work best for you
• Fountain Grass Comparison Chart - choose among our Pennisetum based on characteristics and distinctive features 
• Switchgrass Comparison Chart - select among our Panicum virgatum based on characteristic and distinctive features 
• Little Bluestem Comparison Chart - see how our Schizachyrium scoparium differ on characteristics and distinctive features
• Little Bluestem Infographic - check out this fun take on the 2022 Perennial Plant of the Year®
• Miscanthus Comparison Chart - find out how our Miscanthus differ on characteristics and distinctive features
• Cool- and Warm-season Comparison - it pays to know the differences in cool- and warm-season grasses
• Liners in the Landscape Guide - read why plugs or liners can be the best option for a landscape project
• Grasses and Sedges for Pollinators - a quick rundown of the top grasses and sedges that support pollinators
• A Look at Lawn Alternatives - quick facts, ideas, and the full list of lawn alternatives we offer
• How Late Can I Plant? - we get this question a lot! See our recommendations in this flyer

Botanical & Horticultural Sources

• The Biota of North America (BONAP) has powerful tools for accessing information about North American native plants. The Taxonomic Data Center (TDC) lets you query on individual taxa and see maps with state- and county-level distribution. There's tons more—take a deep dive when you have some time.
• The beta website for the Flora of North America offers a complete look at plants of North America north of Mexico. It includes excellent botanical illustrations so you can see differences among species. We find it especially helpful with native Carex.
• We rely on the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System for botanical nomenclature. Their global species data compiled through the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) has a helpful query page for plant names.
• The USDA's Plants Database provides information on U.S. native and introduced plants. It's also a great starting point for finding other web resources about specific plants.
• The Missouri Botanical Garden is a wealth of information. For queries on taxonomic and bibliographic information, use their Tropicos® database. For cultural information and descriptions on specific plants, search the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder.
• eFloras, with access to online floras worldwide. 
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database
• For cultivated plants, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Horticultural Database
• Find your Plant Hardiness Zone and view the temperature ranges within each zone.

Ideas and Info

• The Houzz website’s Grass Ideabooks contain articles for grass inspiration, while the Grass Image Collection goes on forever.
• The Southeastern Grasslands Initiative is doing amazing work to conserve, restore, and promote native grasslands of all types in the Southeast. It's pretty compelling stuff, so please check them out.
• The University of Tennessee houses the Center for Native Grasslands Management. The Center provides the scientific background needed to effectively establish and manage native grasslands.

Books

Grass Encyclopedias

• The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes, Rick Darke: Timber Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-88192-817-4
• Timber Press Pocket Guide to Ornamental Grasses, Rick Darke: Timber Press, 2004. ISBN-13: 978-0881926538

Using Grasses and Planting Design

• Bold Romantic Gardens: The New World Landscape of Oehme and Van Sweden, James Van Sweden and Wolfgang Oehme, Spacemaker Press, 2003. ISBN: 1888931108
• Designing with Plants, Piet Oudolf , Portland: Timber Press, 2000, ISBN: 0881924377
• Gardening with Grasses, Micheal King and Piet Oudolf, Warnsweld: Terra Publishing Co., 1998. ISBN: 0881924113
• Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design, Nancy J. Ondra, Storey Books, 2002. ISBN: 158017423X
• Hummelo: A Journey Through a Plantsman’s Life, Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury: The Monacelli Press, 2015. ISBN-13: 978-1580934183
• Ornamental Grasses for Cold Climates: A Guide to Selection and Management, Mary Hockenberry Meyer, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota, 2012
• Planting: A New Perspective, Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury, Timber Press, 2013, ISBN-10: 1604693703
• The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden, Roy Diblik, Timber Press 2014, ISBN-10: 1604693347
• The New Naturalism: Designing and Plantings a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden, Kelly D. Norris, 2021, Cool Springs Press. ISBN-10: 0760368198

The Power of Plants

• Beautiful No-Mow Yards: 50 Amazing Lawn Alternatives, Evelyn J. Hadden: Timber Press, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-1604692389
• Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Douglas W. Tallamy: Timber Press, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0881929928
• Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes, Thomas Rainer and Claudia West: Timber Press, 2015. ISBN-13: 978-1604695533
• The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn, John Greenlee and Saxon Holt: Timber Press, 2009. ISBN: 0881928712
• The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden, Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy: Timber Press, 2014. ISBN: 1604694084
• Garden Revolution: How our landscapes can be a source of environmental change, Larry Weaner and Thomas Christopher, Timber Press, 2016, ISBN-10: 1604696168
• Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard, Douglas W. Tallamy, Timber Press, 2020. ISBN-10: 1604699000

For articles about grasses, Hoffman Nursery, and related topics, go to our Trade Articles page.