Want to add some foliage along a pipe fence line to provide some privacy. Looking for something that doesn't need much maintenance (watering). Fountain grass looking stuff. And what on centers would you plant them at so at maturity they have full coverage.

Wax leaf ligustrum. Pretty good privacy doesn't require much maintenance.

FunkyKO said:

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Wax leaf ligustrum. Pretty good privacy doesn't require much maintenance.

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F that, yes it will provide a privacy barrier but it's invasive as hell and a PITA.

And doesn't look very fountain'y

dwarf red photinia

Oh Lord we get two of the worst plants right off the bat?(photinia & ligustrum)
Something big & "grassy" is difficult. Pampas Grass is a non native non invasive that would work. I don't really like it though due to leaves that cut and it gets full of rats that attract snakes.
The biggest native grasses are Indian Grass, Switch Grass and Big Bluestem but they don't really screen well. You'll get 5-6 feet max in most places out of those.

Where are you located & how tall does your screen need to be?

South Wise County. Would like to get 5' out of it.

Oleander grows like a weed, several feet every year

Blackhawks Big Bluestem is something that came up on the google. Says it likes sandy soils (good drainage) which works for where it'd go. What else that is similar to that look?

The other two I mentioned would work. Maybe also Easter gama grass

Apache said:

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Oh Lord we get two of the worst plants right off the bat?(photinia & ligustrum)
Something big & "grassy" is difficult. Pampas Grass is a non native non invasive that would work. I don't really like it though due to leaves that cut and it gets full of rats that attract snakes.
The biggest native grasses are Indian Grass, Switch Grass and Big Bluestem but they don't really screen well. You'll get 5-6 feet max in most places out of those.

Where are you located & how tall does your screen need to be?

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Suggest native grasses that don't really screen but opine "two worst plants right off the bat'. Argue with yourself often?

Apache said:

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Oh Lord we get two of the worst plants right off the bat?(photinia & ligustrum)
Something big & "grassy" is difficult. Pampas Grass is a non native non invasive that would work. I don't really like it though due to leaves that cut and it gets full of rats that attract snakes.
The biggest native grasses are Indian Grass, Switch Grass and Big Bluestem but they don't really screen well. You'll get 5-6 feet max in most places out of those.

Where are you located & how tall does your screen need to be?

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Well **** I planted both of those in my yard last year.

I'd vote oleander. It's growing faster than the other two I listed. Plus it doesn't ruffle nearly as many feathers on this board.

They are two terrible plants. Non native, invasive & no wildlife value. (Ligustrum) I stand by that. Oleander is also bad, it's poisonous, non native and will freeze down to the ground in Wise county.
Regarding the grasses I suggested. They are the largest native grasses which is what the OP wanted. They'll screen good for 3'.

If you plant oleander make damn sure you understand the leaves are highly poisonous. I had a Aggie vet tell me one time 7-8 leaves could kill a horse and one leaf can kill an adult human. The poison is in all parts of the plant - leaf, flowers, roots, stems and nectar. Burning the leaves makes deadly smoke, bees can make deadly honey. Google up toxicity to humans and you might want to think twice about this beautiful plant. If you do plant it keep grand-kids and toddlers away.

If you have a long stretch to screen, consider planting multiple species grouped together, otherwise it will look forced and boring. I went with a mix of eleagnus, hollies and a couple of ligustrums for my screening.

If left unattended...sure. But who does that?

Those grasses don't screen jack.

...bamboo...

I said they wouldn't screen great in my post, but they are the biggest native grasses we have which is what the OP specifically asked for. I would do a double row triangular spaced 36-48" on center. Screening would be good from 3' down, pretty sparse above that.
Small evergreen trees would be a better choice, but I'm not familiar with what works that far north.

This is the look I envisioned. This is a google image search of hardy pampas grass. Would this survive in North Texas? It'll get full sun. Sandy soil with good drainage.

I had 3 big ol' pampas in Frisco. They look great in the summer, but cutting them back in the winter is a major PITA. I know you said you want grass-like, but maybe take a look at Vitex.

What's the need for cutting them back? Where I need the screening is a place that will allow whatever It is to get as big as it wants.

Yeah, they might look good and screen at the peak of summer growth, but what about the other 9 or 10 months? Plus you have to cut it back and if left unkept, it gets full of weeds, etc.

It just seems that any grass would be a poor screen because it will always die back in the fall. Especially native grasses suggested in this thread.

Question, why is ligustrum or the other mentioned so bad? Does it spread and kill other native plants or wildlife?

I thought privacy hedges went out of style in the late 80's. Please don't bring them back.

Cedar if you can afford it, if not spruce. 6' dipped-stained with metal posts is your best bet for privacy. They were plants once!

They get unruly and have dead growth after a hard freeze sometimes. They are best cut back every winter. I always found a cold windy day in January when I had a couple layers on to protect me from the sharp edges (nasty paper cut type edges) and windy so it would blow most down the street. Might look into siverado sage, its really good looking in the summer too.

A person down the street planted several groupings of Pampas grass. It overwhelms the space it looks like something out of a H.P. Lovecraft story.

Pampas grass is best used judiciously as an accent plant. Planting a row of these will look jarring and dissonant. My vote would be hollies, and\or smaller juniper cultivars. Throw in a couple of Possumhaw hollies for winter color.

My opinion of course.

If you are on the edge of town/city, make sure you plan for fire issues.

Vitex can be grown as a hedge but it is not "Grassy".
Shoal Creek variety is 15'-20' at maturity.
Delta Blues is 8'-10'.
At least you would have pretty flowers to look at. Hummingbirds like them.

Maybe look at Muhly Grass. It is not as overpowering as Pampas.

aggieband 83 said:

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Maybe look at Muhly Grass. It is not as overpowering as Pampas.

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Pampas grass will work up there but it can get really huge and messy. If you are only looking to screen give feet, big muhly might work or gulf muhly/pink muhly which is what is shown pictured a few posts above. Problem with the muhly grasses is they freeze almost all the way to the ground in the winter. They grow back quickly in the spring though.

All the grasses mentioned by Apache would probably work too. Apache knows his plants. Wax Myrtle is another viable option up there but it is not grassy. Very fast growing though. I like yaupon too as a border, but it too can get kinda wild if left to it's own devices without any pruning.

Yes. It spreads and takes over entire riparian ecosystems and displaces hundreds of thousands to millions of native plants and animals every year. It is pretty much a devil plant. Not too much better than kudzu, rosehedge, and Chinese tallow.

Vitex is pretty invasive just as an fyi, but it is a very attractive invasive in my opinion. I hate it a lot less than many other invasive species.

Just plant some ginger or butterfly bushes. Ginger isn't really nice to look at but spreads like a weed & will screen.