calamus ‘Variegatus’: This popular cultivar has long narrow leaves with green and creamy white bands. The grass-like foliage is dramatic in water or around water in pots or tubs. Requires moisture at all times. Non-invasive.  Bruised leaves emit a sweet, citrusy scent

gramineus ‘Oborozuki’: pendulous, sedgelike green leaves with yellow variegation. Grows best in moist soil. 12”. Part shade.

‘g. Minimum Aureus’.  Dwarf 2-4” yellow bladed Sweet Flag is great contrast  or edging plant.

ARRHENATHERUM, Oat Grass: sun or shade.

elatius bulbosum: 12-15"; variegated green grass with cream colored margins.

ARUNDO, Giant Reed Grass: sun.

donax ‘Versicolor’: 9-12’; gigantic grass for dramatic landscape accent; broad leaves are boldly striped creamy-white; beautiful in tubs or large pots.

BOUTELOUA curtipendula, Sideoats Grass, 12-18” fine leaf, sod-forming, warm season native.  Delicate pendant seed heads, graceful foliage.  2005 GreatPlants designee. 

BRIZIA, Quaking Grass: sun.

media: 6-8"; dark green leaves; 2-3' rattlesnake-like spikelets that quake in the slightest breeze; young spikelets are pale green turning tan at maturity.

CALAMAGROSTIS, Feather Reed Grass: sun; blooms in summer.

acutiflora ‘Avalanche’, Variegated Feather Reed Grass.  Each blade has a white center with green margins.  Pink-bronze flowers bloom in June then fade to a tawny brown.  Strong upright habit.  Excellent vertical accent for the garden. 

x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster': 5-6'; deep green upright foliage; showy, striking feathery flower spikes begin pink then mature to wheat-color; excellent for drying; can grow in heavy soil. Designated 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year for it’s outstanding qualities.

a. ‘Overdam’.  White edged leaves in compact clumps.  Pink plumes on 36” stems in summer.

CAREX, Sedge: shade/part shade; prefers moist, well-drained soil; good for massing, rock gardens, and shade borders.

carophyllea ‘Beetlemania’.  Reminiscent of the 60’s ‘do!  Long, dark green blades with creamy yellow edges slowly spread to form a 2’ wide mop-like clump. 

conica ‘Snowline’.  Fine dark green 6” - 12” leaves with wide white margins.  Full to part shade, and even sun, with plenty of moisture.

divulsa ‘Kaga-Nishiki’, Gold Fountains.  Clump forming sedge has slender, elegant leaves with a border of gold.  15”.

dolichostachva ‘Golden Fountains’: Textured foliage with gold variegation on the leaf margins. Grows in a symmetrical fountain-like mound. Long-lived and durable. Tolerates dry conditions. 10”. Part shade to shade.

elata ‘Bowles Golden’, Gold Sedge: bright gold foliage with narrow green margins; spectacular with blue Hosta or gold edge Hosta; 2-3’.

ciliatomarginata, ‘Treasure Island’, Woodland Sedge.  Very low growing, only 3” tall, dramatic broad foliage with white edges.  Excellent groundcover for shade.

glauca ‘Blue Zinger’: Tufts of glaucous blue leaves. Drought and shade tolerant. 10-20”.hachijoensis ‘Evergold’, Variegated Japanese Sedge: bright creamy yellow stripes in center of leaves, green margins. Leaves are 12-16” tall and arch gracefully to the ground. Grows best in moist, well drained soil in light shade.

morrowii ‘Ice Dance’: compact tufts of ½” wide dark green leaves with clear white borders.  Excellent low maintenance groundcover. Moderate spread. 12” tall.

muskingamensis ‘Little Midge’, Miniature Palm Sedge.  Fun, tropical looking plant that looks like tiny palm trees.  Excellent, very fine foliage spreads slowly by rhizomes to form a lovely ground cover. 12-15”.

mukingamensis ‘Oehme’.  Golden variegated leaf edge, radiating horizontally along stems giving a palm tree effect.  Excellent groundcover for part to full shade.  18-24”

platyphyulla, Silver Sedge.  A spectacular new clump-forming sedge with powder blue leaves up to an inch or more wide.  Spreads slowly to form a wonderfully textured groundcover in moist or average soil.  Tolerates dry shade once established.  An early spring haircut makes room for clean new growth.  Great for shade.

siderosticha ’Banana Boat’    Broad banana-yellow leaves up to 2” wide with narrow green edges.  Plumes of silver flowers.  Prefers part shade. 

s. ‘Island Brocade’: A very hard, Hosta-like sedge with strong, golden edges! Vigorous. Super as it travels and mixes in containers and then spills over the edge.

CHASMANTHIUM, Northern Sea Oats: sun/part shade.  Native.

latifolium: 30-36”; narrow slightly arching plants; flowers in late summer; the flat green seed heads hang on slender stems and persist into winter turning reddish bronze; good for shade garden.

CORTADERIA selloana  ‘Evita’, Hardy Pampas Grass.  Finally, a truly hard Pampas Grass, just like the ones you see in Florida.  Dramatic 60” serrated-edged blades are toped with 12” fluffed plumes of cream flowers in summer.  Evita is more compact, has more flowers and is hardier than most others.  Stunning in containers.  Flowers appear in late summer and fall.  Crowns should be protected in winter.  Prefers sun.

DESCHAMPSIA, Tufted Hair Grass.  Tolerant of more shade than most grasses.  Tufted foliage is topped with very fine, air panicles.

caespitosa ‘Northern Lights’.  Cream variegated foliage is tinged purplish-pink, very tall and open panicles appear in mid summer.  Forms medium height clumps of tufted green foliage with very fine airy panicles.  Prefers full sun to part shade and grows to 24”.

caespitosa ‘Shottland’.  Medium height, rounded clumps of tufted green foliage, tall fine airy panicles bloom mid-summer and sway in the breeze.  Grows 36 to 38 inches tall and wide.

ERIANTHUS, Plume Grass: sun

ravennae: 9-12'; arching green leaves with white stripe down the middle; silvery-gray plumes in fall; lovely fall color; a striking specimen.

ERIPHORUM angustifolium, Cotton Grass.  Deep green grass-like blades are topped with a soft cotton tuft in summer.  Perfect for pond’s edge.  Prefers water depth of 1”. 

FESTUCA, Blue Fescue: sun.

glauca ‘Boulder Blue’.  Some say this is the bluest of all!  Short, compact mounds of metallic blue. Very drought tolerant.  10”.
ovina glauca 'Elijah Blue': 10"; silvery-blue blades; color holds up well throughout the summer; one of the nicest blues.

HAKONECHOLOA, Japanese Forest Grass: partial shade; excellent with blue Hosta.

macra ‘Albo Striata’: For the first time, this rare, white striped form to the beautiful forest grass is offered. Broad leaves cascade over rocks and are superb by pathways. Performs best in partial shade. 1-2’.

macra ‘All Gold’.  Bright golden yellow long arching bamboo-like leaves.  12-18”.

macra ‘Aureola: 1-2'; bright yellow-green variegated foliage. Grass for the collector.

macra ‘Naomi’.  A new French introduction, leafing out in spring with billowy, long, slender, pointed foliage of creamy yellow an soft sage-green.  Fall colors is rich purple.  Grows 9 to 18 inches tall and wide.  Grow in full shade in moist soil.

IMPERATA, Japanese Blood Grass: sun/part shade

cylindrica 'Red Baron'. 18"; bold red from mid blades to tip; color intensifies towards late summer and fall; striking plant.

JUNCUS, Rush: sun/part shade. Likes moist soil.

effusus, Corkscrew Rush.  A grass-like plant with heavily spiraled 24” stems.  Tiny yellowish-green to tan flowers appear in compact clusters in summer.  Prefers very wet soil.

e. ‘Big Twister’.  Large spiraling foliage, resembling giant corkscrews twisting and turning creating a dramatic effect.  Reaches 18 to 24 inches tall and wide.  Prefers very moist to wet conditions in full sun to part shade.  Cut back in late winter early spring.

e. spiralis: 1'; dark green leaves curl like a corkscrew; prefers a moist area; great conversation piece.

e. spiralis ‘Frenzy’. Variegated Corkscrew Rush.  A variegated corkscrew rush, more compact, reaching only 6 to 8 inches tall and wide.  Leaves are tightly curled and loosen with maturity.  Yellow and green variegation with pink stripes.  Perfect to mix in containers.

ensifolius, Broad Leaf Rush.  A short grass-like plant with interesting late summer seedheads.  Perfect for water’s edge.

inflexus ‘Lovesick Blues’.  Spiky steel blue leaves radiate from a central crown. Forms a weeping, rounded mound.  Moisture loving.  Can be grown as a shallow water plant.  Grow in full sun to part shade in moist soil.  Deer resistant.  Native cultivar.

MISCANTHUS, Eulalia or Maiden Grass: sun; good cut flower.

sinensis ‘Adagio’: at last, a really superb dwarf maiden grass; flowers emerge pink, becoming white; 2’, 4’ in bloom. Designated a Missouri Botanical Garden “Plant of Merit” for its outstanding qualities.

s. ‘Autumn Light’: Good yellow fall color. Very hardy and vigorous. 3-4’.

s. ‘Cabaret’.  Very wide, ribbon like foliage with a creamy-white center.  9’.

s. ‘Cosmopolitan’: 3-4’. Very upright plant with wide striped leaves. Some consider this the best variegated Miscanthus.

s. ‘Dixieland’.  Compact plant with varietated foliage and pink tinged plumes.  4’.

s. ‘Flamingo’.  An early flowering variety with reddish/white pendulous blooms that move in the slightest breeze.  Flowers face upwards and then droop gracefully.  Grows to 5 feet tall and 3 ft wide.  Grow in full sun in average soil. 

s. ‘Far East’, ‘Ferner Osten, Compact Maiden Grass.  Reddish flowers in fall top dark foliage with bright silver midrib.  Compact grower to 5’.

S. ‘Gold Bar’.  The best dwarf, horizontally variegated grass available.  Twice the variegation of ‘Little Zebra’.  Short and quick to clump up, reaching only 16”-20” tall.  Erect and strong habit.

s. 'Gracillimus': 4-5'; upright, arching stalks with feathery creamy flowers in September; a graceful beauty; moisture tolerant.

s. ‘Huron Sunrise’: Most profuse blooming of any Miscanthus we grow. Martin Quinn from Canada has been working with ornamental grasses for over 25 years had has made this first rate selection. Foliage is a medium width with a natural silver line (midrib). The outstanding characteristic is the burgundy/red inflorescences in late August and early September. Upright arching form. Good winter interest. Holds leaves during the winter. Excellent large flowers! Foliage is between 4-5’, 5-6’ in flower. Sun.

s. ‘Little Dot’ (‘Punktchen’): narrow leaves with checkered foliage. Tall plumes. 3’.

s. ‘Little Kitten’: A true compact Miscanthus! Fine green foliage with pink flowers. 36”.

s. ‘Little Zebra’: Green leaves with horizontal yellow bands. Coloring holds all season. Flowers reliably in late summer with red-purple plumes. 36”.

s. Morning Light': 4'; arching leaves are edged with silver; red-bronze plumes give a striking effect; drought tolerant.

s. ‘Nippon’.  Excellent dwarf with slender foliage well separated from flowers.  Blooms late June into fall.  4-5’.

s. 'Strictus': 6-8'; blades have a distinctive gold horizontal band; stiff and upright; a striking specimen.

s. ‘Superstripe’.  Thick gold bands are prevalent on the wide blades of this grass the moment they emerge from the ground.  This small, clumping mound is an outstanding specimen Muscanthyus for the fromt of a border.  Compact, reaching only 2’-4’ tall and wide.  Z6.

s. 'Variegatus': 6-7'; graceful upright clumps; silvery green foliage edged pure white; pinkish panicles in mid-summer fading to tan; drought tolerant; lovely in winter.

ORYZOPSIS (ACHNATHERUM) hymenoides. 

Indian Rice Grass.  Cool season clumper is an excellent choice for hot dry sites in sandy or average, well-drained full sun conditions.  Historically important American food grain makes an impressive fine textured 2’ tall grass feature with its showy open panicles in spring.

PANICUM, Switch Grass: sun; flowers late summer.

virgatum ‘Prairie Sky’: 5’; strongly upright, unusually durable ornamental grass; remarkable powder-blue foliage turns yellow in fall; airy clouds of flowers remain throughout winter; thrives in any soil. Found in a Wisconsin meadow. Much better than ‘Heavy Metal’.

v. ‘Shenandoah’: US native with bright red foliage starting in June. Grows in clumps to 3’ tall in full sun. In the late summer and early fall, red long lasting flowers bloom above the foliage.

PENNISETUM, Fountain Grass: sun; flowers in summer.

alopecuroides: 3-4'; clumps of narrow, graceful arching leaves; dark rose flowers; foliage turns golden-brown in fall; attractive seed heads.

alopecuroides 'Hameln', Dwarf Fountain Grass: 18-24"; dwarf form of fountain grass; pearly white flowers.

a. ‘Red Head’.  Deep burgundy buds and young plumes sets this Fountain Grass apart.  Blooms early than other cultivars.  Grows 3-4’. 

‘Little Bunny’: A really dwarf form of the spieces that grows 18” tall with 2” flower heads.a.

‘Little Honey’: A variegated sport of P. ‘Little Bunny’ with tiny narrow leaves and miniature flower heads resembling bottlebrushes. 6-12”.

orientale ‘Karly Rose’: Deep green blades erupt into intense smoky rose-purple flowers. Long blooming.

setaceum ‘Rubrum’, Purple Fountain Grass: deep red foliage topped by dramatic purple/red plumes. Not hardy.

PHALARIS, Ribbon Grass: sun/partial shade; blooms early summer.

arundinaceae ‘Strawberries and Cream’: 18-24"; striped green and white blades that is flushed with pink in cool weather. Aggressive groundcover.

PLEIOBLASTUS fortunei variegate, Variegated Bamboo. Variegated white foliage on 1-2’ plant.  Sun or shade.  Excellent ground cover.

SCHIZACHYRIUM, Little Blue Stem: sun; variety of leaf colors, blue and green hues turning a striking bright red in fall; seed heads are fluffy silvery, white; tolerant of dry soils; 2-3’.scoparium ‘The Blues’: a very blue selection of the species.

SCIRPUS, Rush.  Large grasses for water’s edge.  Summer blooming

lacustris, Bull Rush.  Large 4-5’ handsome erect stems.

zebrinus, Zebra Rush.  Exotic 4-6’ stems with horizontal white stripes.  Remove plain green stems to ensure variegated form.

SPOROBOLUS heterolepis, Prairie Drop Seed.  2’ narrow-leafed, fragrant native grass.  Incredibly attractive in bloom and seed.  2003 GreatPlants designee.