Pennisetum a. ‘Hameln’

Acorus calamus ‘Variegatus’      Great for wet areas, pond sides or evenly moist gardens. The strong, upright blades resemble those of Japanese iris, thickly textured and brightly veriegated, with creamy white bands. Grows to 3ft. tall with minute, greenish flowers. Spreads slowly by rhizomes, not invasive. Its strongly colored foliage and sturdy, upright habit provide striking color and textural contrast with more relaxed, leafy perennials. Sweet flag leaves were used as air fresheners in Colonial times. Zone 5.

Alopecurus pratensis ‘Aureovariegatus’ Yellow Foxtail Grass New     A colorful yellow-leaved grass that forms low, dense, spiky clumps. The narrow blades vary form bright green with vivid yellow longitudinal stripes to nearly solid yellow, creating an overall golden effect. Best color in full sun. This is a cool season grass that’s at its best in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall, becoming lax and even semi-dormant in summers’ high heat and humidity. Blooms in May with flowers that lack great ornamental value and it’s recommended that cutting plants back to about 5” when flowering begins will help retain foliage in good condition through summer, until vigorous new growth resumes in fall. Low growing, only 12-16” high, and tolerant of a range of soil types and moisture conditions. A bright, showy grass with a dense, upright, non-flopping habit. Can be used as a specimen and in small grouping in the border, and is especially effective in larger, ground-covering drifts. Full sun. Zone 4.

Carex elata 'Bowles Golden'    Bright gold leaves with narrow green margins, 2-3' tall, moisture loving—great for the edges of ponds and streams. Spectacular combined with the bold blue, green or gold foliage of Hostas. Gold color is most intense in full sun, in which case moist soil is a must.

Carex morowii ‘Ice Ballet’   This sport of C. ‘Ice Dance’ has broader, more distinctive variegation than ‘Ice Dance’ with the same great arching habit. Grows 1-2’ tall, o.k. in sun with consistent moisture, otherwise part shade is best. Looks terrific in large drifts and when used as an edger. Zone 5.

Carex siderosticha 'Variegata'    ½ - ¾" wide, green leaves striped with white especially toward the edges. 8ins. tall. Considered one of the most attractive hardy sedges. Clumps expand slowly by rhizomes and make attractive, though modest, ground covers as well as very attractive individual specimens. Part to full shade with moisture.

Chasmanthium latifolium (Sea Oats)      Dark green foliage, 3'-4' high, with an upright form, and showy drooping oat-like spikelets that are excellent in both fresh and dried arrangements. Blooms mid summer. Often referred to by the common name Sea-oat, but this is a misnomer as plants are an inland species, preferring rich, moist soil in full sun where they maintain a solid upright form. In part shade, they get by on less water but form is sacrificed and stems may be more lax. Zone 3.

Chasmanthium latifolium ‘River Mist’     Striking green and whit variegated leaves and even more striking white, flat, oat-like seed heads that dangle like jewels form thin stems in late summer and early fall. Vary adaptable, tolerating light shade, coastal salt water and damp soils. Use as a specimen or planted en masse, in borders, at pond side and in containers. 3’ tall. Will grow in light shade, also full sun where it should be provided with consistent moisture. Zone 5. 

Eragrostis trichoides     (Sand Love Grass)  4’ erect clusters of dark green, slightly arching foliage above which float large, airy panicles beginning in June and lasting through late summer.  The delicate panicles have an ethereal quality about them and are delightful as fillers in the mixed border, massed for a light, billowy effect, and in containers. Flowers are also excellent for cutting. 4’ tall. Thrives in sun in light, sandy soil. Zone 5.

Erianthus(Saccharum) ravennas    One of the largest and most dramatic of the cold hardy grasses with foliage mounding to 4' high and plumes soaring as high as 14'. Habit is neat, upright and clumping and plants are culturally undemanding, doing best in average, even poor soil that's well drained in full sun. Very drought tolerant once established. Large, showy plumes begin opening in late August and remain long into our New England winters. Plumes are excellent for use in large arrangements. Though officially designated Zone 6, our plant has thrived, on its own, in our driest, poorest soil for years, Zone 5b.

Festuca (Fescue)    Fescues are outstanding grasses for the border, with their fine texture, neat form, and ornamental foliage colors. They prefer full sun and well drained soil, and particularly resent winter sogginess. Best renewed by division every few years, in the spring.

amethystina ‘Superba’    Intense, silvery-blue, very narrow foliage that matches the color of any of the standard forms usually encountered in garden centers. Foliage clumps to about 1' high and, in June, red-stemmed flower stalks rise an additional 1' supporting brown-tassels.

glauca 'Elijah Blue'    8" sharp blue foliage. One of the best blue fescues. Zone 3.

Hakonechloa macra ‘Albo Striata’    A larger, white-striped form of Japanese forest grass with upright, arching, variegated blades forming a dense, spreading clump, 1-2ft. tall. All the Japanese forest grasses do best in part to full shade, with even moisture. Also, they all look great weeping over the edge of a decorative container . Zone 5.

Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold'     Glimmering solid gold foliage without a speck of green. Unlike the fountainesque H. 'Aureola', 'All Gold' holds its blades in a somewhat upright, spiked fashion, resembling Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate' . 10-12ins. tall and wide. Plant out of afternoon sun in rich, moist but well drained soil. Zone 5.

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’    Variegated leaves are yellow with narrow green margins. Reddish pink in fall. Plants have a beautiful, cascading habit with all the leaves arching in the same direction creating a golden waterfall. (picture taken at Tower Hill Botanic Garden).

Hakonechloa macra ‘Beni Kaze’    A stunning cultivar featuring creamy yellow and green variegated leaves that take on cool purplish red tones in the fall. Grows 10-16ins. tall. Zone 5.

Imperata koenigii ‘Red Baron’ (Japanese Blood Grass)    1-2ft. blades that are green at the base and striking, blood red from the middle to the top. The foliage becomes redder as the season progresses. Grows best in rich, moist soil, but becomes quite drought tolerant once established.

Luzula ‘Ruby Stiletto’ New   A compact woodrush with red-tipped, red-edged leaves. Color is most pronounced in winter and early spring, 12" high. A fairly new grass to appear commercially, receiving much praise for its fine textured, well behaved habit and for its exciting winter color. Part to full shade. Zone 4.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gold Bar’     The gold banding on the leaves of this porcupine grass is so pronounced and of such intensity that the clumps seem to glow in the sun! After five years plants can grow 3-5ft. tall. Its shorter than M. 'Strictus', and has tighter banding creating a much more "golden" effect. Zone 5.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gold Breeze’    The same parentage as 'Gold Bar' but earlier blooming and taller, about 6'. with a more arching habit and broader blades. Blades are apple green and heavily gold banded. 

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Huron Sunrise’    The most profusely blooming miscanthus with full burgundy plumes that sweep the sky and remain standing through winter. Fronds are mid-green with a silver midrib, 5-6’ tall. Zone 4.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Kitten’    One of the smallest Miscanthus. Narrow-leaved, very compact, only 3’ tall in flower. Perfect for smaller gardens where the design features of a grass are desired but where space will not accommodate the standard large varieties. Zone 5.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ (Variegated Maiden Grass)   Gracefully arching, narrow green leaves are neatly outlined in white, giving an overall silvery appearance. Has a very refined and elegant look.  Blooms late with cream colored plumes. 5-6' tall, zone 5.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’     A large grass with green blades liberally banded with bright yellow cross hatching. Clumps grow to 6ft. high with silvery plumes rising an additional 3ft. in fall. Habit is tighter and narrowier than Miscanthus s. 'Zebrinus'. Zone 5.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yaku Jima’    Grows just 3-4' tall and looks like a miniature M. 'Gracillimus' with that plants classic, graceful form, but in a smaller package. An excellent choice for those gardeners with limited space who, nevertheless, desire the "look" of a grass in their landscape scheme. Zone 5.

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Transparent’    Fine-textured, arching blades and slender, unbranched inflorescences that sit high above the foliage,(late summer-fall), give this grass an airy, transparent feel. Foliage is green in summer, turning yellow in Autumn. Grows up to 6' tall in bloom. Tolerant of dry conditions once established. Especially effective when planted so that the tall inflorescences are backlit by the sun. Zone 4.

Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Windspiel’    Tall Purple Moor Grass    15-20" tall mounds of narrow, green foliage give rise to glowing, purple inflorescences that rise 4-5’ above the foliage from June-Dec. Every passing breeze sets the flowers in motion adding a further dimension to its landscape appeal. Blooms in mid summer. Foliage turns yellow in autumn. Grow in full sun with plenty of moisture. Deer resistent. Zone 4.

Molinia caerulea ‘Variegata’    Narrow blades lavishly striped light yellow and creamy white form dense, arching clumps that may reach 2' high though usually only about half that height. Strictly clump forming. In late summer, tall, airy, distinctly yellow flower stalks lift delicate tassels high above the foliage, 24-36" high. Best sites are those in full sun with evenly moist but well drained soil. Plants will suffer in hot, dry areas and, in such locations, a partly shaded, reasonably moist spot should be sought out. Most valued for its fine-textured, beautifully variegated foliage but, where conditions favor heavy bloom, the airy inflorescences that appear to float high above the foliage add the crowning touch to this handsome grass. Zone 5.

Ophiopogon Ebony Knight™(Mondo Grass)    Black grass-like fronds form 6in. tall mounds, dense, slow spreading. Lavender flowers make an appearance in summer but, with this plant, it's all about the foliage! Makes a wonderful edger and creates striking contrasts with other shade loving plants. Prefers moist, well-drained soil in full shade. Evergreen in warmer zones. Zone 6.

Panicum virgatum ‘Thundercloud’ New    A very large panicum with pinkish-tan inflorescences presented just above the blue-green leaves. Strongly upright, remaining standing through winter. Grows 7-8ft. tall. Zone 4.

Panicum x ‘Ruby Ribbons’    From the University of Connedticut’s breeding program, this new Panicum develops red foliage of an intensity unrivaled by most other “red” Switch Grasses. Color begins showing in late summer and continues to deepen until the entire plant is a brilliant burgundy red. Color is darker than that of P. ‘Shenandoah’ and as deep as the tender Pennisetum rubrum. 3-4ft. tall by 2-3ft. wide. Grow this grass in full sun, in rich to average, evenly moist soil,(established clumps will tolerate dryer soil). Zone 4.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln' (Dwarf Fountain Grass)    Compact mounds of fine-textured, bright green leaves and abundant creamy-white, soft, bottlebrush-like flowers that begin blooming in early to mid August and continue into fall. Overall height is 3’ tall, including the the height of the flowers. A very attractive and popular ornamental grass. Very effective when planted in groups and especially eyecatching in large drifts. Grow in full sun in average, evenly moist but well drained soil. 

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Richie’    Similar to P. 'Little Bunny' except with chartreuse-yellow inflorescences and yellow flower stems. Grows just 10-12" high so it's ideal for container culture, for edging of walkways and borders and for grouping in mixed plantings with perennials. Zone 5.

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Red Head’    An early form of red-flowered Pennisetum with deep purple buds that mature to smoky purple plumes measuring 3" wide and 8-10" long. The green summer foliage turns a mellow gold in fall. 3-4' tall. Blooms in summer. Zone 5.

Pennisetum orientalis ‘Karley Rose’ (Oriental Fountain Grass)     An elegant fountain grass with a uniform, arching habit that erupts with intense, smoky rose-purple flowers in early summer and continues blooming till frost. 40" tall. Zone 5.

Pleioblastus (Arundinaria) veridistriatus (Variegated Bush Bamboo) New        Striking, variegated foliage variably striped gold and green. Forms a 2' high upright, arching mound and is generally considered to be the most attractive yellow-variegated bamboo. Clumps steadily enlarge by rhizomes but do not present the control challenges of the larger aggressive types. If plants become lax they can be cut back and the resulting new growth will have unusually large and colorful leaves. Grow in sun to part shade in average or better, reasonably moist, well-drained soil.  Could be massed for dramatic groundcover, also carried in decorative continers.  We have it as a specimen in front of the dark green foliage of Chamaecyparis o. 'Well's Special'. Zone 5.

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’     (Little Bluestem) Clump-forming native prairie grass with finely textured leaves that range in color from bright green to blue, with an orange to red winter color. An improvement over the species with brighter grey-blue foliage and pinkish-orange fall color, fluffy silver seed heads, and a narrow, upright habit. The inflorescences are especially lovely when back-lit by autumn or winter sun. Attractive even after snow. Right at home in managed meadows with prairie wildflowers. Requires good drainage, and prefers soil that is on the lean and mean (that is to say dry) side. Zone 3.

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’      A true blue grass that loves heat, humidity and lean soil. Clump forming to 3' tall with narrow, ice-blue blades that sway gently on even the slightest breeze. In fall, the glowing blue color becomes intense and a deep burgundy-red mingles through the entire clump which finally turns a lovely orange/amber and remain attractive through winter. Native to prairies from Canada to Arizona and adapted to growing on a wide range of soils from those with average moisture to those that are extremely dry, as well as both acid and alkaline soils. Used effectively at a local food coop to stabilize an embankment and, even at the end of this ferocious winter,(2010-11), this planting is looking good and brings a smile to my face as I drive by! Zone 4.

Sporobolus heterolepsis (Prairie Dropseed)      The most elegant and refined of the native prairie grasses with a soft, fountain-like appearance. Vary narrow, thread-like, green leaves turn deep orange in late fall and then fade to golden orange in winter. In mid to late August, delightfully fragrant, pinkish brown flowers appear atop tall, thin, arching stems. The more plants, the stronger the fragrance. Heat and drought tolerant and long-lived, able to exist for many years,(decades), without needing renewal. 2-3’ tall. Blooms in late summer. Zone 3.