Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calamagrostis epigejos

Family: (Poaceae)

(P) to 5′.  Wood Small-Reed.  Eurasia.  Linear, silver-green foliage becoming purple-bronze as the season progresses.  Flowers are erect and foxtail-like, emerging green-grey and becoming auburn as they mature.  This grass receives so many compliments in our Flower Garden.  We started it from seed ourselves many years ago.  Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Carex muskingumensis

Family: (Cyperaceae)

(P) to 2′.  Western North America.  A trouble-free sedge that thrives at the edge of our Rock Ledge.  Ribbed, ½-inch-wide leaf blades are pale green.  Dense seedheads are persistent and attractive.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Chasmanthium latifolium

Family: (Poaceae)

(P) to 3′. Northern Sea Oats. A beautiful native grass producing branching stems with flattened, green, drooping spikelets in summer. These turn a bronze colour in autumn, as do the tufted clumps of flat-leaved foliage. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Coix lacryma-jobi

Family: (Poaceae)

(A) to 4′. Job’s Tears. Southeast Asia. A “must-have” grass with apple green, strap-like leaves. Makes a great architectural addition to the flower border. String yourself a necklace with the shining, white to black, teardrop-shaped seeds. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Melica altissima 'Atropurpurea'

Family: (Poaceae)

(P) to 4′. Siberian Melic. Native to thickets and forest edges of eastern Europe. Dense, leafy clumps of mid-green foliage. Tall flower stems topped with loose, one-sided panicles of deep purple, overlapping spikelets. A terrific addition to our Red Bed. Summer. Well-drained soil. Sun. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Miscanthus 'Purpurascens'

Family: (Poaceae)

(P) to 8′.  Flame Grass.  Japan .  Massive, arching clumps of silvery, grey-green foliage with a prominent white midrib, are topped with feathery, whisk-like, shimmering plumes blushed burgundy.  In autumn, the foliage turns much darker, almost to black and looks especially dramatic after a hard frost or light snowfall.  A superb architectural grass, it makes an imposing statement in the landscape.  Will tolerate most soils.  Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Molinia caerulea

Family: (Poaceae)

(P) to 4′. Purple Moor Grass. A beautiful grass growing in a loose, vase-like form. From June on, the dense panicles dangle like purple and olive jewels. Moist soil, full sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Panicum virgatum

Family: (Poaceae)

(P) to 5′. Switch Grass. Eastern North America. One of the major components of the great tallgrass prairies, and tough and versatile enough for a number of garden uses. The erect, vase-shaped habit, grey-green foliage and profuse, airy flower panicles in late summer recommend it as an accent plant, whilst its intense fall colours of red, orange and golden yellow add broad, dramatic impact when planted in bold sweeps or allowed to naturalize. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Schizachryium scoparium

Family: (Poaceae)

(P) to 4′. Little Bluestem. Eastern North America. A clump-forming, native prairie grass with branching, glaucous green leaves and a coppery-orange fall colour. Most attractive in late summer when the delicate flower spikes age to a soft, silvery grey. Excellent for naturalizing with eastern prairie wildflowers such as Asters, Goldenrods and other native grasses. Well-drained soil. Sun. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Sorghastrum nutans

Family: (Poaceae)

(P) to 5′. Indian Grass. Eastern North America. Perhaps one of the most beautiful of all prairie grasses. Sturdy, upright clumps of narrow, green foliage become bright burnished orange in the fall. Erect stems with showy flower panicles are copper coloured with conspicuous yellow pollen sacs. The paired spikelets have distinctive, bristly awns giving them a soft, delicate, feathery quality. Adaptable to a wide variety of uses. Indian Grass will grow in most soils and will even tolerate some shade, though it prefers a rich, loamy soil with plenty of sun. 4 & T1