. . . don't mow this grass . . .

Illustrating a wide variety of plant habits, it would be hard to find another group of plants more universally used in gardens than ornamental grasses. Growing from just a few inches to several feet in height, these versatile plants are tolerant of a wide range of garden conditions and extend the season of beauty from spring right into the winter.

Perhaps the most colorful grass is the Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'). Bamboo grass (Arundo donax) and Giant Miscanthus (M. giganteus floridulus) can grow as high as fifteen feet in a single season. Many varieties of grasses produce exceptional dried flower material, including Hardy Pampas Grass (Erianthus ravennae), Red Feather Grass (Calamagrotis sp.) and Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium).

Ornamental grasses are enhanced by the natural morning and afternoon sunlight which illuminate and distinguish the tufts and blades.