There's no going back now : ) Even if you were warned you'd still be addicted! I have 2 fountain grasses, a Pennisetum, couple sweet flag grasses and I want to add at least 4 more. I get addicted to most perennials though, I have no shame. Daylilies are my thing now. Happy gardening!

Jen

Watch out for the bamboo!! Pleioblastus is a great little groundcover form, but spreads like greased lightning. This is one of the running bamboos and needs to be contained or it will claim your entire garden. And the neighbor's :-)

Ornamental grasses are excellent additions to perennial beds or mixed plantings. My preferences are to the evergreen forms (sedges, etc) because of their size and year round presence but a taller Miscanthus or Calamagrostis makes a great focal point! I just consider them another form of perennial and include them wherever appropriate.

I also have an addiction. I won't name them all (because I'd have to go look) but counting in my head, I have 23 different kinds.

What bothers me is that they take over. I'm dumping Northern Sea Oats right now because although I absolutely love it, I can't stand the stupid reseeding it does.

One of my favorites is Pony Tail Grass. It's medium in size, very blow-y in the wind and never flops. Blue fescues are great, too. I like switch grasses because again, they don't flop.

I gave away Miscanthus varigatus and Indian Steel because although gorgeous in color, one strong wind and they smush out everything underneath and beside them. I love Black Moudry because of it's low, large clumps.

And ... so on! :)

Yes, addicting.

Christine

When "gardeners" tell me the don't like grasses I have the same reaction I do when men tell me they "don't like cats". I'm instantly on "alert" and wary...

I think grasses are "way cool". Tall, drought resistant, and effortless graceful for fully 3 seasons! in a cold zone, how can you beat that? Like cats, they're perfect in every way!

And every man I dated who "didn't like cats" showed his true colors readily. The helpmeet was ambivilent about cats. But now he can't nap without one.

Try Miscanthus "Morning Light"! It's beautiful, especially when it's backlit by the sun.

Hi I saw and took a liking to miscanthus 'Rigoletto' in the States last year. Worth checking out. Its smaller than M. variegatus and a real top notch grass.