I like this grass, but my main purpose for growing it is to dry the blooms. The purple blooms are really nice, fading to a tan colour.

As an ornamental in the garden - it's a little floppy in particular with too much water. The past couple of years we've had a lot of rain which contributed to this grass growing to about 3'. After the initial bloom I generally cut it right back and it takes about a week to recover - the second growth is shorter and will continue to bloom right thru until the cold weather hits. But i would keep it as a back of the border plant with something lower planted in front to hide the base which can (for me, anyway) get kind of brown and yucky.

It's a tough grass that takes a lot of abuse. Not only does it survive in my zone 2B without any trouble, I've moved it in bloom without cutting it back and it didn't miss a beat. Here's a couple of pics of it in my garden - a close up, and one a little further away.

Pudge, that IS a nice grass. Thanks for posting the pics.

Just goes to show you what the books know. Both Darke and Greenlee say it's hardy to zone 5, but here we have it thriving way north of that.

The books are wrong about a lot of grasses, Donn. I believe they just haven't been tested and results published about growing in a cold climate. But that's a whole 'nother topic.

Thank you for the info and pictures, Pudge. I think I'll forge ahead and grow this one. Funny that a grass native to Siberia (hello!) would only be considered hardy to Zone 5.

I have this grass growing in two locations. A partly shady woodland garden and under the 'sunny' side of a large Maple. It is at its best under the maple so ... seems to withstand drought very well. For me on 'good soil' it is a flop. Given enough light and soil of poor nutrients it seems to stand up well right through the winter. All the seed head vanish in the winter months but the leaves get a twisty-twirley look to them - quite nice.