I have Deschampsia caespitosa growing in conditions ranging from full sun to part shade, but they all get regular moisture. Most grasses which do well in shade need moist fertile soil.

Little Bluestem tends to flop in too much shade.

24/7 sun is quite a feat in the NYC area. ;>)

Although it has a reputation as a shade lover, Hakonechloa macra has some newer cultivars which can take quite a bit of sun. It's relatively expensive, and if you aren't a full zone 7, there may be hardiness issues, but they are gorgeous grasses, and given enough time (slow grower) would be a stunning groundcover.

donn, thanks.

24/7 sun is quite a feat in the NYC area. ;>)

yes, indeed, indeed! why do you think I cling to this funky old old house...great garden!

hakonochlea, what a great idea. I could use that along the edges maybe & the little bluestem across the center, which definitely would be too hot & dry, I think, for the Hak.

plants will be watered the first season, but what I want to eventually establish would be something sturdy enough to deal with those occasional super dry summers that we get. soil here is good & maintained with regular composts, but I want to get away from any but emergency supplemental watering.

how does the deschampsia look by the end of the summer? reason I am clinging to the bluestem is that I want a big Sept/Oct grass finale thing.

End of summer is when I trim the Deschampsia back enough to get rid of the old seed heads. Since it's a cool season grass, the fall growing season fills it right back in. It's one of my favorite of the seedgrown grasses. It's semi-evergreen, and the past few winters have been so mild, it's been more green than not.