I think you may be talking about Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' but I could be wrong!

Jen

Does it look sort of like this grass in the picture (taken early in the season, much higher now)

Carrie

{{gwi:867576}}

Here is a look at Miscanthus Gracillimus that really shows off its vase-like shape.

http://hcs.osu.edu/hort/plantlisting/M/Miscanthus849.html

Another nice shaped miscanthus is Strictus

http://www.ecgrowers.com/images/strictus-canada.jpg

I can't think of a fountain grass that would have all those traits. Sounds like an upright arching form of miscanthus. If it's very common, as you suggest, Gracillimus would be a likely choice.

Hi you have not told us what its flowering spike looks like.
Have you seen or checked out Calamagrostis Xa. Karl Foerster? Maybe not 8 feet tall! R

Thanks for your quick responses. I'll check out the links posted by grass guy. And Carrie, the grasses that I've seen are all mature grasses, probably two to three feet wide at the base and five feet or more in height, so I can't compare your photo to those I've seen.

As to the flower heads, the grass type I'm looking for aren't blooming here yet. I can't recall for sure what color they were last year, but I believe they were silvery.

I'll check out the suggestions posted here. If I find out what the proper name is, I'll let you know. Thanks.

You guys should get the Smarty Pants of The Day Award! You were absolutely right: Miscanthus Gracillimus. I checked out the website htt://hcs.osu.edu/hort/plantlisting/M/Miscanthus849.html suggested by grass guy and it shows Gracillimus' beautiful vase-shape exactly as they grow in my location.

By the way, the U of Florida has a super site for Fact Sheets. A Google search provided http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/MISSINB.pdf for a very nice fact sheet on Gracillimus. It mentions the slender leaves and the fact that the tips droop under their own weight forming a "fountain-like" sculpture.

Several sites mentioned the vase-like or fountain-like form, so I knew I was on the right track. I need to stand corrected however. I was guessing at a height of 6' to 8', but I was just passing by in the car. All info shows 5' to 6' which is better and makes them more useable for a front yard.

By the way, Sylvan Nursery has a three-page horizontal list of grasses giving their botanical and common names, sun exposure, height, foliage description and notes in case anyone is interested. I printed it out and stuck it in a book on ornamental grasses.

Have a blessed and super week.

Thanks much.