I do love stipa tenuissima but it does get rather scraggly looking over time. I usually cut them back around this time to get fresh growth on them.

I like things wild, so I don't cut mine back...these have been in the ground 3 years and not cut in that time.....

I agree they have a very nice appearance. wcgypsy, what is the dark seed headed one on the right, in the first photo?

Calamagrostis / Karl Foerster...dark because they're just now starting to bloom. I brought 4 of them up with me and divided them...such a great grass ! I'm experimenting with more prairie type grasses this year also, got a bunch from Nan Ondra at Hayefield this last year...I'm very lucky in that grasses are my great love and now with the VW here, they are immune to it...yay! If I could grow nothing else but grasses, i would still be thrilled...

Well, dang. I like it even better with the dark seed heads than how it is shown in almost all photos, when mature. I've considered getting that grass more than a few times, but have stopped myself because I have little space for it. Something is going to need to get yanked...but what? lol

We all reach that point that when something dies, we almost rejoice because then we have a new spot opened up to plant something else. I deeply regret that one of my absolute favorite grasses of all time, Pennisetum setaceum rubrum needs to be treated as an annual here...and it is so glorious in SoCal....sigh

I like that the Karl Foerster makes a strong upright statment for marking an entry...

and I love the light shining through the Mexican Feathers....

Yep, I've seen them...don't like them as much....I just weed my 'extras' along with other weeds. I will grow the alternatives also, but won't give up the Mexican Feather Grass.

Grasses drive me nuts when I shop nurseries. I don't have a smart phone and cannot remember which ones reseed and which do not--especially since many of the former "recommended" have been moved to the "don't plant" lists. I get together a list of ok options, but the nursery will not have a single one on my list in stock after months of waiting. It is one reason I have so few grasses in the landscape. I've made a list of in-stock grasses at the nursery, gone home to look them up--only to return a few days later to discover that they have sold them all.

As much as I like the look of Mexican feather grass, pulling out unwelcomely located volunteers does not appeal. The Pink Muhlygrass from lgteacher's list looks nice, and I have seen it offered previously. But I bet it won't be at the nursery when I go!

I do have two Pink Muhly and will see how they do, I think the concensus is that they like drier climates. I also need the Bamboo Muhly, my friend up the coast has it and it's doing well, so I will get seed this summer and sow...

Make your list to carry with on those grasses.....if you want to know which re-seed more than you'd want, I have 3 grasses books sitting here in front of me and will check them tonight.

There is a wholesale nursery for grasses in Bonsall that I got stuff from, will check and see what they are doing and what they are carrying.

I agree a grasses list is a good idea--and had one. But a lot of time went by, some of the plants became no longer recommended, and it was a chore to keep it current. It didn't help I had to also list New Zealand Flax cultivars due to their varying culture, sizes, and because I wanted to avoid the many that like to revert. Plus various other plant notes, and a Sunset and that hefty Perry's book in the car. And then every time my husband wanted to use my transport, I'd have to remove them...and remember to return them later. Alas, my system doesn't always work as efficiently as necessary. :)

system? we don't need no stinking systems....I work on the 'Oh, THAT looks interesting' system....lol...which is why it's a good thing that I no longer have so many good nurseries around me.

Green Meadow Growers in Bonsall is the nursery that I have gotten grasses from in the past....check their web site...

They have a great selection, but there is no way I would meet their minimum now that we no longer do commercial work. I'll talk to my favorite nurseries and see if GMG is a supplier, for a special order. Unfortunately, one nursery charges a prohibitive $15/plant for special orders (I've had it waived, but only if the plant is already on-site at another one of their locations.) And I don't recall seeing GMG labels at the other nursery, which can be hit and miss about getting back to me about being able to acquire specific plants.

I forget which grasses we were getting back then, but my friend nancy wanted the same and she called them, told them we couldn't find what we were looking for at the nurseries, told them we couldn't make a miniumum order and they said no problem. come on over.....she went, they showed her around, got what we wanted, no minimum order...you know, it's always worth a call. Years ago a friend wanted a certain velvet for drapes and 40 years ago, it was $18 a yard, I sent a card to the maker, told them I would like to trial a piece of that, got it all for $11 a yard...always pays to ask...well, except for the time my Mom wanted a new washer and we were passing a store and I told her to stop and we'd go in and see....she asked if that was the best price he could do and made an offer....and he laughed at her.....doesn't always work....

Thanks wcgypsy. Bonsall is quite a bit of a drive from where I live, in a direction that I wouldn't travel for other reasons--I think I'll exhaust local sources and practice patience.