Looks like a Miscanthus of some variety. Would likely be taller and with more of an arching habit in a better location and with adequate irrigation.

It's squeezed into one of those stupid foot wide "flower beds". I think that I'm going to remove everything and fill them in with rocks.

What's wrong with leaving the grass rather than just ALL rocks? It's attractive....

A "stupid" 9" bed. You think a bed of rocks would have looked nicer?

^^^point made, I think your grass should be removed. It is out of proportion to the space it is growing in and, if it is Miscanthus, might give passers-by some nasty leg cuts. Not everything in my photo is water intensive--the budded plant, is a kalanchoe frequently sold as 'Mirabella'. It does not require a lot of water, and the red flowers will continue for about 4 months. The plant stays low and is easily maintained; cuttings root easily but it isn't invasive---I've not ever seen a seedling.

Not a great photo, but this is what Mirabella's flowers look like when they are open:

I understood JXBrown as considering replacing with just rocks, but a combo can look nice. Even those that are nicely designed, I'm still less fond of a large percentage of rock more because it does not have the cooling effect of vegetation, than visually. Our back yard was originally concrete; plantings greatly decreased the heat reflection, glare, and reduced the a/c bill.

The plants in the airport planting scheme are too short relative to the width of the bed to be in scale with it, are doing nothing to hide the wire fence or screen the view of the cars. And don't look to be something that is going to spread out and fill the bed, resulting in a finished appearance.

The foundation strip beds being talked about here are too narrow to accommodate anything tall enough to soften the blank walls above them - except climbers on frames. It is possible with some surfaces at least to install frames mounted on hardware, that can be lifted off and laid down - plants and all - to permit access to the wall surface as needed. Of course kinds of plants used have to be flexible enough to allow for this. And anyone addressing the wall has to be willing and able to work among the laid down frames, with plants on them, without trampling them.

Now I understand your aversion, Gyr_falcon! A concrete jungle would also make me shutter. Plus I think you are a much more talented gardener than I am and have greater success with plants (so many times I'm thankful that a large decorative rock still survives).

Embothrium, I took this photo right when the airport was redesigned in 2013. Out of curiousity I just google mapped the exit spot and these plants are kangaroo paws! Looks much better. Hard to tell but here is a rough idea what it is now:

Yes, that is a pretty display, gyr_falcon! I still hate those skinny little strip beds that builders like to leave.

My other thought has been to just fill the bed with some colorful succulents, but the kalanchoe would work too or maybe the indefatigable geranium Rozanne, I would prefer something taller to soften all of that white stucco. The plant behind the miscanthus is a Grewia which also does well without supplemental water. I'm sure that if I needed to hack Grewia down to stumps for a paint job, it would cheerfully regrow.

Kangaroo paws are certainly a possibility to plant in a narrow space but would provide height. And they mix very well with succulents and sedums :-))

I saw a photo on flicker of some red-burgundy ornamental grass clumps and all between and around it in a bed was blue Kalanchoe. Simple,looked great. Sort of covered everything. Tasteful,low water,artistic and exotic!

5birdy, I have quite a bit more experience than just as a gardener, so it is an unfair advantage. I majored in Ornamental Horticulture (& business), and have owned a small nursery and landscape company with my husband. My husband moved on to working with other companies, and then resorts across the country and I moved into the assistant roll while the children were young (they're grown now).

XJBrown, I've been growing grewia in those skinny landscape strips along houses for 25 years. :) They are great in that roll! Another good, tough plant for that purpose is Jasminum humile "Revolutum'. The Jasmine works better where the eaves are high, or if it is allowed to arch out over an arbor, because the canes get long. Love their fragrance, because it is not as sweet as some other jasmines.