I just depends on what your ultimate goal is or maybe just personal taste. I like Heavy Metal and its looser quality, form, uprightness etc but that is based on judging it as a specimen. That might help or hurt the way it would work among non-grass plants but would especially matter among other grasses in mixed planting.

When mixing or massing grasses you absolutely need contrast in texture and color to avoid a messy 'grassy' weedy look with no definition. Mixing grasses successfully is all about texture. form and color. Northwind certainly adds much needed deep dark green color and a uniquely stiff form that sets it off from other looser grasses to create interest and definition. I am using it as a foil to play against the Big Blue Stem grasses I ordered from SRG. The loose, red and curved leaves of the BBS is spectacular in front of the deep green-transitioning to-light-golden of the dense and stiffer Northwind. If I had used Heavy Metal the leaves would be too similar in that curved habit and looser stalks it would look messy. I use Heavy Metal as a specimen grass (three plants massed close) or a backdrop behind LBS.

I like the way the Northwind blooms are not much taller than the grass . Its another good way to create a good contrast against a different form of grass that is billowy with panicles.

You’ve made some good points about effective ways to use Northwind. I especially like your point about considering contrasting form when massing grasses. I’m not trying to mass grasses, but I was wondering how I could keep Northwind around and maybe I will group my three instead of spacing them out and hope I can find a suitable foreground for them that will improve my opinion.

bella ---I have Dallas Blues too which I started from three 4" pots from SRG planted together. Its vase shaped and loose but definitely has beautiful color. The pink panicles are very nice and quite big and in summer the leaves are blue but not as blue as Little Bluestem. I have it situated by the low wall surrounding the back patio/porch and it looks nice in afternoon sun. One clump is definitely enough for the size of my property. The leaves are much more spaced apart and wider so its kind of coarse in texture compared to the other named varieties. This is a switchgrass I think might flop or splay out for anyone who has too rich soil judging by how mine is doing this year with an abnormal amount of August/September rain but then it also seems to be less drought tolerant as the bottom leaves brown and shrivel when its dry and hot. It has stood back up after the rains but its not one you'd want if you are after verticality. I saw them planted at the Capital in a mass planting surrounded by hesperaloe in a large round area, it was gorgeous.

I'm most disappointed in Shenandoah. So far it hasn't colored up red in fall for me here, anyway it hasn't so far and doesn't make much of a visual impact but with all the rain this year, I am seeing some red tips on the leaves. Its very low growing and to me its squatty looking, about the size & height of Sideoats Grama but with less visual punch IMO. I ended up transplanting all the 4" pots I ordered from SRG ones I ordered into one 'hole' rather than using it to fill in a massed planting.

Hot Rod was a joke and a rip-off. It died after just sitting there not growing in size at all the first year, come spring it was a goner and it was planted in a good low spot-- nice and moist which is good for switch grasses with good drainage so I know it wasn't a problem with getting too dry. I wonder if its a case of over-breeding? I don't think June bug grubs got it because the roots were still intact when I dug it up, grubs are a problem with grasses here. If a person wants red, I advise getting the named Big Blue stem cultivars. I have 3 types and don't notice much difference in coloring etc (all have equally red stalks and 'turkey feet' no matter how the pictures online look that I've seen) but its still early and this is the first year they each have several stalks and are making a presence. I love this grass. All that rain and they stood up like soldiers even when wet, like exclamation marks.

I also have Hot Rod. It is a very s l o w grower for me. This is the end of its second year and it has perhaps 15 grass blades but I have to admit it’s been colorful with many red strands among the green. I wish it were a taller sort as I think it would be a standout As it is, it was lost among the Heleniums that I planted nearby. Now I don’t quite know how to use it.

Tex, would enjoy learning the cultivar names of the Big Bluestems that you like so well. Perhaps they would give me what Hot Rod lacks, and that is height.

ecolane, I just re-read your original post and you said you have had Heavy Metal for ten years. How old it the specimen in the photo? Mine get quite large in circumference and very dense. I started two last year from small divisions and both are three times bigger around than the one you photographed.

echo--- I have 'Red October', 'Dancing Wind' and 'Blackhawks'. For all I know, I may have the fourth one 'Rain Dance' because I can't remember if it was Rain Dance or Dancing Wind I ordered on sale last fall when they were out of all the others (I think it was last fall) and planted up front. I get those two mixed up. Only two made it through winter but it wasn't the first I've lost from a fall planting.

I should note that Blackhawks is much darker green in summer, a bit shorter and the stems and turkey feet are quite dark so I was a bit inaccurate when I said I don't see much difference, I can definitely pick those out of a line-up but with the others I can't see much difference not so far anyway. If you ask me, there's not a dog in the bunch.

Getting these established has been more challenging than other kinds of grass which surprised me. I've lost several but I wanted it so bad, I ordered more.

edit to add---the only height is from the bloom stalks. Its like Little Bluestem that way. I had trouble finding mine out in the front 'prairie' until they sent up stalks. Its not a tall grass, its rather shortish grass with very tall, airy bloom stalks. I really like that part. Mine put up stalks in August, fairly early in the month.

My smallish Heavy Metal is a first year division. Actually, the photo is from last year and it’s bigger this year. Heavy Metal does get wide and wider and mine have been divided numerous times. My garden changes a lot. I used to have five planted across the back of my perennial bed. Now I have just the one small division. I’m definitely sorry I kept only one division. Instead, I planted three Dahlia coccinia True Wild Form along the back of my border. The Dahlia is beyond spectacular, very tall and very floriferous, blooms all summer into fall, doesn’t need deadheading or staking, but I miss the grasses along the back, so I am remodeling again and will be giving away two of the Dahlias and replanting more Heavy Metal.

Here’s a sample of the Dahlia flower from my garden.

Here‘s a photo from the web than is better than my photos, but definitely representative of mine. It is a very floriferous plant!

Just curious, what is the height of just the foliage of your Big Bluestems.

About a foot, earlier it was shorter.

That is a surprise! We are talking about Andropogon gerardii, right? I’ve read stories of how tall they were in virgin prairie, reaching saddle high and more on horseback.

They are tall, they are also red but its just the bloom stems that form in late summer and fall.

Tex, thank you for the great advice. Here's a pic of my Dallas Blues panicum (right side) with sedum and hydrangeas. Definitely a favorite for me. I also purchased mine from SRG.