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A retail staple, purple fountain grass routinely tops our list of best-selling ornamental grasses.'Rubrum' is so well-known and loved, that it barely needs an introduction. A rapid grower with prolific blooming power, purple fountain grass requires little more than a quality start, sunny space, and well-draining soil for spectacular results.High impact! With a mid-range mature height of three to five feet, it stands nicely in large, fast-growing sweeps or gracefully as a single. Container-friend

These easy-to-grow grasses set the landscape, and sales, ablaze with blades that emerge green and transform into fiery autumnal shades.Miscanthus s. Mystal™ 'Fire Dragon' PP30374Upright, vigorous green foliage transitions in autumn to a range of vivid, reliable reds and oranges. In late summer, abundant silvery flower plumes rise high above the graciously curved foliage. Left uncut, the smoky white plumes provide long-lasting winter interest.Mature height: 6-7'Zones 4-9 Both varieties per

Native to the North American prairie, and yet still a stylish and ornamental vertical landscape element, Panicum virgatum is perfectly at home in any sunny landscape.(Pictured above) 'Heavy Metal'Glaucous blue leaves and a strong upright form create a formal look that is softened by its delicate seedheads.Tolerates a wide range of soils.Mature height: 5'Tough and carefree, "switch grass" is a long-lived, warm-season grower. In mid to late summer soft, airy panicles rise above sturdy, color-

A backbone of the sunny border, Gaillardia is loved worldwide for its array of bright, cheerful, daisy-like flowers.First-year flowering, the long-lasting blooms of Gaillardia, a.k.a. "Blanket flower" cluster in the warm end of the spectrum. These tough, drought-tolerant perennials are American native, and most varieties are hardy for Zones 3-10.Pictured above:Gaillardia a. SpinTop™ Orange Halo PP29205Intense orange petals with yellow tips that form a halo around the flower.Gaillardia a. SpinTop

Senecio candicans Angel Wings® PP28830This oh-so-popular, tender perennial is an exciting design option for mixed containers.Soft to the touch, broad, velvety leaves in dazzling matte silver steal the show with Senecio. Rarely flowering, it's all about that silky, serrated, succulent foliage. The large, bright leaves are impressive as a stand-alone specimen and sparkle as a side piece to blooming perennials in mixed containers.Easy to maintain, Angel Wings® is a tender plant that thrives in