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It’s practically blasphemy to rank any ornamental grass higher than world-famous Calamagrostis xa. ‘Karl Foerster’. It was the first grass ever named Perennial Plant of the Year, and rightly so. With sturdy vertical foliage and feathery plumes, it’s a handsome workhorse that makes a designer look like a genius. Not surprisingly, it’s among our top sellers. You’ll never hear us dis it.But we WILL say there are other options in the very same species that bring that same legendary reliability – all

Most ornamental grasses thrive in full sun. But most gardens include spots the sun never finds. Must those places remain grassless? Fortunately, no!The shaded landscape can also enjoy the graceful form and movement that only grasses bring. The go-to genus: Hakonechloa, Japanese forest grass.This sinuous beauty grows as water flows, welling up and cascading down in layers of pendant bamboo-like leaves. It’s happiest in shade, dappled or full. Northern growers can get away with brighter plantings,

Don’t get us wrong: We love Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’, the first grass named Perennial Plant of the Year. It’s every bit as versatile as the polymath whose name it proudly bears.‘Karl Foerster’ is one of those plants that makes a gardener or designer look like a genius. But the genus has a lighter side. To be more specific: Yipes! Stripes!Calamagrostis xacutiflora‘Overdam’The original variegated form, ‘Overdam’ looks much like ‘Karl Foerster’, but with creamy white vertical stripes

Jumpin’ Jack jumped for joy when he saw these at the garden center. Picked precisely for perfect pot performance, the ColorGrass® collection is irresistible at retail.Their trademark upright/cascading clump-forming habit can anchor stand-alone patio pots, or serve as the filler or spiller in mixed containers. That form also makes them a fine candidate to edge a border in full sun or part shade. Carex buchananii Red Rooster™Go ahead, count your chickens! The cock of the flock features red/

Andropogon gerardii, the North American native grass known as “big bluestem” is about as tough a plant as you can grow. But there’s a lot more to its story.For centuries, this genus dominated the tallgrass prairie. It’s been largely replaced there by other grasses like Zeamays and Triticumaestivum, a.k.a. corn and wheat.Andropogon has found new homes. A go-to plant for reclaiming damaged soils, it helps keep out exotic invasives. But thanks to modern breeding and selection, it’s increasingly wel