Variegated forms were especially popular then. Pennisetum grasses have soft textured blossoms. Although ornamental grasses seem fairly new here, they have been popular in Europe, especially Germany, for much longer. Kurt Bluemel, a nurseryman, and Wolfgang Oehme, a German-born landscape architect, have been two strong advocates for the use of ornamental grass as a design element in landscapes for decades. Hot, dry seasons may convince us these tough beauties do have a place in our landscapes.
Many ornamental grasses are available in area nurseries.
With drought tolerance, year-round interest, little debris, and a large selection, grasses should be incorporated into the landscape with perennials and shrubs. Grasses provide a texture and color contrast against evergreen shrubs in winter and a soft green background for blooming plants in summer. In perennial beds, grasses can provide an upright form and help blend colors together. Variegated miscanthus varieties include horizontal striping, such as Zebra Grass and Porcupine grass, or verticle striping, as in 'Morning Light'. Special A combination of grasses with daylilies do not require edging or weeding - just mow up to them.