PlantFiles: Korean Feather Reed Grass, Achy Breaky Heart Grass, Diamond Grass, Fall Blooming Reed Grass
Stipa brachytricha

I discovered this grass last year and I love it. It has a different look to it in comparison of the overused but earlier flowering Karl Foerster. This Grass has nice form and good contrast with the thicker leaf blades with really fine flowers above them. Its small enough to remain formal but has a slight informal character to it. This grass is supposedly more shade tolerant than most. It has another plus of keeping itself in good condition over winter to provide some winter interest.

Dynamite grass! The plumes are one of the most beautiful of all the grasses. If you can site it where it will be back-lit by the late day or early morning sun, it really excels. Care-free, it is a nice small size - my four year old ones are about four feet to the top of the plumes. Check out my photo. A must-have!

Victor

This is one of my absolutely favorite grasses. Calamagrostis brachytricha stays in a nice, tight clump. The light green foliage sways gracefully in the breeze and the blooms hold up well and are almost iridescent when the sun hits them. Highly recommended. We are in NW IL - Zone 5 - and the grass has come back with no damage for 2 years in our clay garden in partial shade.