Sesleria autumnalis is a meadow grass reaching twelve to eighteen inches with light green foliage. Flowers appear in the spring and fade gracefully throughout the summer. It tolerates a wide range of conditions. Sesleria caerulea is low growing to eight inches tall, The leaves are green on the bottom, silver on top and slightly twisted so that both colors are visible. Flowers are inconspicuous.
Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ and ‘Siskyou Blue’ are both silvery grasses, growing about eighteen inches tall. They make great accents in the garden and they are easy to grow, requiring minimal water and care. They form charming clumps which look great in almost any landscape and are particularly handsome amongst rocks or along dry stream beds.
Carex divulsa (Berkeley sedge, formerly known as Carex tumulicola) is a bright, evergreen grass twelve to eighteen inches tall. It tolerates some traffic, drought, full sun and boggy conditions and is one of the best sedges for ground cover. It looks best with part shade and is hardy to ten degrees.
Carex tenuiculmis is a handsome, brownish red grass. It grows two to three feet tall in full sun and needs only minimal water. Carex testacea is another colorful grass that has very bright orange blades when planted in full sun. It stays attractive throughout the year and likewise requires only minimal water once established.
Bamboo is really a giant grass, hence its inclusion in the grass category. There are two main types of bamboo – clumping and running. Clumping varieties will increase gradually and not take over the universe. Bambusa and most Fargesia will do well in this area. Running bamboos can become very invasive if allowed to do so, but…