Grasses never produce flowers with petals like this plant has.

Yes Pam!!!! Thank you so much, I knew it was not japanese blood grass as I have it in my garden. Unfortunately pennisetum is not available in nurseries in Western Australia yet, they told me it will be another 6 months until the plants are on the shelves. I bet they will cost an arm and a leg. I think it should do well in our Mediterranean climate (very hot and dry in summer and cool and wet in winter).

I think we've had this discussion before. Japanese blood grass, Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron" (or less commonly 'Rubra') is a very slow to establish, slow to spread and rarely flowering (therefore seed-producing) form of cogon grass. The species IS invasive and rarely if ever seen in commerce, however I can find no evidence that has firmly concluded the cultivar 'Red Baron' produces the same aggressive behaviour and it is generally considered not to be invasive (nor is it listed on many invasive plant lists), certainly NOT in zone 5. This grass is widely grown in my area and I've yet to encounter any reversion back to the species nor any indication of flowering/seeding or aggressive behaviour. Rather, it is an extremely slow-to-establish grass and demonstrates quite the opposite of any invasive characteristics.

I agree with Donn, deadheading blooms rarely helps promote grasses to bloom more. Cutting back foliage, however, does promote tillering and new basal growth. My advise though with those beautiful purple fountain grasses is to leave them on their own and let them bloom like crazy in the warm weather.