jb..please see the thread titled "Newbie looking for direction." It's one of the first few threads on this forum. Regarding M.s. Gracillimus. I don't think you'll find a commercial source for the seed, and I'd be surprised if you can find a trading source for viable seed. I've tried seed from 3 different traders, and have been unable to get any germination. Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is easy to grow from seed.

I completely agree with Donn, growing grasses in plugs or small pots is better than direct seeding. Once you plant the plugs, it's easier to keep the area weed free while the plugs gain in size. You didn't say, but I'm assuming this is a sunny site. You also didn't mention if you wanted a taller grass or a low growing one. If low growing, and if you don't care that the grass may reseed then I would also suggest Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca). This one is tough as nails, and if you let the self sown seedlings grow, then you can just pull up and toss the older plants in 3-4 years instead of lift and divide. These are a snap to grow from seed, put on a lot of growth in the first year and are full size and blooming in the second year. For taller grasses, Panicum virgatum is hardy for me, although blooms too late to really enjoy the blooms much. Calamagrostis brachytricha has also proven hardy for me. I grew it from seed and in the second year they were full, well-developed plants reaching about 4'. These, too, don't bloom until late August although the blooms are beautiful and hold up thru winter. Deschampsia is proving to be a favourite of mine and is a great suggestion. If you're set on growing from seed then the following won't apply, but I cannot recommend Calamagrostis acutiflora Karl Foerster enough. It is an amazing grass for cold zone gardeners. It has tall growth by June followed by blooms and reaches about 5'. The blooms go thru many stages and colours and hold up well thru winter snows. You can't grow it from seed though, but it's widely available at the nurseries come spring, one gallon plants usually about $5, well worth it, I think. Another plant that I grow but I know a lot of gardeners hate is Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea). This is a rampant spreader, but if your area is surrounded by mown grass or bordered in some way then the plant may work. It is also very hardy, blooms out at about 4' and doesn't seed out (I've never found a seedling). I don't find it difficult to keep the runners in check, they pull up very easy in my soil. I have it in a number of places, one area is bordered by mown grass so the runners just get mown down - no problem. In another area I have the pink/green variegated (this is really beautiful in the early spring - emerging shoots are really, really pink before they take on the variegation). It's a clump in the middle of an area that gets a lot of foot traffic around it and although the clump has gained in size, it is not spreading out of control. Most gardeners would advise against this plant but I've not had any great trouble with it at all. You can't grow it from seed (that I'm aware of) but I'm sure any gardener would be more than willing to give you some if they have it, or if you purchase a 1 gallon container of it, you'd be able to split it up into several plants. I found dried heads of Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata) last year in a ditch and I really like the look of them. I think the plant, though, really had little in the way of foliage and that which was there wasn't very appealing. The problem with any type of pasture, or forage grass is that they are really meant for animal foraging, they don't grow into huge clumps and aren't strong stemmed plants. They're generally grown for the green to feed cattle/horses, and not for the bloom or ornamental value. In any case, some do have nice blooms, like Orchard Grass, or another is Phleum pratense, aka Timothy grass. I'm sure both will self sow readily but I'm also fairly certain they're short lived, relying on reseeding instead of longevity. But if you're looking for more of a natural or meadow look instead of clumps of grasses spaced at intervals, then the Orchard Grass, perhaps mixed with another (like the Timothy grass which blooms out later and has more foliage) would be a good pick. Hope this helps.

I'm no expert, but I'd bet Bermuda will take those conditions a lot better than fescue. Bermuda's low, loves full sun, and seems to like the heat a lot more than fescue, which seems to prefer cooler weather and shade. Denna

I second the Panicum and Schizachyrium, but even thinking of varieties like Miscanthus "Rotsilber", Miscanthus "Flamingo", Misc. "Grazielle", Misc. "Ferner Osten", Sorghastrum nutans "Sioux Blue" ( yellows, marbled orange, and tans), Eragrostis trichodes ( soft pink airy panicles, red, orange, and yellow fall color),lower varieties like Eragrostis spectabilis (great lower grass with bright purple flowers and fall color), Holcus lanatus, Boetuloua gracilis( red tinge to the stalks and then fades) and varieties of Panicum like Dallas Blues, Cloud Nine, Heavy Metal, Rostralbusch, and Shenandoah. And don't forget the other great cultivar of Schizachyrium. Most people forget about "Blaze", which has better fall color than "The Blues". "The Blues" is a great plant for the blue growth and magenta highlights on the seed stalks, but if you want a plant that is on fire, try "Blaze" if you can find it. Oh ya, don't forget your Carex family for borders, filling, and add textures.