There are numerous 'clumping' ornamental grasses including 'Karl Foerster' feather reed grass that will slowly expand but aren't thugs (but yes, you are wise to do your research before you plant). The seeds of KF are sterile. Check out a good book on grasses at your library as well as sites such as Kemper Center for Home Gardening (www.mobot.org). In Zone 4 cool season grasses such as KF will make their presence known much earlier than the warm season grasses (although I still wouldn't be without miscanthus purpurascens or little bluestem). Variegated feather reed grasses include Overdam, Eldorado, and Avalanche (just added Avalanche this year). Karl Foerster is a real favorite in my garden, on my windy slope it adds some vertical punch with no staking worries, as well as movement, and is especially nice when the seedheads are backlit by the sun.

I adore ornamental grasses and how they enhance my beds. I make use of the Overdam mentioned by darwingardener, but also many more varieties. Research the grasses and keep asking questions. I find that recently, fewer of the invasive types are sold without a warning. I'd be reluctant to buy from a plant sale unless I'd researched carefully. Often the spreaders are the ones people are getting rid of.

Yet, even some of the spreaders can be tamed by removing their influorescences for indoor appeal before the seeds spread far and wide.

Think about where you want to use them and how to combine them with what you have. There are grasses of all sizes and colours and some for shade as well. Some tolerate wind better than others.

Bluestem is another good source of information. They specialize in grasses for cold climates, and have a great comparison chart, as well as several articles on landscaping with grasses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bluestem Ornamental Grass Chart

Ornamental grasses are wonderful, especially in fall. Many are not invasive at all, and you can find some for dry soil and some for moist (but not standing water). Some Miscanthus varieties are beautiful and non invasive. 'Adagio' is one of my favorites. Plus they dont require fertilizing, no fussing and blend well with many other perennials. Have fun exploring!

Jen

Don't be "skeered".
You garden in CA, right jxa44? I believe I've seen you in the SALVIA forum.
KF is a good one. It will grow into a big clump eventually, but at that point, just dig it up and divide it. The process is very easy.
Some other good CA grasses are MUHLENBERGIA, check out "strictus" & "capillaris".
MISCANTHUS "yaku jima" or "morning light" are also good...not as large as some Miscanthus.
There are some nice CAREXes to grow too. These are usually smaller grasses, but very worthwhile.
None of the grasses I've mentioned is a "thug".
You want to watch out for some PENNISETUMs that reseed.
Grasses & large-leaved salvias make for some nice planting combos.

Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement! I think you've all helped me to conquer my feear of planting ornanmental grassess -- i ain't a-skeered no mo ;-)

Thanx too for the vendor sources as well. But I think I'm going to try to find a local nursery that may even have some grasses on display.

And deep roots -- yep, that's me the same poster from the salvia forum. I get around, huh? :-)

For those of you trying to help me decide on an o. grass for my garden, some statistics -- I live in northern california, in an area that gets sweaty hot summers (100 degrees in July and August) cold, cold winters (usually a hard frost, and often snow) along with a lot of rain (6-8 feet, yes, I said *feet* of rain). It's pretty here, but a challenging place to try to create a garden.

Ooophs! I have one last question that I forgot to put in the above posting -- I've seen Muhlenbergia sometimes called "deer grass". I love it, but anything that will attract more herds of deer to my property I shy away from. Does anyone know if this grass is called "deer grass" because the deer are attracted to it?

Thanx!

"Deer Grass" is Muhlenbergia rigens, and is a super drought-tolerant bunch grass. It was named Deer Grass because does shelter their fawns under it while they're out browsing. Most ornamental grasses are deer resistant, because the deer can't deal with the siliceous foliage.

OOPS. My bad. I meant Muhlenbergia "rigens", not "strictus". Deer grass. 2 foot tall by 3 feet around with the (in my opinion) coolest flowering plumes. Lots of thin whiplike plumes. Adapted well to CA, if it's not a native.
Don't know about fawns, but my cat loves to hide in it.

WARNING: you have entered the OG phase of your gardening career. It's a whole 'nother world when you incorporate OGs into your garden design. But a better world....congratulations.