In no particular order I favor the following grasses:

- Panicum v. "Heavy Metal" - the blue green color changing to deep wine in the fall is awesome. Very vertical in stature. A sentinel in the garden.

- Pennisetum a. "National Arboretum" - the soft yet vibrant green, 24" - 30" mounding or arching shape when the inflorescence opens it is almost black turning violet then to buff as the growing season ends. The flowers stand 12" or more above the leaf structure.

- Miscanthus s. "Bitsy Ben" - standing upright with its appliance white inflorescence. Probably my most favorite of the Miscanthus grasses.

- Miscanthus "Purpurascens" w/ its fall foliage turning red. A more vertical Miscanthus grass, as well as M.s. Mt. Washington an arching structure with its red foliage in the fall.

- Chasmanthium latifolium "Northern Sea Oats" - w/ its flat seeds dangling and clicking against itself as it shimmers in the breeze. Not a typical grass characteristic in appearance.

- Panicum virgatum "Shenandoah" w/ dark red foliage in the summer turning to deep wine in September.

Now through in some horizontally striped grasses such as M.s. Strictus (Porcupine) and M.s. Zebrinus (Zebra), M.s. "Jailbird Ben" which is smaller than the other two I mentioned.

- M.s. "Silberfeder w/ its wide leaves appearing white w/ green vertical stripes. A large grass in stature yet very attractive when planted with contrasting colors such as violet, burgundy, rose and blues.

- Calamagrostis a. "Karl Foerster" - an early riser in the spring, very vertical as it stands watching over the rest of the gardens.

With the above information I will stop as I have a very difficult time limiting myself to a select few.

Jake

Jake knows his grasses and I agree with him wholeheartedly on his picks. I will simply add/reiterate a few of my favorites.

Northern Sea Oats - Like Jake said, it is quite different than most other grasses. Wonderful late Summer/Fall effect with this one. Only problem I have is the ridiculous self-seeding it does. I'm always pulling out babies.

Schizachyrium scoparium "Little Blue Stem" - Beautiful Blue color all season , turning red in the fall. Great for dry conditions, too. I really like this planted in mass. It tends to be "floppy" when left on its own.

Elymus hystrix "Bottlebrush Grass" - Very unique, early season plumes. Mine is already in full "bloom" now and looks great. Loves shade, too. It does tend to get kind of ratty looking by the end of the summer, though.

Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Overdam' - Similar in habit and structure to Karl Foerster, but a foot or two shorter, and with variegated foliage.

Same as jake says, once I start I can't stop. There are so many more great grasses out there. Pick some and experiment. Have fun!

Yes, jake does know his grasses, but there is one more beauty to add here. Pennisetum o. 'Karley Rose'. I planted a tiny start of this in 2002. The following year she became a stunning 30" x 5' clump. It is later than most grasses to emerge in spring, but when it does it progresses rapidly. By early June she will be sending up smokey rose plumes, keeping that beautiful color and adding more and more plumes till a freeze. Heavy rain may beat it down, but in a few hours it in right back up. I divided my clump of Karley Rose into 3 pieces this April. All are in bloom and doing well now.

Jake and everyone else has hit the nail on the head.

I would add:
Panicum v. Cloud Nine - very upright and blue
Miscanthus s. Bluetenwunder - the inflorescence can not be believed
To go along with Karl Foerster & Overdam - Calamagrostis a. Avalanche. Overdam & Avalanche reverse their leaf color. One is green/white/green and the othere is white/green/white.

Thanks for asking.

George

Here is a link that might be useful: Grasses & Gargoyles

As Karen Carpenter sang " ... I've only just begun ....". It is so tough to not add a couple more grasses to "my favorite zone 5 grasses" list.

- Schizachyrium scoparium "Little Blue Stem" like Mr. M stated, a knockout blue throughout the growing season but it does have a tendency to flop. Generally too much moisture.

- Pennisetum o. 'Karley Rose' - a grass that I see as being fragile in its soft beauty but strong in its statement when it flowers. Have a couple clumps that sometimes donÂt perform as strongly as I hope but I never protect any of my grasses through the winter.

- Panicum v. "Rehbraun" another grass that turns red in the fall yet so different from the rest.

- Bouteloua curtipendula "Side Oat Grama" a short grass that I use as an under story or like a bed skirt around the base of taller shrubs or other grasses. The way the seeds point to one direction are totally cool.

- Eragrostis trichodes "Sand Love Grass" a grass that always appears to be dead yet the reddish brown color of the grass seems to bring out the beauty in other plant material.

- Festuca glauca "Elijah Blue" and other Fescue grasses. These short blue to blue green grasses add a mint julep sense of sight to any garden setting.

Okay!!! Once again I am going to stop rattling on about my favorite zone 5 grasses. Honest!!! I quit.

Jake

P.S> until I read the next post and what their favorite grasses are.

Finally planted some Jap. Bloodgrass & it is on fire in the morning, backlit by the sun. Impossible not to stare at!

Is it possible to have to much 'Karl Foerster?'

Planted 'Dallas Blues' Panicum 2 months ago, and cannot wait to see what it becomes! Like what I am seeing so far!

Little Bluestem is one tough & good looking grass. Drought & salt tolerant!

Enjoying this thread so much I just replied to encourage you all to "keep rattling on!" Do not have access to all the varieties you do, but am enjoying the conversation!

These picks (as excellent as they are) without pics must be maddening. And no one, not even Jake, listed Achnatherum calamagrostis (for which IÂve found only one source that, happily, is also in zone 5).

There are many outstanding grasses that will meet your conditions in zone 5. The best reference for these is Rick DarkeÂs Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses... DarkeÂs book, loaded with pics and sound horticultural info, is an quick reference to most grasses. Yet once opened, it can absorb the readerÂs interest for hours.

Here is a link that might be useful: Color Encyclopedia...

I have to put in a good word for Helictotrichon sempervirens. It's finicky to establish and tough to grow in containers but well worth the effort. It should thrive in the conditions described.

You guys are all "Right On" with your selections, but I am really surprised that no one has mentioned my favorite, Miscanthus sinensis "Morning Light". I love the stature of this grass coupled with the fine texture of its foliage. I would imagine my bias towaqrd this grass could be because it was the first grass I ever planted. You know how that first love thing goes. I am also partial to Miscanthus "Varigatus" and "Cosmopolitan" with their varigated foliage. Pennisetum "Karly Rose" does seem to be a well kept secret, and I have heard it is marginal in our z5 area. Maybe Jake can comment on his its hardiness.

Hello...My name is Jake....and I'm a grass-a-holic...

You know he's gunna post again !! ;)

Blackie

This is always so much fun finding out what are the favorites! We are down by the river and have very heavy clay soil, I am assumeing the grasses will have no problem with this. Also, have Darke's book so no pictures required. Also wondering about what your thoughts are of the giant reed.

Blackie57, here in west central PA about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh, Karley Rose has done very well for 4 winters now. This is a true zone 5 climate. It is planted out in the open, exposed to full sun, wind and whatever Mom Nature throws our way. The soil is somewhat amended clay, drainage isn't the greatest. I don't cut it back till I see new growth which this year wasn't till the first week in May. I would say that Karly is an excellent zone 5 grass. Jake is a little colder. I would like to see his comment on Karly Rose's hardiness also.

Here are Jake's grasses: Where there are no numbers by the grass that means it is already counted for in another bed.

Not all the grasses look really healthy as some had trouble getting through the winter. I know the wife has a couple of grasses in her perennial bed but I do not have them listed as grasses in my beds.

Have a look as this is all I've got. (I might have missed a grass or two. Need to take a REALLY good inventory).

Jake Grasses

EAST FENCE BED
1) Panicum virgatum "Heavy Metal" (7)
2) Miscanthus sinensis "Puncktchen" (3)
3) Miscanthus sinensis "Morning Dew" (3)
4) Pennisetum alupecuroides "National Arboretum" (2)
5) Miscanthus sinensis "Malepartus" (2)

WEST FENCE BED
6) Miscanthus sinensis "Jailbird Ben" (3)
7) Miscanthus sinensis "Yahu Jima" (3)
8) Miscanthus sinensis "Mt. Washington" (2)
Pennisetum alupecuroides "National Arboretum" (3)
9) Calamagrostis acutiflora "Karl Foerster" (1)
Miscanthus sinensis "Malepartus" (1)

ORIGINAL BED

10. Briza media " Hardy Quaking Grass" (9)
11. Festuca glauca "Blue Fescue (3)
12. Stipa tenuissima "Ponytails" (8)
13. Festuca glauca "Elijah Blue" (2)
14. Imparata cylindrical "Red Baron" (3)
15. Eragrostis trichodes "Sand Love" (4)
16. Panicum virgatum "Rehbraun" (1)
17. Calamagrostis acutiflora "Overdam" (3)
18. Festuca cinerea "Dwarf Fescue" (3)
19. Koleria glauca "Hair Grass" (1)
20. Deschampsia caespitosia "Northern Lights" (2)
21. Herlictotrichon sempevirens "Blue Oat Grass" (2)
    Calamagrotis acutiflora "Karl Foerster" (2)
22. Schizachyrium scoparium "The Blues" (1)
23. Calamagrotis brachytricha "Reed Grass" (2)
24. Panicum virgatum "Prairie Sky" (2)
    Miscanthus sinensis "Morning Light" (1)
25. Schizachyrium scoparium "Blaze" (3)
26. Miscanthus sinensis "Silberfeder" (1)

DECK (North Side)

27. Miscanthus sinensis "Grtacillimus" (3)
28. Erianthus ravennae "Hardy Pampus" (1)

DECK (South Side)

29. Miscanthus sinensis "Silberpfeil" (2)
30. Miscanthus purpurascens (3)

NORTH BED

31. Miscanthus sinensis "November Sunset" (2)
32. Pennisetum alopecuroides "Hameln" (2)
33. Pennisetum "Karly Rose" (2)

ROCK GARDEN BED

34. Miscanthus sinensis "Nippon" (3)
35. Miscanthus sinensis "Bubbler Ben" (3)

IN THE YARD

36. Miscanthus sinensis "Bitsy Ben" (3)
37. Miscanthus sinensis "Sarabande" (1)
38. Chasmathium latifolium "Northern Sea Oats (2)

WAITING TO BE PLANTED:

39. Calamagrostis acutiflora "Kalr Foerster Varigated" (2) (Not yet readily available to the mass market).
40. Miscanthus sinensis "Little Nicky" (2)
41. Deschampsia caespitosa "Tuffted Hair Grass" (2)

Back at everyone later.

Jake

In-credible !!

Oops! Misspelled a word "Jaka Jima" NOT !!! Try JakU Jima.

I am sure there are other spelling mistakes but hopefully everyone gets the idea that I kinda like ornamental grasses.

Ornamental grasses - a man's perennial. Plant it and water the first year as you sit and watch it grow.

"Cut it back in the spring, grab a chair and refreshment and watch the grass grow".

"Cut it back in the spring, grab a chair and a beer and watch it grow".

"Cut it back in ......." Whew!! Time for a refreshment. This watching is really making me tired and in need of a vacation.

Jake

Jake -

You made my day. What a list.......

Thanks!
George

Here is a link that might be useful: Grasses & Gargoyles

Jake, I'd love to see pictures of your beds. What a list you have. I've just started collecting grasses as I make more sun in my gardens, but I do have Karl Foerster, Blue Oat Grass, Blue Fescue, Northern Sea Oats, Miscanthus, but my favorite is Hakone. It's not always reliable in zone 5, so I was very happy when it showed up this spring and has grown to a healthy size so far. It's also for a shade garden, so that's a big plus for me.

My favorite find this year is this sedge called honey something...it looks and feels like a golden brown ponytail, very different. We'll see how it does over the winter.

My new best friend grass is Carex morrowii 'Silver Scepter' , but it's for shade. I like it even better than Hakonecloa. For sun my favorite is always Miscanthus Giganteus. I also love (Miscanthus) Gracillimus, and Gracillimus Nana, Ferner Osten, Huron Sunrise, Grosse Fontaine, and Klein Fontaine, Herkules, Molinia litorialis Windspiel,and Skyracer, and Panicum Heavy Metal.

Just found this post while researching some potential catalog buys, and was happy to see Karley Rose and molinia skyracer, etc mentioned. Thought I might bump this up so anybody else doing catalog shopping right now might get some good ideas.

Jeez...Jake you sure know your grasses.