Ornamental grasses make wonderful additions to the landscape adding a sense of movement in the landscape as the foliage and flower heads are caught in the wind, and unlike herbaceous perennials the foliage of most ornamental grasses does not disappear in late fall but remains throughout the winter months to give added interest in the winter landscape.

One of the most well known annual grasses is Pampas Grass. There are actually many types of this grass but the most popular is Cortaderia selloana. This clump-forming grass is quite tall, reaching 10 feet in one growing season. The foliage is green to grayish with 1/2-1 inch wide leaf blade that are very sharp-edged. The seed heads are held above the foliage on sturdy stalks. The large, showy panicles appear silky after emergence but become fluffy with maturity. Panicle color ranges from creamy white to pink in the cultivar C. selloana 'Rosea'. The seed heads are produced in late summer and persist into winter. Pampas grass can be used as an accent planting in the landscape, as a screen or windbreak or at the edge of a pond. Pampas grass prefers moist, well drained soil with full sun and will be slower growing in dried soils.

Another great annual grass is Purple Fountain Grass, Pennisetum setaceum 'Atrosanguineum'. This ornamental grass is 3 1/2 feet tall with purple foliage and seed heads. The flowers emerge in early summer as soft, red-purple nodding plumes, 8-12 inches long. The plumes arch up and over the foliage. The color of the foliage and plumes make this plant a nice accent planted alone or in groups. Purple fountain grass prefers moist, well drained soil and full sun. The plants will tend to flop over if planted in too much shade.

Pennisetum villosum or Feathertop is native to Africa and is an example of a plant that is an aggressive weed in parts of the world, but works well as an attractive, annual grass in colder regions like Nebraska. Feathertop has blue-green foliage that forms spreading mats, 1-2 feet tall. The seed heads are drooping, foxtail-like flowers resembling white feather dusters. The flowers grow 2-5 inches long and emerge at greenish-white maturing to creamy white. The plant is killed at 20 degrees, but self sows prolifically. To ensure this plant does not become a problem, remove seed heads before they shatter. Feathertop is a showy grass planted either alone or in groups. It prefers moist, well drained soil with either full sun or light shade.