(Rice)

Cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) is among the 19 annual and perennial grasses that make up this genus. All are native to tropical and subtropical latitudes of Asia and Africa.

These grasses form spreading clumps of upright to lax stems furnished with long, blade-shaped, erect to arching leaves. Branching panicles of greenish flower "spikelets" appear at the stem tips, typically in summer. Each spikelet consists of a single, inconspicuous, wind-pollinated flower encased in a tough, ovoid...

(Rice)

Arguably the world's most important crop, cultivated rice has been a staple of Asian diets for more than 7,000 years. This annual grass was probably first domesticated in Southeast Asia and southern China from wild populations of the perennial Oryza rufipogon. Rice is now cultivated and consumed globally, but the bulk of the world's crop still originates in Asia. The lower Mississippi Valley and north-central California are centers of rice production in the United States.

This rhizomatous...

(Rice)

An ornamental variety of the world's most important crop, 'Nigrescens' is grown not for its grain but for its handsome deep-hued leaves.

This rhizomatous grass forms spreading clumps of upright stems lined with long, slender, deep-bronze leaves. Conspicuous, arching panicles of greenish flower "spikelets" appear at the stem tips in summer. Each spikelet consists of a single, inconspicuous, wind-pollinated flower enclosed in a tough, ovoid, flat-sided husk. The spikelets ripen to pale brown....

(Rice)

Arguably the world's most important crop, cultivated rice has been a staple of Asian diets for more than 7,000 years. This annual grass was probably first domesticated in Southeast Asia and southern China from wild populations of the perennial Oryza rufipogon. Rice is now cultivated and consumed globally, but the bulk of the world's crop still originates in Asia. The lower Mississippi Valley and north-central California are centers of rice production in the United States.

This rhizomatous...

(Clumping Bamboo, Mexican Weeping Bamboo)

Soft and fluffy with a decidedly weeping habit, this favorite of designers working in tropical or frost-free climates is unique among the bamboo clan. Mexican weeping bamboo is unsurpassed for unique texture that is highly valued and exaggerated when juxtaposing large-leaved architectural plants. This semi-evergreen bamboo is native to Mexico and intolerant of prolonged hard freezes in winter. Very fine-textured foliage on arching culm-stems -- drooping nearly to the ground -- may obscure the culm...

(Panicum)

This genus contains almost 500 species of annual or perennial grasses. Some species are useful as ornamentals, like the ever-popular Panicum virgatum, or Virginia switch grass. Other species, like the annual Panicum miliaceum (millet), are useful grains. These grasses may be adapted to a wide variety of climates, topographies, light-levels and soil conditions.

(Bitter Panicgrass, Coastal Panicgrass)

Bitter panicgrass's tall stems and leaves of mild blue-green color are topped by thin spires of yellow-green spikelet flowers by very late summer. A perennial warm-season grass that forms a clump, it is native to the southeastern third of the United States, eastern Mexico and the Caribbean islands, in coastal and inland sandy soils.

The grass blades are long and green to blue-green, held upright but arch over midway in their length. By late summer, a tall, think flowerspike rises up from the...

(Bitter Panicgrass, Coastal Panicgrass)

The steel blue leaves of ‘Dewey Blue’ make this selection of Bitter Panicgrass a striking ornamental, especially when it is topped by plumes of yellow-green spikelet flowers in very late summer. A perennial, warm-season grass that forms a clump, the parent species is native to the southeastern third of the United States. This selection tends to readily spread by rhizomes (underground stems) to create a large, flopping mass of leaves.

The leaves are long, narrow and powdery steel blue, held upright...

(Switchgrass)

If you have a spacious garden and want a pleasing airy ornamental grass, look no further. The highly adaptable and ornamental switchgrass offers interest throughout most of the growing season. This very hardy perennial bunchgrass is native to the fields and prairies of the United States and Canada. It has a tall upright habit and is popular for native gardens with a soft and natural feel.

The blades of switchgrass are long, narrow, densely packed and upright. Foliage color varies from medium...

(Cloud Nine Switchgrass, Switchgrass)

As the name would suggest, this is one tall switchgrass. The big bold 'Cloud Nine' has soft gray-green foliage and bears large airy floral plumes in summer.

The highly adaptable and ornamental switchgrass offers interest throughout most of the growing season. This very hardy perennial bunchgrass is native to the fields and prairies of the United States and Canada. It has a tall upright habit and is popular for native gardens with a soft and natural feel.

The blades of switchgrass are long,...