Tussock grass

This is a spectacular fountain-shaped grass, with tall sprays of silver-tinted purple flower-heads erupting from evergreen foliage. The seed-heads persist well into winter and turn bronze-brown with age. They are good for cutting to dry for winter flower arrangements, but also look attractive in the garden when rimed with frost. Since it thrives in light shade, this is a good grass to grow in borders between shrubs and perennials, and also looks good teamed with foliage plants such as hostas and hardy ferns.