Carex morrowii ‘Ice Ballet’ – This Japanese sedge is essentially a creamy-yellow variegated form of ‘Ice Dance’, with broader margins on the leaves. It is reliably evergreen through winter and grows just about anywhere, from shade to full sun. The one thing it does require to thrive is even soil moisture throughout the growing season. Grows 18″ high by 12-24″ wide. Zone 5.
Chasmanthium latifolium ‘River Mist’ – This variegated form of Northern Sea Oats features green leaves with dominant (and irregular) white variegation that runs the length of the leaf. It has a very bamboo-like appearance (but is clumping in nature) and produces silvery-green seed heads in late summer, that turn coppery red in the fall. Grows 30-36″ high by 24-36″. Zone 5.
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gold Bar’ – A compact ‘Strictus’ or Porcupine grass with more variegation in the form of tightly packed horizontal gold bars on the upright green blades. This slow growing Japanese Silver Grass will take about 8 years to reach its ultimate height. It has burgundy-red plumes that appear in autumn and makes a spectacular centerpiece in containers. Grows 3-5′ high. Zone 5.
Hakonechloa macra FUBUKI (syn. ‘Briform’) – This part to full shade loving grass features an elegant arching growth habit that makes it a good choice for mass planting or growing as a solitary container specimen. It has a Japanese name that translates as ‘Snow Storm’ with green and white striped foliage that take on rosy-pink tones in the fall. Grows 14″ high by 16″. Zone 5.
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Eldorado’ – A sport of ‘Karl Foerster’ with narrow green upright leaf blades and inset gold variegation running along its length. This variegated form of Feather Reed Grass produces wheat-like plumes in early summer with subtle mauve tints which mature to buff in the fall. It is a cool-season grass. Grows 3 to 5′ high by 24″ wide. Hardy to zone 5.
Mike's Garden Top 5 Plants 