When most people think about grass, they think of the green stuff that grows on their lawn. But ornamental grasses are like ornamental flowers, they come in various colors and are bright and vibrant.

Did you know that grass - healthy grass - comes in more colors than various shades of green? There are dozens and dozens of species, in various colors ranging from bright red , gold, copper, bronze, blue and silver. By selecting grasses with various complimentary hues, your garden can be a riot of color in all seasons.

Gold and yellow grasses (common name) Ogon Variegatus Skinner's Gold Bronze Aurea Golden Toupee

Blue and gray grasses Superba Siskiyou Blue Canyon Prince Cloud Nine Dallas Blues

Dark-leaved grasses Red Baron Nigrescens Shenandoah Burgundy Giant Pele's smoke

Just as roses are given popular names, so are grasses. "Skinner's Gold," for example, is a ornamental grass, clump-forming and cool season, that typically grows to 2' tall and spreads by creeping rhizomes. Their leaf blades are typically 6-12" long and feature attractive green and gold vertical striping." 'Skinner's Gold' is a native-European grass, but it has been cultivated in the United States with success.

"Canyon Prince" is a native Californian grass. The flower spikes to 6' tall.

"Red Baron" is a Japanese blood grass. Its foliage is green with red tips - and looks best when the light shines through it. Experts suggest that they be planted in masses or among rocks.

Just as studying the history of flower propagation is a fascinating hobby, so is the study of the cultivation of grasses, the history of their naming and of their usage. (It also provides some good stories to tell around a barbecue or picnic out on the patio.)

If you'd like to plant ornamental grasses in your landscape, you must first conduct a pH test of the soil in the areas where you intend to plant them, so you know whether the soil is acidic or alkaline. Most plants grow best in slightly acidic soil.

You'll also want to discuss the types of grasses you wish to use with your local gardening expert, to make sure that they are suitable for your local climate. Find out what kind of care they need in each season - some grasses are perennials that will spring back to life year after year, but some are annuals and will need to be replanted.

While ornamental grasses look fine on their own, in various contrasting colors and styles, they can also make a suitable background for various flowers. It all depends on your imagination and your desire to create a unique and beautiful landscape.