Grasses

Some species of grasses are grown in horticulture as attractive foliage plants. Some varieties have been developed with variegated leaves, that is, with foliage that is mottled with green or white areas. Examples include reed canary-grass (Phalaris arundinacea) and bent-grass (Agrostis stolonifera). Various species of bamboos, both large and small, are also cultivated in gardens in climates where the winters are not severe. The pampas grasses (Cortaderia spp.) are tall, herbaceous grasses that are cultivated for their large, whitish fruiting heads.

Of course, grasses are also the most commonly cultivated plants to develop lawns around homes, public buildings, parks, and golf courses. Various species are favored as so-called turf-grasses, depending on the soil type, climate, amount of shading that the site has, and the type of use that the lawn is likely to receive. Commonly used species include Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), meadowgrass (P. palustris), Canada bluegrass (P. compressa), bent-grass (Agrostis tenuis), red-top (a. alba), creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra), tall fescue (F. arundinacea), and ryegrasses (Lolium perenne and L. multiflorum).