Japanese Blood Grass

Japanese Blood Grass ( Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra' ) reaches its peak of ornamental red leaf color during the cool days of fall. This ornamental grass is rhizomatous, or sod-forming and can be an aggressive spreader, especially in moist soil conditions. It's use here is an excellent example of how it can be a successful landscape element when pavements or landscape management techniques keep it restrained.

--Mike Dana, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University