Reminiscent of wide plains stretching to the horizon, kissed by a glowing sunset, Panicum 'Shenandoah' is a favourite for prairie-style planting schemes. Steely blue-green upright blades are tipped with deep red in early summer, followed by the tall stems bearing a profusion of dainty, roseate flowers that shimmer in the wind.

With a perennial grass as elegant as Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah', the scope for mellow planting combinations is endless. Why not pair it with hot-coloured Monarda 'Fireball' and Echinacea 'Green Twister' to create your very own corner of the wild, wild West? Leave the foliage in place to provide structural interest in autumn, before cutting back in late winter ready for new growth to emerge.