Read more: 50 Small Backyard Landscaping Ideas That Will Transform Your Space This Japanese forest grass variety gets its name from its gold-like color, which is especially beautiful in summertime ...

They can add beauty to your landscape with minimal effort ... inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii) and hair grass (Deschampsia caespitosa), like shade.

Clumping grasses add a vertical element to the landscape. Plus, if you enjoy bird watching, native grasses are a great choice.