Ornamental Millet Grasses

Jade Princess

• Developed by the Ball Horticultural Co., cultivar 'Jade Princess' grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. Its miniature, corn-like leaves are broad and rich-green in color. The plant's most ornamental is the upright flower spike that's burgundy-red. It's plump and resembles the tail of a long-haired cat. After the tiny flowers ends, the seed spike turns chocolate brown.

Jester

• Bronzed-burgundy leaves across its entire life distinguish 'Jester' from other ornamental millets. This cultivar grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The flower and seed plumes are a deep, blackened-maroon.

Purple Baron

• Growing 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide is the cultivar 'Purple Baron'. 'Purple Baron' foliage is green when it's a seedling, but then deepens quickly to a dark-burgundy or purple-black. The flower spikes is dark-burgundy but cream-colored when the tiny flower open.

Purple Majesty

• The tallest growing of the ornamental millet varieties, 'Purple Majesty,' matures 3 to 5 feet tall and no more than 2 feet wide. Its corn-like leaves are a blend of green, drab-purple and rich dark-burgundy. By late summer, the leaves are black-purple in full sun conditions. The seed plumes match the darkest leaf color and are beige when the tiny grass blossoms are open.