254 Landscape Design, Installation, and Management Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. are visually unique due to these differences. These grasses have a wide color range and varying leaf size and textures. They can be used as focal points eas- ily due to their unique aesthetic qualities. The blooms and seedheads are also unique and visually appealing. Ornamental grasses also provide movement and interest during the winter season. Ornamental grasses are very drought tolerant due to their strong fi brous root system that has very effi cient water uptake. Their resistance to drought make them excellent candidates for some xeriscapes. Clump-forming spe- cies grow in neat mounds and are not invasive. However, rhizome-forming species can quickly spread if not kept under control. Designers must choose species carefully as ornamental grasses range in height from a few inches to several feet. Grass-Like Plants Grass-like plants resemble grasses but belong to different families. Carex, for example, is a type of sedge that belongs to the Cyperaceae family. Grass- like plants and ornamental grasses are not only aesthetically pleasing, they are very useful in problem areas of the land- scape. Both types of plants, for example, can be selected to tolerate shade, wet areas, and drought. Plants can also be selected to fl ourish in both the cool sea- son and the warm season. Grass-like plants include sedges, rushes, and cat- tails, Figure 10-17. Jahina_Photography/Shutterstock.com Figure 10-16. Ornamental grasses and grass-like plants provide interesting colors, flowers, and textures. They are also great options when landscaping a site that is in full sun and receives little moisture. Christopher D. Hart MLN/Shutterstock.com Figure 10-17. Sedges and cattails are plants that resemble grasses but are not true grass plants. Job Narinnate/Shutterstock.com