Breaking ornamental grass news in my garden:
Pennisetum ‘Desert Plains’ just started blooming after only having been planted this spring:
Panicum ‘Ruby Ribbons’ with fantastic color even though it has been a struggle to get this one established: 
Andropogon gerardii ‘Red October’ a color-palooza right now: 
Helictotrichon ‘Sapphire’ (Blue Oat Grass) also with phenomenal color when exposed by the sun:
The stately blooms on Molinia ‘Skyracer’ (Tall Moor Grass) continue to put on a show for weeks now:
The blooms of Panicum (Switch Grass) intertwined with Lobelia vedrariensis: 
And if they haven’t proven their worth enough, ornamental grasses even provide support for taller blooming perennials, like this Helenium (Sneezeweed) supported by Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’: 
John, how would you say Ruby Ribbons compares to your favorite Rotstrahlbusch? Does it color earlier? More colorful? Are both the same color?
Sharmin – Rots literally took off from day one and had great red color in year one. It usually starts to get that great red color by the end of July and it still looks great into September. For reasons still unknown, I cannot get Ruby to establish at all. For three years now it hasn’t exceeded two feet in height. But, that color is so promising that I cannot give up. Potentially, it looks to have better color than Rots.
Thanks. I am trying to pick one out for myself that shows the red early and has a lot of red. Can’t decide based on online descriptions alone. There are so many available now – Rotstrahlbusch, Shenandoah, Ruby Ribbons, Cheyenne Sky, Hot Rod, Blood Brothers, Prairie Fire and maybe there are others
Well, John, Sharmin , typed the question almost word for word that I was about to. I am obsessed with getting a panicum that turns burgundy as early as possible. I have been doing research myself and several of the ones you listed are on my list…Hot Rod and Prairie Fire. I have some very vigorous clumps of what is probably Shenendoah and they are much more red than Heavy Metal or Northwind. I have a spot that I have traditionally planted clumps of the annual fountain grass ‘Rubrum’ but I was wanting to replace those with a perennial grass. I adore the airy seedheads of switchgrass. But you are saying that ‘Ruby Slippers’ hasn’t thrived yet. Did you get it through mail order and were the starter plants real small? Any info would be helpful. Thank you.
Michaele – I purchased ‘Ruby Ribbons’ through the mail and it was real tiny. I do think the rabbits nibble it down a few times each year so that may be a factor. I will say the color on it though is phenomenal. I also highly recommend Andropogon gerardii ‘Red October’. It already has deep red/purple/wine color after only having it for a year and all started out real small.
Thanks, John, off to do some google searches.