Bottlebrush Grass

Hystrix patula
Also called Elymus hystrix. A perennial ornamental grass, reaching up to 3 feet, that looks great when used in groups. It is native to moist woods or grassy slopes in the eastern North America ( from southeast Saskatchewan to Thunder Bay, Ontario to Sault Ste Marie to Haliburton, Ontario to southern Quebec to Nova Scotia; south to eastern Oklahoma to northern Alabama to far northern Georgia to central North Carolina ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it is noted as occurring locally at Point Pelee, the Lake Erie Islands and on the Ohio shore during the 1800s. It was abundant at Detroit, Michigan during that time.
The foliage is green during summer, turning to brown during early autumn.
The flower plumes appear during summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8, thrives on dry soil in partial to full shade.