Help to Identify 2 plants please!

Greenish Fingered Girl

Hello,

i am new to gardeners world and hoping some fellow keen gardeners could help me to identify 2 lovely plants we have in our garden. I also would like advice on what to do with the grass as it’s a lovely teddy brown colour in autumn but I’m not sure what it does in spring and some of the ends look dry and dead to me? Can anyway also shed some light on why their is only leaves on the ends of the stems on the tall plant?  

Thanks so much in advance! 

Trainee Gardener

Bijdezee

The plant with the leaves at the end looks a bit rhododendron or azalea like to me. Did it have any flowers? Before the leaves? It's rather unusual looking.

For the grass  I think it depends on what type of grass it is. For some you remove the old dead parts by combing your fingers all through it. Others need a harsh cutting down around now. Yours looks like a type of carex which would be in the first group. 
Might be a good idea to google it a bit and see which one you have. 

On the other hand i might be totally on the wrong track, just some thoughts. 

nutcutlet

the grass is Anemanthele lessoniana, formerly Stipa arundinacea, aka Pheasant Grass

Greenish Fingered Girl

Thanks for the comments Bijdeeze and Nutcutlet! 

It had very small flowers but not like an Azaela flower, it’s very strange haha! I’m thinking I’ll trim the long bits backs in the autumn. Just strange only the ends have leaves on too! 

Ahh Perfect, I did have a google and pheasant grass was a suggestion, I’ll read up about it’s care and what to do about the brown bits. Thanks again

nutcutlet

I grow that grass as a short term plant. It seeds around so there are always news ones and I discard the brown plants.

Greenish Fingered Girl

Ahh fab, thanks! Fingers crossed for seedlings! 😃