I'd definately try it. There are tons of great looking and fast growing annual grasses to try, and some of them would certainly provide winter interest.

Are you going to grow them from seed, or buy them as plugs/starts/etc.?

Look at the various Setaria species of Foxtail Millets. Some of them should hit 4' at least in your zone, and while they can be invasive reseeders in warmer zones, you'd probably just get nice seedheads with seeds which never ripen.

You can also use the seedheads and stems for indoors dried arrangements.

Here's the seedhead of Setaria faberi, AKA Giant Foxtail. This will give you an idea of what they can look like.

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Those seedheads are sitting on 5' stems in my zone, after starting them outside from seed in the spring. The seedheads are up to 8" long, and just stunning.

Wow that seedhead is gorgeous - I had thought of putting 1 mass planting of a different plant in each of the containers. Would the Giant Foxtail be okay to direct seed into a container?

Thanks

Fern

You could direct seed it into a container, but you might consider starting it indoors. With your short growing season, it could probably use a head start.

Check with your local AG people, and find out what sorts of annual grasses grow wild in your zone. Those could be started outdoors from seed.

And .... how about ornamental millet 'Purple Majesty' for a contrasting effect???

Here is a link that might be useful: purple millet

'P-Maj' and it's ilk may be tough in zone 2. I have trouble giving it enough growing season here in a warm zone 7, but I've only tried it from seed, and not from plugs...so far.

Oh wow - the purple millet majesty - I saw it in the garden tours here in Saskatoon last year - it was a beautiful feature plant - I'd forgotten what its name was - thanks

Fern

Donn, if you start your plants early enough (indoors) or buy them from a greenhouse they can be in bloom as early as June here in zone 5!
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These guys may be right in your neighbourhood! They sell lots of different annual grass seeds.

Here is a link that might be useful: Willliam Moore Farm