Phalaris Feesey's Form (Dwarf Garters) is grown for it's foliage, not for flowering...inconspicuous sums it up. Ribbon grasses in general are pretty spreading, they're a running grass. I always recommend Phalaris in an area where spreading may be desired or otherwise grow in a container.

If you want the cattail or foxtail like plume, try a Pennisetum grass.

$7 for a 3 gal is a good price, but only if it's what you want :) Try it out in a large container and you may like the look of the Phalaris. If you don't, no harm done and it's easier to give away a container than to dig up unwanted plants.

I absolutely love the look of this grass, but I absolutely HATE the way that it spreads and takes over. Plus, I don't really like the way it looks en masse.

With that said, I always plant it in a pot in the ground with the bottom of the pot cut out. I use a pot that is at least 10 inches high and at least 10 inches wide. You may have to dig it out every 2-3 years and divide and replant it. It sometimes gets so thick in the pot that I have to literally rip the pot apart to get the grass out, so I tend to use cheap old grower's pots that break apart more easily.

Best of luck!