gramma jan, my first question would be about the amount of sun they would get? Most of the grasses bloom best in sun locations. Deschampsia (tufted hair grass) will tolerate some shade but it has very delicate, airy looking blooms. It sounds like you are looking for something more like a miscanthus bloom. At any rate I've included a link to a publication from the U of MN on hardy ornamental grasses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ornamental grasses

hosta, love the looks of the feathergrass too.
gj

Full sun, various heights--these all grow in the clay soil of my metro area garden:

zebra grass
indian grass
little bluestem
karl forster
big bluestem
sideoats grama
(something else) grama [but it's rather short]
one of the panicums