Some impossible plants from Strasbourg :)

Here they are:

A Miscanthus... (???) Can someone name the variety pls?



This 2m tall..., herbatious thing. :D



And this one. It comes from a hanging basket combination:





Thank you!

 

The 'herbaceous thing' is a Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)

Not sure about the others

 

1. Agree Miscanthus.
However, there are now many named cultivars.
So just a suggestion to get the same variegated leaf as your pic..
Miscanthus sinensis variegata.
See 6th pic down.

http://lovegrassfarm.blogspot.co.uk/2013_02_01_archive.html

 

Craig thompson and Silver surfer, thank you so much!
The miscantus in the sixth pic really looks the same!
I must admit I 'snatched' some seeds here and there on my trip.
Now I can see that Echinops ritro is a real hardy plant and seeds need stratification. As we're well under snow here, I think I might rush out today to start a batch in a pot outdoors.

I also read that it goes well with ornamental grasses, but would thrive in acidic soils. My plot is naturally acidic. However, I have grown dahlias near the grasses for 3 years now and the soil around is rich in potassium (which I added on purpose). I'll have to change this...

And..., I thought the Echinops' blue globular bloom would combine well with tall purple and pink dahlias (which now seems even more absurd! )

I'm dying to get the name of the pink one!