Very popular for use in large perennial beds, often seen grown as a large specimen or focal point in parks and botanical gardens. Plants form a tall upright clump of corn-like leaves, strongly striped with green and white or creamy-yellow. Spikes of pinkish flowers may appear in the autumn. Roots can become large and woody, so division of old clumps in spring can become quite a task. Where not hardy this may be grown in a container, cut back in late fall and wintered indoors.