I have had a longstanding fondness for Carex or sedge, ever since a discarded one survived the winter in my compost heap. Carex can be differentiated from true ornamental grasses because their blades are triangular. What many of them share with ornamental grasses is their enthusiasm for self-seeding, so they are often recommended with caution.
Carex 'Hedgehog Grass' is a compact, upright grower that gets to about 2' high. It's just as happy in partial shade as it is in sun and makes a nice accent in containers. This variety is a biennial. I don't know if it self-seeds, but if you'd like to keep it around for several years, try letting it go to seed in the fall of its second year. If you're worried about it becoming invasive, simply trim it before it goes to seed. (Biennial. USDA Zone 4.)