Purple Fountain Grass
Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
Popular, drought tolerant grass forms neat clumps of purplish maroon blades. Topped by rose red flower spikes summer through fall. Beautiful as landscape specimen or planted in groups. Provides quick annual color in any climate. Perennial in warm climates.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | pen-i-SEE-tum se-TAY-see-um |
| Key feature: | Waterwise |
| Plant type: | Ornamental Grass |
| Garden style: | Cottage |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Semi-evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 8 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 8 - 24, 26 - 29 |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | Moderate growing 2 to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Narrow |
| Flower attributes: | Flowers for Cutting, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, Easy Care, Waterwise |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Rock Garden |
| Flower color: | Red |
| Blooms: | Summer through fall |
| Foliage color: | Purple |
| Item no.: | 6427 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. For a neat appearance, remove old foliage before new leaves emerge. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years in early spring.
Design Ideas
This is without a doubt the most gorgeous Fountain Grass. Growing to four feet tall, its bronzed foliage is beautiful throughout the season, not just in autumn. It is indispensable for dry streambeds and a lovely fluffy accent in dry gardens. Provides wildlife habitat around water holes and ponds, and adds its billowy character to homegrown meadows. Makes a great erosion-control plant on slopes, both cut and fill. Equally at home in big Southwestern ceramic pots or classical Italian terra-cotta on posts and walls, or ganged around entries, steps and gateways. Try three or four matched potted specimens spaced evenly on steps or line them against a bare, light colored stucco wall.
Popular, drought tolerant grass forms neat clumps of purplish maroon blades. Topped by rose red flower spikes summer through fall. Beautiful as landscape specimen or planted in groups. Provides quick annual color in any climate. Perennial in warm climates.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. For a neat appearance, remove old foliage before new leaves emerge. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years in early spring.
Design Ideas
This is without a doubt the most gorgeous Fountain Grass. Growing to four feet tall, its bronzed foliage is beautiful throughout the season, not just in autumn. It is indispensable for dry streambeds and a lovely fluffy accent in dry gardens. Provides wildlife habitat around water holes and ponds, and adds its billowy character to homegrown meadows. Makes a great erosion-control plant on slopes, both cut and fill. Equally at home in big Southwestern ceramic pots or classical Italian terra-cotta on posts and walls, or ganged around entries, steps and gateways. Try three or four matched potted specimens spaced evenly on steps or line them against a bare, light colored stucco wall.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | pen-i-SEE-tum se-TAY-see-um |
| Key feature: | Waterwise |
| Plant type: | Ornamental Grass |
| Garden style: | Cottage |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Semi-evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 8 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 8 - 24, 26 - 29 |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | Moderate growing 2 to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Narrow |
| Flower attributes: | Flowers for Cutting, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, Easy Care, Waterwise |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Rock Garden |
| Flower color: | Red |
| Blooms: | Summer through fall |
| Foliage color: | Purple |
| Item no.: | 6427 |
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Monrovia soil products
The best fertilizer to use with this plant is All-Purpose Plant Food.view soil products