Pennisetum alopecuroides

Fountain Grass

The fat, fluffy flower plumes of Pennisetum alopecuroides add a touch of whimsy to the summer garden. The pinkish plumes sway gracefully atop a 3-4 foot high mound of bright green foliage.

The leaves turn a golden-tan in the fall and can be left in place until spring to add interest to the barren winter landscape. You can remove the flower heads if you want to keep the plants from self seeding which they are strongly inclined to do.

When planted in the ground, fountain grass forms clumps which will grow larger each season. Eventually, the center will die out. When this happens, it's time to dig the clump up and divide it, discarding the center. This can be done in the spring or early fall.

Plants can be used singly, but they give the best show when planted in groups of three--either spaced apart in a row or in a tight triangle to look like one fat, sassy plant. A large drift backing shorter summer annuals is especially appealing.

P. alopecuroides will tolerate dry, sandy soil but will give a better performance in rich, moist soil. A full sun exposure will give the biggest flower show.

There is a dwarf fountain grass called Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln' which grows to half the size of P. alopecuroides which is perfect for enhancing smaller garden spaces.

'Little Bunny' dwarf fountain grass tops out at 1 foot tall making it the perfect addition to small container gardens. The blooms of this cultivar are white.

These grasses are hardy in zones 5-9. Shear them 6 inches from the ground each spring before new growth begins to refresh the clumps. Once the grass is cut back and you can see the ground beneath it, scatter some granular fertilizer around the clumps of top dress the planting area with organic compost.

Buy Fountain Grass Plants

Perennial Fountain Grass This perennial grass grows quickly to its full height of 3-4' with a 2-3' spread.

Fireworks Fountain Grass An upright grass form whose variegated foliage puts on a real summer show!

Purple Fountain Grass
How to care for purple fountain grass. Pruning purple leaved fountain grass which is a perennial in zones 9-11. Growing red fountain grass in the California climate.

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