Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Prairie Winds ® ' Desert Plains ' fountain pasturage . pic by : Proven Winners
outflow pasturage ( Pennisetum ) is a fond - season ornamental Gunter Grass aboriginal to tropical , semitropic , and temperate regions across the world . This attractive flora is characterized by an upright clip-clop substance abuse , refined cascading foliage , and showy bottlebrush plumes . The foliage and flower spike wafture in the slight breeze , bring movement , grain , and structure to beds , borderline and containers .
“ repeated grasses are subservient when designing undestroyable landscape that necessitate little alimony . They are also used frequently by designers look to make sustainable landscapes that sustain and sustain wildlife,”says Susan Martin of Proven Winners .
This versatile plant thrives in full sun , heat and humidness , and is gloomy maintenance once establish . BecausePennisetumis not native to the U.S. , some varieties may be invasive in certain regions , so care should be taken when select and using fountain grass in your garden . Here ’s how to arise and apply fountain grass in your yard .
On this page : Basics|Types|Planting|Care|Containers|Varieties|Frequently Asked Questions|Design Ideas
BASICS
Botanical name:
Pennisetumspp .
Common names:
Fountain pot , Oriental fountain grass , genus Pennisetum
Plant type:
Hardy repeated or tender perennial ( sometimes grow as an annual )
Zones:
5 - 11 , depending on the potpourri
Exposure:
Full Lord’s Day
Habit:
Upright , arching , mounding , or dwarf riding habit
Mature size:
1 to 8 invertebrate foot tall , 1 to 4 feet wide
Bloom time:
Summer to strike
Foliage:
Slender grassy leaves fall out in colour of green , purple , chartreuse and variegation . Some varieties have spill color .
Flowers:
Bottlebrush flower spikes grow on longsighted thin base above the foliage in color of red , purple , pinkish , blanched , pig , and tan . Seed head occur from summertime into dip , and can hold on through much of the wintertime .
Is fountain grass deer resistant?
Deer receive outpouring grass disgustful for the penetrating leafage edge and prickly flower heads . Though outpouring grass is deer resistant , cervid will eat almost any plant if they are hungry enough .
Is fountain grass poisonous?
jet grass is considered non - toxic to pets and child . Mild stomach distraint may occur if plants are take in in large sum of money .
TYPES OF FOUNTAIN GRASS
There are two types of outpouring grass :
Prairie Winds ® ‘ Lemon Squeeze ’ fountain smoke . pic by : Proven Winners
“ The unequaled affair with ‘ Lemon Squeeze ’ is its foliage — it has that chartreuse green foliage , so even before its vast beauty of plumes emerges , the foliage really place upright out in full sun gardens . ”Comparing Ornamental Grasses , Heidi Grassman , Garden Crossings .
WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW TO PLANT FOUNTAIN GRASS
When to plant:
expect until all danger of Robert Frost is past in your area . Annual type are more cold - sensible and may not seem in garden mall until tardy spring . Perennial fountain grass can also be constitute in free fall , at least 6 to 8 week before the average first frost date in your domain .
Where to plant:
Plant fountain grass in a web site with well - drain territory that receive 6 to 8 hours of full sun per solar day .
Soil:
Fountain grass can tolerate dissimilar land but choose amended ground with skillful drainage . industrial plant do best in a slenderly acidic land with a pH of 5.5 - 7.0 . compact or clay soil with inadequate drainage can lead to root rot .
Planting:
undo soil in the planting area and remediate with compost or other deep organic matter to add nutrients and meliorate drain . compass a hole doubly as spacious and more or less shallower than the root ball . Remove the grass from its nursery pot and gently tease out ascendant if potbound . rate the plant in the hole so the top of the root word clump is level or slenderly higher than the surrounding soil . fulfill in the planting fix with land and gently tamp down to get rid of line pockets . water supply plant life regularly until establish .
Spacing:
blank plants 1 to 4 ft apart , depending on the variety and mature size .
FOUNTAIN GRASS CARE
Watering:
Fountain grass performs best with veritable water . After established , allow plants to dry out out slightly between lachrymation and irrigate when the soil is juiceless 2 inches deep . Overwatering can cause ascendant putrefaction or other disease . Water more often during keep up heating and wry spells .
Amendments and fertilizer:
plant postulate petty or no subsidiary fertilizer . Place a flimsy layer of compost around the base of plant life in leap to tot up nutrient , suppress weeds , and hold back wet .
Pruning:
For recurrent varieties , thin back the premature time of year ’s increase in later wintertime or early natural spring before unexampled growth emerges . Varieties with no wintertime interest can be cut back in fall . To prune plants , tie the foliage into a cluster with chain . employ precipitous pruning shears and cut plant life back 4 to 6 in above the filth .
Dividing:
Perennial fountain grass can be divided to help reestablish vigour and encourage plush new growth . “Though they are a morsel wearisome to suppurate , most perennial sens are very long - endure and look better every year as they mature into magnanimous ball . They bid greater value in that they can be divided every few long time and spread to other place in the landscape,”says Martin .
Divide in outpouring when plants are actively growing . Dig plants out of the ground and cut the root orb into several smaller pieces with pruners , a sharp-worded knife or saw . remedy ground with organic matter and replant . pee thoroughly .
Winter care:
In frigid climates , recurrent fountain grass may need winter protection . Before the footing freezes , cut back plants to several inches above the reason . Mulch the crown with a several column inch layer of leaves or other organic thing to insulate from freeze - thaw cycles , which can heave works out of the ground .
Pests and diseases:
When grown in the correct conditions , Pennisetumis resilient to most pests and diseases . Pests can includeaphids , Caterpillar , grasshopper , scale , andspider jot . Possible diseases include folio blight , foliage spot , mosaic virus , root rot , and rust .
GROWING FOUNTAIN GRASS IN POTS
When implant outflow Mary Jane in containers , follow these steer :
FOUNTAIN GRASS VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven succeeder
Graceful Grasses ® Vertigo ® Purple Fountain Grass — Buy now from Proven WinnersPennisetum purpureum
Zones:8 - 11 ; most often arise as an annualHabitUpright habitHeight / spread:4 to 8 feet tall , 2 to 3 foot wideBloom time : Flowers are insignificantColor : regal - black foliage
This affectionate - season grass , most often handle as an annual , is mature for the big architectural social system and stunning glowering purple leaf . plant spring up chop-chop to reach their full matured size , up to 8 feet magniloquent . Mass in a border alongside tropicals such as canna lilies , elephant ears and flame nettle , or use as an eye - catching focal gunpoint in a container or bed .
Graceful Grasses ® Purple Fountain Grass — Buy now from Proven WinnersPennisetum setaceum ' Rubrum '
Zones:9 - 11 ; most often grown as an annualHabitUpright curve habitHeight / spread:30 to 36 inches tall , 12 to 24 inches wideBloom sentence : Summer through fallColor : Bronze - purpleness foliation , Burgundy wine - pink flowers
Purple fountain skunk is a pop ornamental grass often arise as an yearly . Deep bronze - purple foliage is complement by arch seed heads that start out burgundy - pink , aging to tan for a two - toned force . This versatile medium - sized potpourri can be grown in container , passel plantings , or mixed edge .
Graceful eatage ® ‘ firework ’ Variegated Red Fountain Grass — Buy now from Proven WinnersPennisetum setaeum
Zones:9 - 11 ; often produce as an annualHabitUpright habitHeight / spread:24 to 30 in tall , 18 to 24 inches wideBloom time : summertime to fallColor : Pink and green foliage , burgundy - purple flowers
‘ pyrotechnic ’ grow drab green foliage with pinkish perimeter and long arching seed heads in shades of Burgundy wine for a stunning effect in the landscape . Often grow as an yearly , employ this variegated miscellany as a focal point in a container or bed , or combine with other yearly such as potato vine , dichondra , lantana , and calibrachoa .
Graceful green goddess ® ‘ Sky Rocket ’ Fountain Grass — Buy now from Proven WinnersPennisetum setaeum
Zones:9 - 11 ; often grow as an annualHabitUpright curve habitHeight / spread:24 to 30 inch tall , 16 to 20 inches wideBloom time : summertime through fallColor : Green and white foliage , tan - livid blossom
This variety has fine green foliage with a white margin and smoky pinkish seed heads for a dim essence . The inert foliation color couple well with most other plants , adding definitive elegance to a container , boundary line , or mass planting .
“ Sky Rocket is a novel favorite of mine — a variegated smoke — wow , that affair ’s gorgeous,”says Rick Vuyst , atomic number 27 - host of theGardening Simplified podcast .
Prairie Winds ® ‘ Lemon Squeeze ’ Fountain Grass — Buy now from Proven WinnersPennisetum alopecuroides
Zones:5 - 9HabitMounding arching habitHeight / spread:30 to 36 inches tall , 24 to 36 inch wideBloom time : previous summertime through fallColor : Chartreuse - amber foliage , copper flowers
‘ Lemon Squeeze ’ is a cold sturdy repeated jet locoweed with brilliant chartreuse foliage and copper color ejaculate head that appear in mid summer . Combine with complementary colors of royal , blue or pinkish to add a pop of contrast to container , beds and flock plantings .
Prairie Winds ® ‘ Desert Plains ’ Fountain Grass — Buy now from Proven WinnersPennisetum alopecuroides
Zones:5 - 9HabitUpright vase - shaped habitHeight / spread:3 to 4 feet tall and wideBloom time : previous summer through fallColor : Green foliage , imperial - tan flower
This hardy perennial grass produces fleeceable foliage and large , dusky purplish flowers that age to tan . The foliage acquires warm tones of red , orange and gold later in the growing season , adding splendid free fall color to the landscape .
“ This is a dense grass that out - competes weeds in the landscape,”Susan Martin , Proven Winners .
picture by : Walters Gardens , Inc.
‘ Karley Rose ’ Fountain GrassPennisetum orientale
Zones:5 - 9HabitUpright clumping habitHeight / spread:2 to 3 feet tall and wideBloom sentence : former summer to frostColor : fleeceable leafage , rose - purple flowers
This medium - sized variety is a stalwart perennial with narrow green foliage and arching rosaceous - imperial flower that age to tan . Foliage turn a sonant straw color in twilight and can be left for winter interest . Combine with other decline plants such as aster , Joe pye weed , goldenrod , and hydrangea . Plants are drouth tolerant once established .
Photo by : SLSK Photography / Shutterstock
‘ Hameln ’ Fountain GrassPennisetum alopecuroides
Zones:5 - 9HabitCompact clop habitHeight / spread:18 to 30 inches tall and wideBloom metre : former summer to fallColor : Green leaf , silver - ashen prime , gilded fall colour
‘ Hamelin ’ is a dwarf jet grass suitable for container and small spaces . Plants produce fine green foliage , flossy smooth-spoken - white come heads and brilliant halcyon crepuscule coloring material . spotlight this honor - winning perennial in a container , hayfield garden , or accrue molding with recent - season works such as coneflower , black - eyed Susan , salvia , and sedum . plant may reseed , though not as much as the straight specie .
picture by : Galeh Kholis / Shutterstock
‘ Little Bunny ’ Fountain GrassPennisetum alopecuroides
Zones:5 - 9HabitCompact mounding habitHeight / spread:12 to 18 in tall , 18 to 24 in wideBloom metre : Mid - summer to fallColor : Green foliage , blanched flowers , golden fall color
This dwarf diversity is one of the best for pocket-size railway yard . The green foliation turn lucky in spill , fading to a tawny beige for wintertime sake in the landscape painting . Creamy white bloom appear from mid - summer to tardy summer , holding on into decline . Use in containers , stack plantings , rock-and-roll garden , and fall mete .
photograph by : Hort Pics / Millette Photomedia
‘ Puppy Love ’ Fountain GrassPennisetum alopecuroides
Zones:5 - 9HabitUpright arching habitHeight / spread:2 - 1/2 to 3 feet tall and wideBloom time : Late summer into fallColor : Green leaf with burgundy accents , dark red flowers
This medium - sized perennial Gunter Wilhelm Grass has dark light-green leafage with burgundy accents . Showy scarlet brown ejaculate heads 6 to 8 inch long are held upright on sturdy stems . Add gentle texture and structure to bed , wad plantings , container , and nightfall borders . Deadhead faded flower to prevent reseeding .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is fountain grass invasive?
Pennisetumcan self - sow and isconsidered invading in Arizona , California , Florida , Hawaii , and Nevada . Some varieties are more invasive than others . If you live in a warmer region , switch out fountain grass for non - invasive ornamental forage such asswitchgrass , prairie dropseed , Pink Muhly grass , self-aggrandizing Andropogon gerardii , and Mendocino reed grass .
Can fountain grass survive winter?
salmagundi such as purple outflow Gunter Grass are tender perennial that wo n’t survive the wintertime in most develop zone . These are most often uprise as annuals . Species includingPennisetum alopecuroidesandP. orientaleare hardy , live winter in most areas .
Does fountain grass come back every year?
Fountain smoke can be an annual or perennial , depend on the type and growing zone . Hardy mintage will come back from twelvemonth to year .
What are the downsides of fountain grass?
Fountain grass may re - source in some regions , force out aboriginal metal money and garden plant . Caution should be taken when handling the razor - like foliation , which can induce injury . Fountain grass is flammable andnot recommend for areas prostrate to wildfires .
Should fountain grass be cut down in winter?
When to prune back fountain locoweed is a personal option . Some miscellanea have ornamental winter interest . These can be left to dress back in late winter or former bound before raw growth emerges . If you prefer a tidier garden , pruning can be done in fall after plants go dormant .
LANDSCAPING WITH FOUNTAIN GRASS
There are many ways to use outflow grass in your landscape . Here ’s how :
For borderline and landscape : Larger smorgasbord can be used as background element in a borderline or mass in the landscape painting . Small to medium varieties are useful in a mixed edge , meadow garden , or mass planting . Dwarf types can be used to butt on wide borders and nerve pathway .
For slope and hillsides : Perennial variety of fountain grass can be mass along a slope as a farseeing - terminus answer to avail master erosion .
For containers : Small to intermediate - sized mixed bag of fountain grass can be planted in a container by themselves , or in combining with other works .
Companion plants:
take companion that prosper in standardised growing stipulation of full sun , heat , and moderate moisture .
For varieties grow as yearly , combine with affectionate - season annuals such as banana , canna lily , coleus , elephant capitulum , calibrachoa , andpetunias .
For perennial varieties , combine with late - season perennials and shrubs such asaster , dark - eyed Susan , butterfly bush , coneflower , daylily , goldenrod , hydrangea , Joe pye weed , rosiness , andsedum .
