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Fountain Grass (annual)

Annual Flower, Ornamental Grass

Pennisetum setaceum
Poaceae Family
Synonym: Pennisetum ruppelii

One of the few annual ornamental grasses, Fountain Grass provides a showy and attractive mound foliage with arching, plumed flowerheads. The flowerheads are lighter than the foliage, providing a unique contrast. Reddish-colored varieties are particularly striking and far superior to the species.

	Site and Plant Characteristics
	Growing Information
	Varieties

Site Characteristics

Sunlight:

full sun
part shade

Soil conditions:

requires well-drained soil

Plant Traits

Lifecycle: annual

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 2 to 4 feet

'Burgundy Giant' grows 6� tall.

Spread: 2 to 2.5 feet

Bloom time:

late spring
mid-summer
late summer
early fall

Flower color:

violet
pink

Foliage color:

medium green
red

Some varieties have maroonish-red foliage.

Foliage texture:

medium
fine

Shape:

cushion, mound or clump
grass-like

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Flowers borne on erect, arching stems that rise above the foliage.

Special Considerations

Special characteristics:

deer resistant
aggressive - Self-seeds prolifically.
non-invasive
not native to North America - Native to Africa

Growing Information

How to plant:

Propagate by seed - Sows seeds in spring. Self-seeds readily.

Maintenance and care:

Remove the foliage after it loses its appearance after a hard frost.
More growing information: How to Grow Annuals

Varieties

'Cupreum', 'Rubrum' and 'Atrosanguineum': all have deep reddish purple foliage.
'Burgundy Giant': huge plant (6� tall) with burgundy leaves up to 1� wide.
'Purpureum' ('Atropurpureum'): crimson flowers and dark purple leaves.