Purple Fountain Grass: How To Care For Pennisetum Setaceam

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Purple fountain grass – Pennisetum setaceum “Rubrum” is an ornamental landscape grass known for its burgundy or purple leaf blades and soft, fuzzy-like flowers.

Its foxtail plumes and striking burgundy foliage show up well when surrounded by contrasting plants. This herbaceous perennial grass is heat tolerant and grows well in poor soil.

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This rapid-growing, clump-forming grass is native to Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. It also belongs to the Poaceae family.

Grow fountain grasses as a hedge, back of a border plant, or specimen. Growing the grass is easy, requiring little maintenance once established.

Pennisetum setaceum “Rubrum” reaches a height of 3′-5′ feet with a 2′ to 4′ feet spread. Purple ornamental grass typically blooms in July.

Its purplish bloom spikes, succeeded by burgundy or purplish-tingled heads, are soft to the touch and cry out to be swayed by the autumn breeze.

Pennisetum Setaceam Quick Care Tips

  • Botanical Name: Pennisetum Setaceam
  • Common Name(s): Purple Fountain Grass, fountain fakahatchee grass
  • Synonyms:
  • Pronunciation: pen-ih-SEE-tum suh-TAY-see-um
  • Family & Origin: Poaceae family, native to Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East
  • Growability: Easy to grow
  • Grow Zone: zone 9 and higher
  • Size: Grows up to 3′-5′ feet and 2′ to 4′ feet wide
  • Flowering: Blooms in late summer to fall with purple or burgundy plumes
  • Light: Full sun to light shade
  • Humidity: Prefers high humidity
  • Temperature: Can tolerate temperatures above 20° degrees Fahrenheit
  • Soil: Well-draining soil
  • Water: Water once or twice a week until it’s established
  • Fertilizer: Fertilize with a general-purpose slow-release fertilizer while flowering
  • Pests & Diseases: Relatively pest and disease free
  • Propagation: Propagate through division or seeds
  • Plant Uses: Used as an ornamental grass in landscaping, mixed gardens, border plantings, and as a container plant or stand-alone specimen plant. It can also be used in dried flower arrangements.

Planting The Purple Fountain Grass

Purple fountain grass is grown in nearly all types of soil. However, it will do exceptionally well in rich and well-drained soil.

Plant the fountain fakahatchee grass at any time. However, spring is the best time. The grass will tolerate some light shade though it enjoys the full sunlight.

Look for an area in your garden that receives full sun, as the plant prefers warmer conditions. It also can tolerate temperatures above 20° degrees Fahrenheit.

This grass enjoys warm, humid environments and is considered a drought-tolerant ornamental grass.

Give time for the soil to dry to the touch between each watering, watering once or twice a week until it’s established.

Moreover, the Fountain grass thrives in well-drained soil but may grow well in light (sandy), medium (loamy), and heavy (clay) soils.

The grass should be given plenty of space in the garden, reaching 4′ feet tall, and spread to 2′ to 4′ feet wide. The ideal spacing is 3′ to 5′ feet.

When planting, dig a deep and wide hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Once planted water the grass thoroughly.

For those in other lower growing zones true pampas grass – Cortaderia selloana – is an option for those desiring grasses in their landscape.

Watering The Grass

The grass is drought tolerant, however, water once or twice a week until plants are established.

Give time for the soil to dry to the touch between each watering. In areas that receive rain occasionally and then, you do not need to water the grass that has already established.

Fertilizing Fountain Grass

Although the fountain grass is hardy and grows well even in poor soil, fertilizing will boost its growth.

The grass requires additional nutrients when flowering. Flowering is the ideal time to apply a general-purpose slow-release fertilizer.

Alternative Varieties For Purple Fountain Grass

Pennisetum setaceum “Rubrum” produces beautiful blooms with purple foliage.

However, other grass varieties from the same genus may serve as good alternatives in the garden if “Rubrum” is not planted. Some of them include:

More on Uses for Ornamental Grasses, the hardy Ophiopogon Mondo grass, and stunning Pink Muhly Grass.

Purple Fountain Grass Care: How To Overwinter

The fireworks grass is indigenous to southern Asia and Africa. Considered tender perennial the grass cannot survive cold winters.

Pennisetum setaceum “Rubrum” An Annual or Perennial?

It is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zone 9 and higher, growing as a perennial, although it will grow in zones 7-8 given adequate winter protection.

Individuals wanting to grow “Rubrum” and live in colder climates will have to enjoy its beautiful color and vase-shaped appearance in late summer and fall, being grown as an annual.

Growing the grass in containers allows overwintering indoors.

Tips For Overwintering:

Treat these ornamental grasses as a houseplant, place them in a relatively cool room, and give them enough sunlight

or

Store it in a cool but not freezing location, such as a cellar

Water sparingly and never allow the soil in the soil to dry out. Take plants outdoors in the spring.

When To Cut Back Fountain Grass

The best time to trim or cut back the purple fountain grass is in the early spring or late winter.

Although exact timing is not very important, prune the pennisetum grass before it starts growing actively.

Avoid pruning during the fall, as the grass has not yet dried back all the way.

Cutting these ornamental grasses in fall can cause them to go into a growth spurt, making it more venerable to the coming of cold weather. This reduces its chances of surviving the winter.

How To Trim Fountain Grass – Procedure For Pruning

  • Tie up the dead stems and blades of grass. This will make the cutting exercise easier since cleaning up fallen stems is easier.
  • Use hedge clippers or pruning shears to cut it back to the stem bundle
  • Pruning the grass 4″-6″ inches above the ground. New growth will quickly hide the stems.

Where To Find Purple Fountain Grass

You can find them and other warm-season grasses at local nurseries, online stores, or from neighbors who have already planted the grass.

  • Look for a healthy, established plant.
  • Divide in late spring or early autumn.
  • If starting from seed, sow the seeds in early spring at 55° to 65° degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Plant separated seedlings in holes with well-drained soil spaced 3′ to 5′ feet apart.
  • For best results, add fertilizer while planting
  • After planting, water the grass thoroughly.

Note: Starting the grass from seed is a long process, as seeds take a long time to germinate. The easiest way to start the grass is dividing an already established plant. These divided plants tend to establish faster without problems.

One question asked before buying rubrum grass – Is It Toxic to cats and safe for dogs?

The ASPCA does not list Purple fountain “Rubrum” as toxic to dogs or cats.

Grass Pests And Diseases

Pest and diseases rarely affect purple fountain grass. Deer usually leave it alone, making it a deer-resistant ornamental grass.

The species from which the Pennisetum Rubrum cultivar was developed is considered as an invasive plant. However, this cultivar is not considered invasive.

Uses For Purple Fountain Grass

  • Its beauty makes it popular in a mixed planting, often in container gardens
  • Used as border plantings with several plants together
  • Used as stand-alone specimen plants as focal points
  • Jazz up a foundation for summer
  • excellent plant for berm landscaping and landscape mounds

Besides, its autumn seed heads are very attractive like maiden grass, which is very useful in fall arrangements.

Cut and dry feathery plumes (purple fountain grass seeds heads) for flower arrangements.

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