Scientific Name:
Pennisetum glaucum
'Purple Majesty'
Pronunciation:
pen-ih-SEE-tum GLAW-kum
Common Name:
purple ornamental millet
Family Name:
Poaceae
Plant Type:
Annual (true), Poales (grass-like)
Key ID Features:
Upright annual grass about 1m tall; leaf blades 20-30cm long x 2-3cm wide, bronze-purple, ligules hairy; spikelets in a spike about 15cm long, bottle-brush or rush-like.
Habit:
Open, Stiffly upright
Form:
Oval - vertical, Vase
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Africa, South Asia / India
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 10: (-1 to 4 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Attract birds, Bedding plant, Container planting, Cut flower or foliage, Dried flower or fruit, Fall interest, Group or mass planting, Perennial border, Specimen plant, Summer interest, Urban agriculture, Wildlife food
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Grass-like
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Lustrous
Colour in Summer:
purple
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Ciliate, Undulate (wavy)
Additional Info:
The cultivar 'Jester' has bronze purple leaves
Inflorescence Type:
Spikelet, Spike-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Corolla Shape:
Tubular
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Yellow
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul, Aug
Fruit Type:
Grain (caryopsis)
Fruit Colour:
Brown (purple)
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy,
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Red, Black
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Medium
Pest Susceptibility:
Rust
