Scientific Name: Pennisetum alopecuroides
Common Name: fountain grass
Family Name: Poaceae
Origin: Australia / New Zealand, S.E. Asia / Japan / China
Hardiness Zone: Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial, Poales (grass-like)
Mature Size: 0.7 - 1.3m x 0.6 - 1.0m (height x width)
Habit: Arching, Open, Upright
Form: Round, Vase
Texture: Medium - fine
Landscape Uses: Accent plant, Container planting, Cut flower or foliage, Dried flower or fruit, Fall interest, Group or mass planting, Mixed shrub border, Perennial border, Rock garden, Small garden/space, Spring interest, Waterside planting
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil or Media: Humus rich, Well-drained
Leaves: Grass-like, Alternate, Basal, Leathery, Parallel venation, Glabrous, Lustrous, Filiform, Linear, Entire, Serrate
Flowers: Spikelet, Green-yellow, Purple, Dark-red, Brown, Black, Jul-Aug
Fruit: Grain (caryopsis), Brown, Silver, Aug-Sep-Oct
Key ID Features:
Leaves upright, jointed with other leaves at nodes; inflorescence bottle brush of fluffy spikelets; fruit green grain with long purple hair.