Pennisetum alopecuroides is a clumping perennial grass. It has long, narrow arching foliage. Throughout summer and autumn it produces lots a purplish, feathery flower heads on slender stems.
It look great mass planted and does well in most soil conditions including those that are poorly drained. It will grow about 1m high.
We grow these at our wholesale nursery in Drouin, West Gippsland. We get quite extensive frosts at times and find that the foliage completely browns off. The plant looks dead but its not. Avoid cutting it back before the threat of frost has past. It seems that if the frost penetrates the crown of the plant its a 50/50 shot that it’s gone. Keeping the dead foliage helps protect the crown. Once the frost threat has past the old, dead foliage can be cut off at ground level. New growth will quickly emerge.
If you want to buy Pennisetum alopecuroides (Swamp fountain Grass) we grow them in 140mm pots. Click the button below to check current pricing and availability.