Pennesetum setaceum “Rubrum”

Purple Fountain Grass
Pennesetum setaceum “Rubrum”
Type: Ornamental Perennial Grass, grown as Annual
Exposure: Sun / Part Shade
Water: Regular

Often seen as a focal point plant, purple fountain grass features striking bronzy-green, arching foliage, forming a dense clump that will reach 3ft (90m) high by 2ft (60cm) wide. Bottlebrush flowers emerge a pinkish color in mid summer and turn purple as they mature. These arch and curve up and out of the foliage, slowly ripening to a buff color when fall arrives. Eventually, the whole plant turns this same buff color when the cold weather arrives. It’s considered a trouble-free plant; it’s on Real Simple magazine’s list of top 10 goof-proof plants.

This is called a “warm season grass,” meaning that in our climate it won’t survive the winter (as a rule). Either bring it inside for the winter, or treat it as an annual, and just buy a new one next year. It’s often seen in municipal plantings, such as in the photos above, but it also looks great in containers.

Cheers,

John