- Botanical name: Pennisetum setaceum
- Common name: Fountain grass
- Family: Poaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
Purple
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive seedheads
- Dramatic foliage
Fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum, is grown for its linear leaves and feathery, brown and cream, architectural panicles, which are commonly used in fresh and dried flower arrangements. It’s best planted in large clumps, where it makes a magnificent statement in a mixed border.
Grow Pennisetum setaceum in moist but well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Cut back top dead growth from late-winter to early spring, and protect from frost with a dry mulch in winter.
How to grow Pennisetum setaceum
-
Plant size
1.2m height
90cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline / acidic
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do not Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do not Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Pennisetum setaceum and wildlife
Pennisetum setaceum has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Pennisetum setaceum poisonous?
Pennisetum setaceum has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Pennisetum setaceum
