- Botanical name: Pennisetum villosum
- Common name: Fountain grass
- Family: Poaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
White
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive seedheads
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
Grown for their linear leaves and feathery, spikes, Pennisetum are used in mixed borders, and once cut used commonly in both fresh and dried flower arrangements. They grow best in moist, yet well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Cut back top dead growth by early spring, and protect from frost with a dry mulch in winter.
From July to September, Pennisetum villosum produces an abundance of feathery white, rabbit-tail flower spikes. It’s one of the easiest grasses to grow, and quickly develops large clumps. Pennisetum villosum is perfect for growing in a large, mixed border and may even be grown in a container.
Cut back old foliage in spring as new growth appears in the centre of the plant.
How to grow Pennisetum villosum
-
Plant size
60cm height
40cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front, middle
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Half hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / chalky / alkaline / well drained / light / sandy
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 |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower 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 |
| Cut back | ||||||||||||
| Cut back |
J
Do not Cut back in January |
F
Do Cut back in February |
M
Do Cut back in March |
A
Do not Cut back in April |
M
Do not Cut back in May |
J
Do not Cut back in June |
J
Do not Cut back in July |
A
Do not Cut back in August |
S
Do not Cut back in September |
O
Do not Cut back in October |
N
Do not Cut back in November |
D
Do not Cut back in December |
Pennisetum villosum and wildlife
Pennisetum villosum has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Pennisetum villosum poisonous?
Pennisetum villosum 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 villosum
