Fountain Grass in Your Landscape

Fountain grass or purple or red fountain grass is a clump grass that is fast growing. This grass is a tropical plant that has purple foliage with purple or reddish colored foxtail-like flowers. Because it is classified as a tropical grass it only grows as an annual plant in the northern climates but in the warmer climates it is grown as a perennial.

This type of grass is very successful when grown in a fertile well-drained soil which receives full sun. Purple fountain grass grows vigorously and will fill in any container or bed very quickly. The foxtail-like plumes of this plant usually appear in the middle of summer and will last until the first frost. This purple fountain grass or red fountain grass grows into a curving clump which has burgundy-bronze green leaves generally about twelve inches long. After receiving a hard freeze it will bleach out its color slowly to the color of straw, but will continue to look very attractive throughout the winter.

There are endless opportunities to use this fountain grass in the landscape. Sometimes it is used as a specimen or in groups in public gardens, road medians, and foundations, where it is very attractive and it requires very little care. It has the ability to endure high humidity, high temperatures, wind, drought and alkaline or acidic soils which make it more desirable to plant. They are usually the dominant ornamental grass in many southern landscapes. Beside from it being beautiful and durable it is for the most part pest free.

Purple fountain grass or Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' reaches a height between three and five feet with a two to four foot spread. The plant generally will bloom in July. The purplish or reddish flower spikes are replaced by purplish-tinged or burgundy seed heads, which are very soft to the touch and plea to be moved by a fall breeze. Deer will usually leave this ornamental species alone creating a very effective deer control. Even though the species from which this was developed is considered to be an invasive plant in some parts of the United States, the cultivar is not considered to be invasive. If you are concerned about it becoming invasive you can always purchase the varieties that are specifically labeled sterile, but occasionally they may produce seed.

The beauty of this plant makes it quite popular as a focal point in any mixed planting, many times in container gardens. Some gardeners like to plant several of these plants together for a border planting or they can stand alone as a specimen. Some like to plant them to spruce up a foundation bed during the summer. If they are grouped with plants that have a coarser texture, they create a striking contrast. Because the plants autumn seed heads are pleasing, the plant is, like maiden grass, very valuable in a fall flower garden. You can even use its feathery seed heads or plumes for dried flower arrangements. Plant it alone as a specimen and let it show off its beauty. If it is used as an accent, with other perennials, in the middle of borders it will blend in very well with tropical or desert themes. If you want to blend a traditional landscape with a desert landscape this grass makes an excellent transitional plant. Planting many of them in a group creates a colorful display when they are in full bloom. Flowering usually begins in July and goes through the fall season. The flower color will change from a whitish purple to a coppery purple and will last well into winter.

Some of these plants are primarily foliage plants and are grown for their gorgeous leaves. Other species are meant for their floral color. Yet others give off attractive berries or seed heads and occasionally you can get the entire package. This occurs with purple fountain grass, with its arching spikes of purplish flowers gracefully showing off from its mass of slender, long, burgundy-colored leaves. It is well worth growing, even if you can only enjoy it for two seasons of the year.

Red or purple fountain grass enjoys full sun, all day or just part of the day. As with most all plant life this will do better with amended well-drained soil. You want to use organic mulch and mix it with native material when planting. Water deep at first, but water infrequently once established, never every day. You do not prune this grass its first winter; subsequent winters prune to about a 4 inch height or shape it as a cube or a globe for winter attractiveness. Pruning in early fall can increase late season beauty.