Plant Profile

Pennisetum setaceum (red fountain grass, purple fountain grass)

This ornamental grass is very popular as it can stand heat, drought even salt. Fountain grass has a upright to arching clumps. From mid summer to fall it produces long, dropping plumes or flowers. It grows best in full sun and with a bit of irrigation. Perfect for perennial border or hedge.

Landscape Information
Botanical Description
Horticulture Management

By tato grasso (Own work (personal work)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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French Name: Herbe fontaine

Arabic Name: سبد, سبط

Pronunciation: pen-niss-SEE-tum set-TAY-see-um
Plant type: Groundcover
Origin: Middle africa, Southeast Asia
Heat Zones: 8 to 16

Hardiness Zones: 8 to 12
Uses: Border Plant, Mass Planting, Container, Cut Flowers / Arrangements, Intensive Green Roof, Extensive Green Roof
Size/Shape

Growth Rate: Moderate

Height at Maturity: 0.5 to 1 m

Spread at Maturity: 0.5 to 1 meter

Time to Ultimate Height: 2 to 5 Years
Notes
Sharp leaf edge. In cold areas it dies in winter and planted only as annual.

By tato grasso (Own work (personal work)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Foliage

Leaf Arrangement : Spiral

Leaf Venation: Parallel

Leaf Persistance: Deciduous

Leaf Type: Simple

Leaf Blade: 30 - 50

Leaf Shape: Linear

Leaf Margins: Entire

Leaf Texture: Rough, Coarse

Leaf Scent: No Fragance

Color(growing season): Green, Red, Variegated

Color(changing season): Yellow
Flower

Flower Showiness: Yes

Flower Size Range: 10 - 20

Flower Sexuality: Monoecious (Bisexual)

Flower Scent: No Fragance

Flower Color: Brown

Seasons: Spring, Summer
Trunk
Fruit

Fruit Type: Caryopsis/Grain

Fruit Showiness: Yes

Fruit Size Range: 10 - 20

Fruit Color: Brown

Seasons: Spring, Summer

By tato grasso (Own work (personal work)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Tolerance

Frost Tolerant: Yes

Heat Tolerance: Yes

Drought Tolerance: Yes

Salt Tolerance: Good
Requirements

Soil Requirements: Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil Ph Requirements: Neutral, Alkaline

Water Requirements: Moderate, Low

Light Requirements: Full
Management

Toxicity: No

Invasive Potential: Yes

Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases: No

Fruit/ Leaves/ Flowers litter: No

Surface Rooting: Yes

Life Span: Less than 25

Edible Parts: None

Plant Propagation: Seed, Division