General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: |
Grass/Grass-like
|
Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
|
Water Preferences: |
Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
|
Soil pH Preferences: |
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
|
Plant Height: |
about 4 feet |
Plant Spread: |
4 to 5 feet |
Leaves: |
Deciduous
|
Flowers: |
Showy
|
Flower Color: |
Other: purplish-tan
|
Flower Time: |
Summer
Late summer or early fall
|
Inflorescence Height: |
about 4 feet |
Foliage Mound Height: |
about 3 feeet |
Underground structures: |
Rhizome
|
Resistances: |
Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Drought tolerant
|
Propagation: Seeds: |
Sow in situ
|
Propagation: Other methods: |
Stolons and runners
|
Pollinators: |
Wind
|
Miscellaneous: |
Tolerates poor soil
Monoecious
|
- Fountain Grass
- Chinese Fountain Grass
- Accepted: Cenchrus alopecuroides
- Synonym: Pennisetum alopecuroides var. viridescens
- Synonym: Pennisetum alopecuroides
- Synonym: Cenchrus compressus
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Feb 17, 2019 4:29 PM concerning plant:
I was surprised today to see that the generic name of "Pennisetum" was changed to "Cenchrus" for this and a few other species of Fountain-grasses. This species is native to east Asia and some of Australia. Some of this mother species are still sold at some conventional nurseries that gets about 4 to 5 feet high and about as wide, but the compact cultivar of 'Hameln' is now being sold much more often. This is a beautiful, soft clump grass species. It stays as a clump but it does sprawl on the outside by short rhizomes. It also becomes very thick and the center of the plant can die out after 10 or more years, so that this perennial should be dug up and reset when it becomes either too big and thick or when the center does weaken. It is a warm season grass so that it does not show life until mid-spring in late April to mid-May. There are reports of this species being invasive into nature or even sometimes in lawn. I have not seen it escape cultivation myself. I have seen it self-sow in gardens.
Plant Events from our members
chelle |
On April 13, 2015 |
Potted up |
chelle |
On April 9, 2015 |
Obtained plant (2)
SRG |
dnrevel |
On November 8, 2021 |
Entered Dormancy Large grassy plant, left in place. No seed heads. Do not plan to regrow. Will replace with more Savannah Ruby Grass instead. |
dnrevel |
On February 28, 2021 |
Seeds sown Winter Sown in a large container |
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