About
This tufted perennial grass, often grown as an annual, with narrowly linear leaves and cylindrical, feathery, whitish-green panicles becoming purple with age.
About the genus
Pennisetum can be annual or perennial, evergreen or deciduous grasses, clump-forming or spreading in habit, with linear leaves and narrow flowering panicles with conspicuous bristles
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeGrass Like
HabitTufted
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesPrairie planting, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
Native toNE Tropical Africa
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil with good winter drainage. May need winter protection in colder areas
PruningRemove dead foliage and old flowered stems in spring
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in containers in a warm glasshouse in spring or by division in spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free