Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum') profile

Fountain Grass, scientific name Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum', is a perennial herb, dormant in winter; The plant shape is soft and beautiful, the plant height is 1 to 2 meters, the leaves are long and narrow, the purple red, the spikes, the flowers are purple, the inflorescence ornamental performance is maintained until late autumn or early winter.

Fountain grass picture

Fountain grass morphological characteristics

Fountain grass is a perennial herb, perennial, caespitose, 60 ~ 90 cm high; Leaves are dark green, linear, 15 -- 60 cm long, 1 cm wide; Panicles are erect, slightly taller than leaves, 5 -- 25 x 1.5 -- 3.5 cm, bristles scabrous, dark purple.Flowering period from August to November, long ornamental period, winter performance is good, is an ideal variety for cut flowers. Photophilic and tolerant to semi-shade, the spike germination under semi-shade condition was less than that under better light condition. Fountain grass is drought-resistant and rain-sheltering conditions can still grow without watering for 30 days, but the growth is slowed down, some leaves wilted and recovered after watering, and the growth is reduced compared with that under normal rainfall conditions. Resistant to waterlogging, Fountain grass can still grow and head after 20 days of waterlogging treatment, and the leaves are slightly yellow.Strong cold resistance, Shandong area in winter in the open conditions can be a safe winter. This variety is used more in landscape afforestation. 

Fountain grass distribution range

China from the northeast, north China through the east, central and southwest provinces are distributed; More than 50-3 200 meters above sea level land shore, wasteland, roadside and hillside.Japan, India, Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Oceania and Africa are also found. 

Fountain grass growing environment

Fountain grass is light - loving, high - temperature and drought - resistant. Fountain grass has strong cold resistance, not shade tolerance. Do not choose the soil, water fertilizer is too large and easy to fall.

Growing fountain grass 

Growing fountain grass is easy. As with most decorative grasses, fountain grass is extraordinarily adaptable. Care of fountain grass is effortless as well. It’s on occasion beneficial to reduce returned foliage in the spring prior to growth. Although no longer specially a requirement for fountain grass, fertilizer can be utilized as boom resumes in the spring. Established plant life no longer wants ordinary watering, besides at some stage in intervals of drought. Fountain grass does properly in almost any kind of soil; however, for higher results, fountain grass have to be planted in fertile, well-drained soil. Fountain grass enjoys full solar however tolerates some mild shade. Look for areas receiving full sun, as these flora select heat conditions. Warm-season grasses thrive in hotter temperatures ranging from seventy five to eighty five F. (24-29 C.). 

Transplanting fountain grass 

Transplanting fountain grass is now not constantly necessary; however, it can be dug up and divided in areas the place overcrowding may also manifest or if extra flowers are honestly desired. Division commonly relies upon spacing or visible appearance. For instance, flowers struggling from die-out in the middle can be divided to enhance their appearance. Division can be carried out in early spring prior to new increase or after the developing season in the late summer season or fall. Taking care of fountain grass is a lucrative project for a gardener. By developing fountain grass, you add a low renovation choice to your garden.

Fountain grass uses

Individual appreciation alone

Ornamental plants should have unique ornamental characteristics and coordinate with the surrounding environment when they are planted individually. Fountain Grass plant shape is beautiful, with soft curved leaves and unique inflorescences like fountains, beautiful and soft, inflorescences swaying with the wind, very natural wild interest, ornamental effect is significant. When planting a single plant, there should be enough space around it to allow the plants to grow in all directions and form a nice round shape. Grass and other plants, Fountain Grass to winter leaves wither, even in the garden planting design, want to consider to match the solitary to admire the other plants, such as with other ornamental grasses, brews, perennial root flowers or small shrubs combination configuration, composition of flowers, the altar in the make up for the defects at the same time, create rich layers, colorful, lively and natural landscape. 

Rows

Fountain Grass is generally 60 ~ 80 cm high, and its unique plant type can be swaying with the wind. After being planted in rows on both sides of the traffic road, its elegant dynamic is in obvious contrast with the upright and relatively static shrubs and lawns on the roadside, which appears lively, natural and full of life interest. Fountain Grass has strong trampling resistance, which is very suitable for planting in the city garden or on both sides of the road on the green land, so that the road has three-dimensional guidance and ornamental value. It likes light and heat, so it can adapt to the road environment and adjust the microclimate around the road. 

Tie-in flower bed

Fountain Grass can be combined with many flowers and plants, so that the flowerbed rich sense of hierarchy and dynamic. Fountain Grass leaves are light green and bright, which can be combined with flowers of various colors. As a background, the gorgeous red flowers can be set off. Fountain Grass's inflorescences are elegant and varied in color, and are also very ornamental in themselves. In addition, Fountain Grass's dynamic shape changes in the wind, which can be used as a transitional zone between upright and creeping plants, making the flower structure more harmonious and beautiful. Fountain Grass can be planted between the crevasses of the pool embankment stone to decorate the pool. Fountain Grass and Grass flowers, shrubs and trees can also be combined and configured to form a complex plant community landscape, adding more rural charm. In small area landscaping projects such as courtyards, Fountain Grass is best planted in combination with multiple plants or with other plants to achieve the effect of spot scenery and play the role of drawing the dragon and finishing the eyes. Pay attention to the point is enough, too much use will make the overall view become messy, desolate. 

Planted in patches as ground

In the past, the choice of ground cover plants in landscaping was often limited to lawns, climbing plants (such as ivy). Actually, Fountain Grass of some varieties can also be good groundcover plants, especially in sufficient sunlight, soil arid space, it can play to Fountain Grass cover function, method is to Fountain Grass seedlings to plant height equal row spacing cultivation, about 2 months after the Fountain Grass grow, blade laptop but again not overlapping, is also a beautiful landscape. Fountain Grass is simple and low-cost. Under the natural precipitation conditions in Shandong Province, it only needs to irrigate green water and overwintering water once respectively, and prune it once before winter. Therefore, it is very suitable for application in areas with water shortage.