Pennisetum 'Rubrum'
Purple Fountain Grass
Description
This grass will reach 6' high and has deciduous, purplish/red leaves with clusters of purple flowers that appear in summer and fall. Rubrum is a warm-season grass. Where temperatures get colder than 20 degrees F, the plants should be treated as annuals. Once the grass turns brown, it can either be removed immediately or removed in the spring. It should not be expected to live through the winter and begin growing again in the spring. In areas where winter temperatures remain above 20 degrees, it should be considered a perennial and the following information should be useful. Warm-season grasses won't start growing until mid to late spring or even early summer. Their major growth and flowering happens when the weather is hot. They will usually turn shades of brown for the winter.
Plant Type
Perennial, Annual, Grass
Height Range
3-6', 6-12'
Flower Color
Purple
Flower Season
Summer, Fall
Leaf Color
Purple, Red
Bark Color
n/a
Fruit Color
n/a
Fruit Season
n/a
Sun
Full
Water
Low
Growth Rate
Fast
Soil Type
Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular
Soil Condition
Average, Well-drained, Dry
Soil pH
Neutral
Adverse Factors
n/a
Design Styles
Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish
Accenting Features
Unusual Foliage
Seasonal Interest
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Location Uses
Entry, Patio, Park, Raised Planter, Roadside, Walls / Fences
Special Uses
Container, Mass Planting
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
Water Saving Tip:
Even during our hottest months we don't need to water daily.
Give your plants a chance to breathe.
Water late at night or in the early morning hours to avoid losses to wind and evaporation.