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Great Design Plant: Purple Fountain Grass
Easy come, easy grow — give this low-maintenance grass pride of place in your garden
Houzz Contributor. I'm a landscape designer and freelance garden writer living in hot and humid Austin, Texas. I co-authored "Indoor Plant Decor: The Design Stylebook for Houseplants" (St. Lynn's Press) with Kylee Baumle. Follow me on Twitter @MulchMaven or on my Facebook page, J. Peterson Garden Design.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a landscape designer and freelance garden writer... More »
Gardeners looking for texture and movement in their outdoor areas should take a look at ornamental grasses, and one of my favorites is purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum). Its form and striking coloring make it a valuable and flexible addition to any garden, and its easy care makes it a favorite among gardeners everywhere.
Whether you have vast acreage or a small urban patio, let purple fountain grass work its way into your outdoor living area. Just don't be surprised when it earns a permanent spot there.
Whether you have vast acreage or a small urban patio, let purple fountain grass work its way into your outdoor living area. Just don't be surprised when it earns a permanent spot there.
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| Botanical name: Pennisetum setaceum Common names: Purple fountain grass, rose fountain grass USDA zones: Perennial in 8b-11, annual in all other zones. Find your zone. Water requirement: Average water needs; drought tolerant once established Light requirement: Full sun to light shade Mature size: Up to 48 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide Benefits and tolerances: Drought tolerant Seasonal interest: In late spring to mid-fall, the burgundy-black foliage and foxtail plumes remain a constant feature in the perennial garden; lends winter interest in its dried form When to plant: Mid-spring or after last frost |
Distinguishing traits: The foliage of purple fountain grass is outstanding, featuring a striking, dark burgundy/black grassy blade that has a lighter green base. This unusual coloration blends in well with other bright green and purplish plants and flowers.
Long, foxtail-like plumes appear early in the season and remain late into the summer and fall, providing graceful movement and texture in the warm-season garden.
Its medium size makes it a versatile addition to any garden, and the quick growth rate allows you to save money by purchasing it in a 1-gallon container. In no time at all, this ornamental grass will grow to twice and even three times its size.
Long, foxtail-like plumes appear early in the season and remain late into the summer and fall, providing graceful movement and texture in the warm-season garden.
Its medium size makes it a versatile addition to any garden, and the quick growth rate allows you to save money by purchasing it in a 1-gallon container. In no time at all, this ornamental grass will grow to twice and even three times its size.
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| How to use it: Purple fountain grass is the perfect addition to perennial garden beds as well as larger container plantings, and gardeners in nearly any zone can find a use for it. Its height makes it a great plant for the middle part of your garden, mixed in with flowering perennials or planted en masse for a more meadow-like look. If you opt to use purple fountain grass in your mixed perennial bed, plant it in groups of three to provide repetition and consistency. If you tuck it into a container, make sure the vessel is large enough to accommodate the mature size of the grass; I usually opt for pots at least 2 feet wide at the top. Plant it in the middle of the pot, and place flowering annuals such as purple petunias or calibrachoas and lime-green sweet potato vine around the base. The purple and green colors play off each other beautifully and create a stunning focal point for your patio or deck. |
Planting notes: Purple fountain grass likes loose, well-drained soil. Let it dry out a bit in between watering — once established, it's fairly drought tolerant. If you live in an area with very hot and intense sun, this grass will take some partial shade, particularly in the afternoon.
If you live in USDA zone 8b or above and would like to treat purple fountain grass as a perennial, let it shine in your garden until late winter (February) when you can cut it back to about 6 to 8 inches. All other zones should treat purple fountain grass as an annual, but since it is so affordable and such a fast grower, you won't mind replacing it annually.
More great design plants:
Flowers and plants
Grasses
Trees
If you live in USDA zone 8b or above and would like to treat purple fountain grass as a perennial, let it shine in your garden until late winter (February) when you can cut it back to about 6 to 8 inches. All other zones should treat purple fountain grass as an annual, but since it is so affordable and such a fast grower, you won't mind replacing it annually.
More great design plants:
Flowers and plants
Grasses
Trees
Comments
Karen Horray for grasses! While the purple is not my favorite, we love decorating with ornamental grasses. I have several kinds in containers on my rooftop deck. Hubby loves fox red curly sedge, but I'm a fan of the green fountain grass. Just watching them move in the slightest breeze is calming, just like the flames flickering in the fireplace, but during the day.
11 months ago · Like
momof2cuties Love it! Every year it seems I find more places to plant it. Looks great contrasting with limes and pinks.
11 months ago · Like
NJ Landscape Design Beautiful grasses, just a shame that a lot of the varieties are not hardy for most of Britain, but as you pointed out it could be used as an annual. However because of its tenderness it tends to be quite an expensive rarity in British plant nurseries. An alternative to P setaceum is P alopecuroides 'Hameln' which is good down to zone 6. A purple flowered version is P a 'Moudry' both of which are widely available.
11 months ago · Like
aprilraffel What is the violet plant called planted with the Purple Grass and Lime Green Sweet Potato. It is not a Calibrachoas or a petunia as mentioned in last paragraph of article. I appreciate your help.
11 months ago · Like
ojtec hi, i live trinidad and tobago in the carribbean, i know you will find this funny but this plant is an expensive plant to get from the plant shop but i love this plant i use it as an indoor plant and it is the talking point
11 months ago · Like
smoore Have used purple fountain grasses as the center focal points in the 2 pots flanking my front door for years. As an added bonus, when the season changes and the grass dries out and browns, it makes a great centerpiece for Fall/Halloween themed pots.
11 months ago · Like
sandrajj I love purple fountain grass in the landscape. I have only two wishes....that it would grow year-round and that the pets could resist chewing on its blades.
11 months ago · Like
Dig Your Garden Landscape Design Nice grass. I also love using Oriental Fountain Grass - Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose' in gardens I design in Northern California. Pretty rose pink flowers, great in pots or in garden beds too. 
11 months ago · Like
J. Peterson Garden Design Thanks for the comments, everyone! April, that particular photograph was not mine, so without seeing a close-up, I think the violet flowers with the sweet potato vine could be verbena. I've used this combination several times myself.
11 months ago · Like
BBC Tile and Stone Would this grass be good for Kelowna B.C Canada Zone 4
9 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on July 7, 2012.
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