Pennisetum alopecuroides grows just fine from seed. I have a few dozen plants, of both the species and of a cultivar called 'Moudry' that I WS'd this year. FYI, 'Moudry' is Black Fountain Grass, and the species, P. alopecuroides, is Fountain Grass. My books say they are both hardy to one 6.

Donn are you familiar with the Pennisetum Alopecuroides "Fox Trot"? I was told this is a replacement for Pennisetum "Japonicum". The one I saw was beautiful, it was very large around and had the "bottle brushes" were very dark, like black. This sounds like "Moudry's" description. I hope I got the right one!

Lora

I'm old enough to remember "Fox Trot" as a dance my mother taught me, but I don't know it as a grass.