In the plant world, you can find many ornamental grasses to grow in the garden. But nothing wows 🤩 you more than the purple fountain grass.
It is one of the few types to survive the summer heat. The best part is it adds height to gorgeous color and texture to the landscape.
So, if you want to add a statement plant to the garden, the deep purple foliage with long fluffy blooms will do the trick. Grow purple fountain grass as a natural screen, garden bed, or in containers.
Plant Name: Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’
Other Name: Purple fountain grass, red fountain grass
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial grass
Native Areas: Africa and Asia
Light Requirement: Full sun to light shade
Watering: Moderate
Fertilizer: Slow-release fertilizer
Toxicity: Non-toxic
Temperature: Warm to cool temperatures
Propagation: Division and seed
Growth: 3-5 feet high and 2-4 feet wide
Soil Type: Neutral to acidic
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
More About Pennisetum Setaceum Rubrum
Purple fountain grass belongs to the Poaceae family and is the 5th largest plant family when looking at grasses. These include cereal grasses and your lawn grasses to bamboo. The genus name is Pennisetum meaning fountain grass.
Purple fountain grass grows as a tender perennial and cannot survive freezing winter temperatures like other ornamental grasses. The plant can thrive in the USDA zones 9-11.
In cooler climates, you can still enjoy the long arching spikes tipped with the purple plumes or grow them as an annual or in a container to help them survive winter temperatures.
The ornamental grass looks beautiful in a mixed planting with burgundy to purple foliage. So, it adds texture and color to surrounding plants.
When the fall arrives, you see autumn seed heads from and not as invasive as other fountain grass. The reason is that the seed heads do not set seed.
So if you want warm-season grasses that are not invasive, then Rubrum needs to be on your plant list.
Types of Purple Fountain Grass
A popular purple fountain grass is the Fireworks with variegated leaves that are burgundy in the middle with edges in hot pink.
For warm-season grasses that can survive cold winters, the Burgundy Bunny 🐰 is high on the list. It reaches 16 inches tall, and in summer, it has hints of red; in the fall, it turns into a reddish-purple.
Then we have the Little Bunny which only stands 12 inches tall but has a greater spread. Unfortunately, it lacks vibrant foliage but has a gorgeous flower color.
So, if you do want to invest in ornamental grass be sure to check out this gorgeous selection in our shop. But how do you care for this warm season grass? Let’s find out!
Purple Fountain Grass Care
As the purple fountain grass grows mainly in Africa and Asia, it is a tropical ornamental grass that is not cold-hardy. But that does not mean you cannot grow the warm season grass to enjoy it for two seasons.
It is not considered invasive and thrives in dry climates when they receive rain occasionally.
But they do need protection from strong winds. The added benefit is that they look beautiful in flower arrangements, and you can grow them in container gardens in colder climates. These plants need little maintenance to grow outside.
Planting Fountain Grass Pennisetum
Growing purple fountain grass is best done in the fall or spring, but we recommend taking advantage of planting them in spring during the growing season.
Planting purple fountain grass is considered a growth habit as these plants reach 5 feet tall at mature height. Also, plant them five feet apart in a deep and wide hole to accommodate the roots.
Then water them well to become established.
The Best Light For Ornamental Grasses
Most ornamental grasses prefer baking in full sunlight, especially the purple fountain grass. Purple fountain grass Pennisetum needs up to eight hours of full sun daily and can survive in the garden in light shade.
For containers growing indoors, please provide them with a sunny window to bask in the sun.
Soil Types For Pennisetum Setaceum Rubrum
It is not picky about the type of soil it grows as long as it is well-drained and moist, like a loamy one. These plants prefer a neutral to acidic pH level.
Watering Purple Fountain Grass Pennisetum
When you plant purple fountain grass, it needs deep watering often until the roots become established. You can do this once or twice a week.
Still, allow the soil to dry between watering to prevent root rot. Once the roots are established, it is reasonably drought tolerant, but we recommend watering often in dry climates without rain.
You may find your container-grown plants need a bit more watering.
Temperature and Humidity
Purple fountain grass Pennisetum thrives in warm climates and is hardy in zones 9-11. It can tolerate some cold snaps but needs adequate winter protection in colder climates.
So, you can add a frost blanket to a s cold frame to rake your plants indoors grown in pots. Alternatively, you can grow them in the garden with temperatures down to 20°F as a perennial to cut back in early spring.
Keep potted plants in a cool area or at room temperature and water them, allowing the roots not to dry out during cold weather.
When the weather turns warmer, take a week to acclimate your grass, taking them outdoors during the day and returning them indoors at night.
Or enjoy the purple foliage in flower arrangements in colder climates grown as an annual.
Fertilizing Purple Fountain Grass
These plants do not need a helping hand 🖐 to flourish. But you can provide them an additional feed using a slow-release fertilizer in spring. You can feed them monthly according to the directions on the fertilizer label for additional nutrients for new growth.
Pruning the Purple Foliage
When it comes to maintenance, you will only prune them. You can snip away the dead foliage around the plant. Doing this helps increase airflow allowing the sunlight to reach all grass parts.
In cool areas, you can cut back the foliage in late winter. This is normally after the bloom time for new growth to appear in spring. Alternatively, you can trim away any dead to damaged foliage at any time of the year.
Steps to Cut Back The Foliage:
Gather the leaves of each plant.
Bind them using masking tape, bungee cord, or rope.
You can cut straight across the leaves about six inches from the base with a pruner or scythe.
Then comb the trimmed leaves with your hands 👐 as it helps remove the dead blades from debris.
Growing Purple Fountain Grass in Containers
Growing purple fountain grass in containers is an excellent solution if you get cold winters and look beautiful with other flowering cultivars.
As mature plants reach about five feet tall, you need to consider the size of the container, and it needs enough drainage holes.
Place the pot in enough sunlight, like a sunny window or patio. It is also a great way to bring them indoors, and you need not wait for late winter to remove the foliage.
Propagating Purple Fountain Grass
You can grow your purple fountain grass from seed or through division. Some fountain grass self-seed, but the faster method is dividing the roots. The best time to divide the purple fountain grass is in the fall after it flowers by following these steps:
When it goes dormant, dig it up.
With a clean knife, cut it into more than one section and ensure it has healthy roots with leaves.
Remove any rotten or dead matter and roots, replant them immediately, and keep them moist.
How to Grow Purple Fountain Grass From Seed
Using seed can take time for you to see results. You can collect the seeds when the flower stems are dry in the fall.
Take a whole flower stem and leave it to dry in a cool area.
Shake the seed onto a piece of paper and sow them on the soil’s surface by only dusting some sand over it.
The water 💦 the container keeps it evenly moist.
Place a clear plastic bag over the pot to form a dome and slit holes at the top allowing the seeds to breathe.
Wait until you see new growth appear before removing the cover, and when they have a set of leaves, you can transplant them to larger containers.
You can harden them off in the spring to prepare them for the flower beds or containers outside.
Common Pests and Diseases
Even if the purple fountain grass can grow in poor soil types and brighten the garden in late spring to winter, it is also resistant to most pests and diseases. It is drought tolerant to some extent, and deer do not enjoy munching on them.
But as with most plants, you can find some snails and slugs nibbling on the purple foliage, but they do not cause harm and are primarily cosmetic. Purple fountain grass can become susceptible to fungal diseases as it hides between the blades without enough air circulation.
So, prune them often and provide enough full sunlight to dry the foliage out.
Frequently Asked Questions
The plant is carefree in the yard if you provide a sunny spot, water, and pruning.
In zones where temperatures drop to 20°F, you plant them as annuals, but in warmer climates, they are perennial but short-lived.
People grow purple fountain grass mostly outdoors, but you can grow them indoors in containers as a houseplant.
The purple fountain grass is a tender perennial that cannot survive cold winters when temperatures drop to 20°F. In warmer climates, you can grow the plant as a perennial.
If you live in warmer regions with cool climates, you can cut back the grass in late winter to regrow in early spring.
With proper care, you can grow purple fountain grass in containers providing a large enough pot to grow with enough drainage holes and cool temperatures to bright light.
Whether you want to buy, sell, or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!
