 |
 ntroduced |
|
Common name: African fountain grass, Tender fountain grass, Fountain
grass, Purple fountain grass
Botanical name: Pennisetum setaceum Family: Gramineae / Poaceae (grass family)
Fountain grass is a very showy ornamental grass with graceful, arching leaves,
and erect or nodding rose-colored flower spikes up to 12 in long.
Fountain grass grows in dense, symmetrical clumps that can get 3-4 ft tall
and 2-3 ft across with a fountain of feathery plumes flowing out of the foliage.
'Cupreum' has reddish stems and leaves, and copper-colored plumes. 'Rubrum'
and 'Purpureum' are larger, to 5 ft tall, with dark purple leaves and
burgundy-red, nodding plumes to 15 in long. 'Eaton Canyon' is a miniature,
to 30 in high, with burgundy-red foliage and plumes. These cultivars
generally do not set seed, and therefore are good choices for tropical and
subtropical climates where the species could become invasive.
| Photographed in New Delhi |
Identification credit: Shaista Ahmad
|
