We grow over two dozen varieties of this multifaceted, cosmopolitan genus. Why so many? Because no two are alike. Let’s inventory their assets and characteristics.

Size: Our fountain grass offerings range from awww!-some cuties like ‘Little Bunny’, a mere 10 – 12” tall, all the way up to statuesque six-footers in the Royal Collection.

Foliage: Name it! At one end of the color spectrum is the bright chartreuse of P. alopecuroides 'Yellow Ribbons’. On the dark side are the Royals, with big, rippling, jet-black blades. In between? Green, of course, plus burgundy, pale pink, hot pink and various variegations. Autumn brings a show of blazing reds and oranges.

Flowers: The little guys produce cute little white “bunny tail” blooms. Others adorn the garden with nodding foxtails and fat bottlebrush plumes of white, tan, smoky purple and dark red. The Royal Collection produces no flowers at all in most of North America. Those dazzling blades are the whole show.

Hardiness: Most varieties are hardy from USDA Zones 6 (5 with protection) through 9. Others, like best-selling P. ‘Rubrum’ and the Royal Collection, are grown as annuals.

We’ve seen the little guys at the bottom of the height chart. Let’s raise our sights and shop the midsize/mid-border varieties, shall we?

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Breeders have played many riffs on this key species, but the original is still a terrific solo act. Available in 38- or 72-cell liners. Arching mounds of narrow green leaves. Green summer seed heads become big, golden fall foxtails. Height: 2 – 4’. 

All varieties: Zones 6(5) – 9.

Pennisetum a. ‘Cassian’

Compact selection with great autumn hues, gold with red/orange tints.

Height 2 – 3’.

Pennisetum a. ‘Yellow Ribbons’ PP31362

Much like ‘Hameln’, but with slender golden foliage that matures to chartreuse/yellow.

Height 2’.

Pennisetum a. ‘Ginger Love’ PP26442

Uniform mounds of rich green blades send up fat red bottlebrush inflorescences.

Height 2 – 3’

Pennisetum a. ‘Hameln’

A classic! Among the best and best-known ornamental grasses. Compact form. Seedheads open green and mature to creamy tan. Available in four sizes to suit your production protocol perfectly.

Height 2 – 3’

Pennisetum a. ‘Red Head’

Blooms up to a month sooner than others, with big 10” x 3” bottlebrush plumes of smoky purple.

Height 4 – 5’.

Pennisetum orientale ‘Karley Rose’

Different species, different look! Arching mounds of rich green foliage sway gracefully under rich, rose-pink plumes. Selected in New England.

Height 2 – 3’, hardy in Zones 5 - 9. 

What’s next? In Chapter 3 we’ll look at the Infertile Collection from the University of Georgia, and why they really shouldn’t be defined by what they’re not.

Tall, small and in-between, they all start in smooth-planting, fast-finishing liners from Emerald Coast Growers – your easy choice!