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 and the midsize/mid-border varieties. These five beauties are also in the midrange in size, with a bonus: They’re part of the UGA Infertile Grass Collection. Those academic wizards bred them for stunning good looks AND for infertility. They’re functionally sterile, so you won’t find them popping up where they’re not wanted. All are hardy in Zones 5 – 9, and they all come in 38-cell liner trays.

Pennisetum alopecuroides Cayenne™ PP31097

Large, dark-red bottlebrush plumes over rich green arching blades. Very long bloom time.

Height 24 – 36”

Pennisetum a. Hush Puppy™ PP31027

Long-lasting pink plumes spray high above rounded mounds of slender foliage.

Height 30"

Pennisetum a. Praline™ PP30724

Big flowers soar above 15” mounds of arching blades.

Height in flower 30”

Pennisetum a. Jambalaya™ PP31176 Slender maroon plumes mature to silvery pink. Elegant habit.

Height 38"

Pennisetum a. Etouffee™ PP31062

Light pink foxtail plumes rise high above foliage.

Height in flower 42”

So let’s recap: We’ve seen four little guys and 11 midsize/mid-border varieties. What’s next? In Chapter 4 we’ll raise our sights again for the big, bold Royal Collection.

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