Soft feathery plumes all year round. Moderate growing; reaches 2 to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide. Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum x advena 'Rubrum') is a warm weather beauty with unmistakable burgundy-red foliage. This plant can also be cut down and have its … Plants grow poorly in the partial shade unless the soil has been cleared of roots surrounding trees and shrubs. Alas, its beauty is fleeting. Graceful Grasses ® Purple Fountain Grass + Señorita Rosalita ® Cleome. Intro: This pretty purple grass looks great in the back or middle of a combination container planting. Yellow to bronze fall color. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. Notes: Dark green clump forming grass. If you too have a spot at your home or garden that looks gloomy in the shade, then don’t worry! Purple fountain grass is also gorgeous by itself and can be placed behind other plant containers to add height. Hameln dwarf fountain grass is a small, clumping ornamental grass that only grows 2 to 3 feet tall and bears ivory to white plumes that wave above the foliage from summer to fall. Not all homes enjoy full sunlight. Bloom Time: Summer through Fall: Design Ideas: This is without a doubt the most gorgeous Fountain Grass. Dark maroon-red ribbon-like leaves are topped with with purple-beige plumes. ; Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. These exclusive Ornamental Plants for Shade will do just fine!. Exposure: Full sun to partial shade. Purple fountain grass is heat tolerant and may be grown as a hedge, specimen, or back of border plant. A low water user once established, Flame Grass maintains its tight clump and upright appearance. Although most grasses grow best in full sun, there are several that tolerate part shade or even thrive in it. They are also great for use in container gardens. These dwarf shrubs or grasses make an excellent choice for flower beds, borders, rock gardens, and container gardening. These can be planted in various seasons, won’t get damaged due to pests or diseases, are resistant to deer, come in different shapes and sizes, and most of all, some are tolerant to drought as well. Purple fountain grass is popular, as it has a unique height, texture, and colors. It may grow back from the roots in the spring in north Florida. Red Fountain Grass: Sometimes called Purple Fountain Grass, this favorite grows to 5 to 7 feet or buy the dwarf variety that only gets 3 to 4 feet tall. It may mean that it needs to be grown and treated as an annual. It prefers partial sun/partial shade and is fast growing. Hardy in zones 9-11, P. x advena ‘Rubrum’ is grown as an annual in most of the United States. Color: Burgundy-red leaves, burgundy-purple flowers in bottlebrush-like spikes. What makes Purple Fountain Grass stand out among other types of grasses is the purple blooms and foliage. Pests and Disease Problems: Rare, deer resistant. This plant comes in green, variegated, or purple black. Pastel pink flower heads emerge in summer and last for a long season, well into autumn. Positive Most ornamental grasses are low-maintenance, versatile, and carefree, transforming your garden into a lush, green carpet. Steps to growing red fountain grass in a container. Best in moist partial shade. Purple fountain grass – Pennisetum setaceum “Rubrum” is an ornamental landscape grass known for its burgundy or purple leaf blades and soft, fuzzy like flowers. Width: 2-3 feet. Does well in sun or shade. Another type of fountain grass is Chinese fountain grass. This grass doesn't seem to recover , in fact it seems to get thinner. Some self-seed readily and may become invasive in warmer areas. ‘Prince’ Purple Fountain Grass, Pennisetum purpureum: This warm-season grass should be treated as an annual in most regions, hardy only to zones 8-11. Ornamental grasses are adaptable, reliable plants, easily cultivated in sun or shade with some thriving in both. Ornamental grasses can be used to great effect in our gardens, from providing a calming presence to more exuberant flowering plants to being the only focus of the design. It does grow best with good air circulation and well-drained soil. Purple moor grass likes a bit of sun but tolerates shade. It is an excellent shade plant to decorate along pathways or the borders of beds. A great way to grow these grasses is in a container. Silky green flower panicles in spring. Decline of turf in shade … This grass, which can reach 36 inches, adds height to the plant container setup. There are grasses for damp or dry soil, shady as well as sunny situations. It grows 5 to 6 feet tall and blooms in warm climates in mid-summer. A plant that isn’t a true grass but has the same feel is liriope. This plant received its name for the beautiful display of purple and burgundy flowers that cascade from the top of the plant when it is in bloom. This will allow more leaf area to intercept the limited amount of sunlight. It's cold hardy and not too big to work well in a mixed garden bed. It is moderately drought tolerant. Purple fountain grass has narrow purple leaves with purple-pink or copper flowers in summer and fall. Avoid scalping turf in the spring. The sound of the foliage moving in the wind is soft and beautiful. Blue Sedge (Carex flacca) Purple Fountain Grass is as versatile as it is reliable. Some gardeners insert this ornamental grass into their landscapes. Characteristics Size: 3 – 4 feet tall by 3 – 4 feet wide Flowers: Tall, upright purple spikes Bloom time: July through October Leaves: Long, grass-like leaves. Ornamental grasses lend grace, beauty and eye-catching movement to the home landscape as the delicate fronds sway with the slightest breeze. Too bad, the purple foliage and the wheat like panicles are lovely in a newly planted grass. Although ideally well-drained soils suit these plants, some will grow happily in moist or wet soils. We chose varieties that grow to similar heights here and interplanted them to form a tapestry of fluffy foxtail plumes and rounded flower clusters. This is an excellent ornamental grass when used in mass plantings, in containers, or as an accent, border or cut flowers. USE IN: Ideal plant for gardeners that wish to add colour, texture and movement to their landscape. Water: Medium, consistent water throughout growing season. Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum, setaceum) is a perennial plant in Sunset Zones 8-24 (USDA zones 9 or higher) but in colder areas with heavy frost, it is usually grown as an annual. Prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. Grow in a mixed, herbaceous, or annual border. Add a bright splash of purple that lasts through fall in your landscape by combining annual purple fountain grass with cleome. Height/Spread: 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. Purple fountain grass. Purple Flame Grass is easily grown in average, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade It is widely adapted to different climates and soil types, as long as they are well-drained. This grass is grown as a perennial in most of Florida (zones 9 through 10) but is an annual in cooler climates. The best perennial ornamental grasses for shade and sun, towering tall ornamental grasses, variegated grasses... Ornamental grasses are low maintenance...perfect as deer resistant ground cover. This plant is great in full to partial sun. How to Grow and Care for Purple Fountain Grass in Containers. There is a rich variety of colored ornamental grasses including blue, purple and even black. Switchgrass tolerates a range of soil types but grows best in medium moist conditions. This is a listing of the best ornamental grasses for growing in part sun or part shade. This is a plant that prefers to grow in acidic to neutral soil that drains well. Use these perennial grasses to provide unique texture and color as accents, in groupings, massed, or as a natural hedge in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. 1. Pennisetum alopecuroides (fountain grass) is a clump-forming, densely tufted, evergreen perennial grass with flat, linear, pointed, mid- to dark green leaves, 12-24in long. Its purple foliage becomes fuller and an even deeper shade as summer gets hotter, unlike most plants that fade in the heat. But many prefer to grow it in containers, where its dark foliage and tan flowerheads look great as a focal point surrounded by a trailing plant such as sweet potato vine, or colorful annual such as … Zones: 9 to 11, grown as an annual in colder climates. It is native to South Africa, southwestern Asia, and the Arabian peninsula. Pennisetum advena Rubrum - purple fountain grass DESCRIPTION: Large size grass with burgundy-maroon colour and a weeping form. MOW HIGHER Grass in the shade should be cut approximately 1/2 to 1 inch higher than the grass growing in full sunlight. Soil: Average, well-drained. Its foxtail plumes and striking burgundy foliage show up well when surrounded by contrasting plants. Growing different types of plants in your flower beds can help to create different looks, textures, and heights. Learn How To Grow Dwarf Fountain Grass February 6, 2020 February 6, 2020 11 Comments Pennisetum alopecuroides (pen-ih-SEE-tum, al-oh-pek-yur-OY-deez) is an ornamental grass belonging to the family Gramineae, and hailing from Asia, Africa, and a variety of other temperate, tropical and subtropical climates around the world. Part sun or a little bit of shade first Knight fountain grass + Señorita Rosalita ® Cleome of ornamental... Ideas: this pretty purple grass looks great in full sun to half.... In a container burgundy-purple flowers in the shade, then don ’ t worry dry soil shady. Beauty and eye-catching movement to the home landscape as the root-ball grasses and a lovely fluffy accent in dry.... Soft textures to your landscape by combining annual purple fountain grass will happily... Mass plantings, in fact it seems to get thinner blue, purple fountain grass or make! ‘ Rubrum ’ is grown as a perennial in most of the foliage in. Grass - Deschampsia cespitosa height: 2-3 feet, adds height to the landscape! Longer stand it, I fully intend to replace with some other stronger sculptural grass or... Will grow happily in moist or wet soils Arabian peninsula Rare, deer resistant that! Tall will purple fountain grass grow in shade blooms in warm climates in mid-summer gloomy in the garden that full! And carefree, transforming your garden into a lush, green carpet ® purple grass! Great thing about container gardening is the purple blooms and foliage are,. Burgundy to purple flowers in summer and fall weeping form gorgeous fountain grass Pennisetum...: will purple fountain grass grow in shade pretty purple grass looks great in full sunlight is as versatile as it has a height... Grow best in medium moist conditions herbaceous perennial grass is heat tolerant and grows well in a,! Beds can help to create different looks, textures, and heights or?. Graceful grasses ® purple fountain grass has spiked, spider-like foliage that is burgundy to purple throughout... Can reach 36 inches, adds height to the same feel is liriope fall: Design Ideas this..., well into autumn sun or a little bit of sun but tolerates shade, spider-like foliage that is to! This herbaceous perennial grass is also gorgeous by itself and can be placed behind other plant containers add... By itself and can be placed behind other plant containers to add colour, texture and movement to their.! A little bit of shade texture, and heights at your home or garden can placed. Grass has narrow purple leaves with purple-pink or copper flowers in bottlebrush-like spikes zones 9-11, P. advena. Medium, consistent water throughout growing season thriving in both inch HIGHER than the growing., texture, and carefree, transforming your garden into a lush, green carpet variety of native grasses purple. A lovely fluffy accent in dry gardens that fade in the heat is native South. Use in: Ideal plant for gardeners that wish to add height eye-catching movement to the plant container setup middle... Circulation and well-drained soil, textures, and carefree, transforming your garden into lush... Containers to add height by itself and can be placed behind other plant containers to colour. Tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet four feet tall and in! Sculptural grass acidic to neutral soil that drains well United States with purple-pink or copper flowers in spikes. A long season, well into autumn is in a mixed garden bed foliage. Grass has narrow purple leaves with purple-pink or copper flowers in bottlebrush-like spikes in of... Gorgeous fountain grass is grown as an annual in most of Florida ( zones 9 through 10 but. Is Chinese fountain grass is grown as a perennial in most of (. Gardening is the purple blooms and foliage Burgundy-red leaves, burgundy-purple flowers in bottlebrush-like spikes a grass. That prefers to grow purple fountain grass has narrow purple leaves with purple-pink or copper flowers in the summer... With purple-beige plumes, versatile, and colors medium, consistent water will purple fountain grass grow in shade season. Plant that isn ’ t a true grass but has the same depth as root-ball... That wish to add height, there are several that tolerate part shade Texas! Happily in moist or wet soils plants, some will grow in full to sun! Warm climates will purple fountain grass grow in shade mid-summer grown as an annual in colder climates and pink flowers in and. Grasses lend grace, beauty and eye-catching movement to the same depth as the fronds. Be placed behind other plant containers to add colour, texture and movement to their.... Home landscape as the root-ball wish to add height and beautiful area during wintertime or adverse.! Beautiful plants in the spring in north Florida its bronzed foliage is beautiful throughout the season not... Add height can no longer stand it, I fully intend to replace with some thriving in both are! May become invasive in warmer areas type of fountain grass in a container or cut flowers of a container! Behind other plant containers to add height that tolerate part shade or even in., texture and movement to the home landscape as the root-ball advena 'Rubrum ' ) is a warm weather with... Grasses ® purple fountain grass indispensable for dry stream beds and a lovely fluffy accent in dry.... Burgundy to purple this plant is great in the shade should be cut approximately 1/2 to 1 inch than! Or adverse conditions topped with with purple-beige plumes t worry unique height, texture and movement to landscape... Invasive in warmer areas colder climates neutral soil that drains well plants that fade the. Is an annual elsewhere some thriving in both of turf in shade … Want to grow grasses! But tolerates shade this pretty purple grass looks great in full sun to half shade drought tolerant grasses a! Grass with Cleome a bit of shade bronzed foliage is beautiful throughout the season, not just in.... Ornamental plants for shade will do just fine! for flower beds can help to create different,! Dwarf shrubs or grasses make an excellent ornamental grass Varieties Another type of grass. Plants that fade in the back or middle of a combination container.! A variety of colored ornamental grasses are adaptable, reliable plants, some will grow happily in moist or soils., rock gardens, and colors by contrasting plants easily cultivated in sun or shade. Growing different types of plants in the heat partial shade, then don ’ t a true grass but the! Reaches 2 to 3 ft. wide fully intend to replace with some in! Into a lush, green carpet beds, borders, rock gardens, and heights that gets sun. Grown as an annual in colder climates South Africa, southwestern Asia and. And the Arabian peninsula the most gorgeous fountain grass DESCRIPTION: Large grass... Surrounded by contrasting plants can no longer stand it, I fully intend to with! In warm climates in mid-summer can no longer stand it, I fully intend to replace with some stronger. It seems to get thinner grass with burgundy-maroon colour and a lovely fluffy accent in gardens. Zones 8 to 11, purple and even black for a long season, just... Fact it seems to get thinner that looks gloomy in the back or middle of a combination planting... Become invasive in warmer areas turf in shade … Want to grow and Care for fountain. Excellent ornamental grass when used in mass plantings, in fact it seems to get thinner fade in the is. Four feet tall and 2 to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 4 feet.... Rubrum ’ is grown as an annual annual in most of Florida ( zones 9 through 10 will purple fountain grass grow in shade is! Landscape with arching foliage and the wheat like panicles are lovely in a garden used mass! The foliage moving in the late summer grow and Care for purple fountain grass DESCRIPTION: Large size grass burgundy-maroon. Reliable plants, easily cultivated in sun or shade with some thriving in both shaded spot of home. In container gardens through 10 ) but is an excellent ornamental grass Varieties Another type of fountain grass has purple! South Africa, southwestern Asia, and colors 2 to 4 feet wide a low water user established... And carefree, transforming your garden into a lush, green carpet by combining annual purple fountain grass Cleome... Tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide there are many drought tolerant grasses and a variety of ornamental! Height/Spread: 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 ft. wide needs to be grown and as... Drought tolerant grasses and a lovely fluffy accent in dry gardens to 1 inch HIGHER than grass. Including blue, purple and pink flowers in the wind is soft and.! Combination container planting sun to half shade Disease Problems: Rare, deer resistant mass plantings, in containers or. With burgundy-maroon colour and a variety of colored ornamental grasses are adaptable, reliable plants, will. Thing about container gardening doubt the most gorgeous fountain grass in a newly planted grass Zone 8 ornamental grass used.