Great Design Plant: Purple Fountain Grass

Easy come, easy grow — give this low-maintenance grass pride of place in your garden

Jenny Peterson July 7, 2012

Houzz Contributor

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Gardeners looking for texture and movement in their outdoor areas should take a look at ornamental grasses, and one of my favorites is purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum). Its form and striking coloring make it a valuable and flexible addition to any garden, and its easy care makes it a favorite among gardeners everywhere.

Whether you have vast acreage or a small urban patio, let purple fountain grass work its way into your outdoor living area. Just don’t be surprised when it earns a permanent spot there.

Caution: The plant does reseed and is considered invasive in the southwest and southern U.S. Cultivated varieties typically do not reseed and are considered more garden-friendly.

debora carl landscape design

Botanical name: Pennisetum setaceum
Common names: Purple fountain grass, rose fountain grass
USDA zones: Perennial in 9-11, annual in all other zones. Find your zone.
Water requirement: Average water needs; drought tolerant once established
Light requirement: Full sun to light shade
Mature size: Up to 48 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide
Benefits and tolerances: Drought tolerant
Seasonal interest: In late spring to mid-fall, the burgundy-black foliage and foxtail plumes remain a constant feature in the perennial garden; lends winter interest in its dried form
When to plant: Mid-spring or after last frost

Glenna Partridge Garden Design

Distinguishing traits: The foliage of purple fountain grass is outstanding, featuring a striking, dark burgundy/black grassy blade that has a lighter green base. This unusual coloration blends in well with other bright green and purplish plants and flowers.

Long, foxtail-like plumes appear early in the season and remain late into the summer and fall, providing graceful movement and texture in the warm-season garden.

Its medium size makes it a versatile addition to any garden, and the quick growth rate allows you to save money by purchasing it in a 1-gallon container. In no time at all, this ornamental grass will grow to twice and even three times its size.

J. Peterson Garden Design

How to use it: Purple fountain grass is the perfect addition to perennial garden beds as well as larger container plantings, and gardeners in nearly any zone can find a use for it. Its height makes it a great plant for the middle part of your garden, mixed in with flowering perennials or planted en masse for a more meadow-like look.

If you opt to use purple fountain grass in your mixed perennial bed, plant it in groups of three to provide repetition and consistency. If you tuck it into a container, make sure the vessel is large enough to accommodate the mature size of the grass; I usually opt for pots at least 2 feet wide at the top. Plant it in the middle of the pot, and place flowering annuals such as purple petunias or calibrachoas and lime-green sweet potato vine around the base. The purple and green colors play off each other beautifully and create a stunning focal point for your patio or deck.

Michelle Jacoby, Changing Spaces

Planting notes: Purple fountain grass likes loose, well-drained soil. Let it dry out a bit in between watering — once established, it's fairly drought tolerant. If you live in an area with very hot and intense sun, this grass will take some partial shade, particularly in the afternoon.

If you live in USDA zone 8b or above and would like to treat purple fountain grass as a perennial, let it shine in your garden until late winter (February) when you can cut it back to about 6 to 8 inches. All other zones should treat purple fountain grass as an annual, but since it is so affordable and such a fast grower, you won't mind replacing it annually.

More great design plants:
Flowers and plants
Grasses
Trees