Purple Fountain Grass Live Plant – Pennisetum Setaceum Starter – 5-8 Inch Tall

Overview

Introduce a touch of elegance and vibrant color to your outdoor spaces with the purple fountain grass live plant. This stunning ornamental grass, scientifically known as Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum x advena ‘Rubrum’), is celebrated for its distinctive arching burgundy leaves and soft, feathery, purplish-pink flower spikes that emerge from early summer until frost. It’s an exceptionally fast-growing plant that quickly establishes itself, providing immediate visual impact. Often utilized as a colorful specimen, in sweeping masses to create a dramatic effect, or as a filler in perennial beds, its versatility makes it a favorite among gardeners. Whether you’re looking to add texture, movement, or a bold color statement, this pennisetum setaceum rubrum is an excellent choice for a dynamic landscape.

The graceful form and rich coloration of purple fountain grass make it a standout in any garden design. It’s a low-maintenance option for those seeking beauty without extensive upkeep. This plant is shipped as a well-rooted starter plant, typically 5-8 inches tall, ready to be planted and begin its rapid growth in your garden. Its ability to maintain its shape and color throughout the summer and fall ensures continuous appeal, making it a valuable addition to both novice and experienced gardeners’ collections.

Key Benefits

The purple fountain grass live plant offers a multitude of benefits that make it a highly desirable addition to any garden or landscape. Its unique characteristics contribute to both aesthetic appeal and ease of care, ensuring a rewarding gardening experience.

• Dramatic Visual Impact: The rich burgundy foliage and arching, purplish plumes create a stunning focal point, adding dramatic color and texture that lasts from summer through fall. This makes it an excellent choice for a fast growing garden plant.
• Low Maintenance & Easy Care: Known for its resilience and adaptability, purple fountain grass requires minimal attention once established. It’s an ideal choice for gardeners looking for maximum impact with minimal effort.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Perfect for mass plantings, borders, container gardening, or as a specimen plant. Its upright yet arching habit complements a wide range of garden styles and other plants.
• Drought Tolerance: Once established, this ornamental grass is surprisingly tolerant of dry conditions, making it a water-wise choice for various climates and reducing the need for frequent watering.
• Fast Growth Rate: This grass grows quickly, allowing you to enjoy its full beauty sooner. It rapidly fills in spaces, making it an excellent option for new gardens or for quickly enhancing existing beds.
• Season-Long Interest: From its initial growth in spring to its beautiful plumes in summer and fall, purple fountain grass live plant provides continuous ornamental value throughout the growing season.
• Cold Weather Hardy: It can be grown as a perennial in warmer climates (down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit), offering year-after-year beauty with proper care, making it a truly hardy purple grass.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your purple fountain grass live plant is straightforward, ensuring its vibrant beauty thrives in your garden. This ornamental grass prefers full sunlight, meaning at least six hours of direct sun per day, to achieve its best color and growth. While it can tolerate some light shade, too much shade will result in less vibrant foliage and fewer flowers. When planting, ensure the location receives ample light.

Regarding soil, purple fountain grass isn’t particularly fussy, but it thrives best in well-draining soil. It can adapt to various soil types, from sandy to clay, as long as drainage is adequate. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot, especially during its establishment phase. For watering, consistent moisture is important as the plant is getting established. Once rooted, it becomes quite drought-tolerant, but regular watering during prolonged dry spells will help it look its best. In climates where it’s grown as a perennial, cut back the foliage in early spring before new growth begins to encourage a fresh, vigorous display. This helps maintain its attractive form and promotes healthy development for your ornamental grass for garden.

Fertilization is generally not heavily required for this robust grass. An annual application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring can encourage strong growth, but avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to excessive foliage at the expense of its characteristic plumes. This pennisetum setaceum rubrum is cold weather hardy down to approximately 20 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a perennial in USDA Zones 9 and warmer. In colder regions, it’s typically grown as an annual. Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids, though they are rarely a significant problem. Proper spacing and good air circulation will help prevent fungal issues. Following these simple guidelines will help your fast growing garden plant flourish.

Size & Details

This offering includes one healthy purple fountain grass live plant, shipped as a starter plant. You can expect the plant to arrive well-rooted and approximately 5-8 inches tall, ready for immediate planting in your garden or container. These plants are shipped without a pot to ensure safe and efficient transport, allowing you to choose the perfect container or garden spot upon arrival. The mature size of purple fountain grass typically reaches 2-4 feet in height and spreads 2-3 feet wide, forming an attractive, mounding clump with arching foliage. Its growth rate is considered fast, allowing it to quickly establish and provide a significant visual presence within its first growing season.

The vibrant burgundy leaves and purplish flower spikes provide continuous interest from early summer until the first hard frost. This plant is often grown as an annual in colder climates but can be a perennial in warmer regions where temperatures do not consistently drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Its vigorous growth and striking appearance make it an excellent choice for adding vertical interest and rich color to any landscape design. When planting, allow adequate space for its mature size to ensure optimal growth and display of this beautiful hardy purple grass.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this purple fountain grass live plant get? A: A: This purple fountain grass live plant typically grows to a mature height of 2-4 feet and spreads about 2-3 feet wide. It forms an attractive, mounding clump with its arching foliage and plumes.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Purple fountain grass is primarily an outdoor ornamental grass. It thrives in garden beds, borders, and outdoor containers where it can receive plenty of sunlight.
• Q: How much sunlight does this ornamental grass for garden need? A: This plant prefers full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, to achieve the best foliage color and bloom production. It can tolerate some light shade but may not be as vibrant.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, purple fountain grass is known for being relatively easy to care for. It’s drought-tolerant once established and not too particular about soil conditions, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.
• Q: What condition will the starter plant arrive in? A: You will receive a well-rooted purple fountain grass live plant, approximately 5-8 inches tall, shipped without a pot for safe transit. It will be ready for planting upon arrival.
• Q: How long until this fast growing garden plant blooms? A: Given its fast growth rate, your purple fountain grass should begin to produce its characteristic purplish plumes in early summer and continue blooming until the first frost in its first growing season.
• Q: Will this hardy purple grass survive winter in my zone? A: Purple fountain grass is cold-hardy down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA Zones 9 and warmer), where it can be grown as a perennial. In colder zones, it is typically grown as an annual or overwintered indoors.
• Q: What type of soil is best for pennisetum setaceum rubrum? A: This grass is adaptable but prefers well-draining soil. It can tolerate various soil types, but good drainage is key to preventing root issues.
• Q: How often should I water my purple fountain grass? A: Water consistently while the plant is getting established. Once mature, it is drought-tolerant, but regular watering during dry periods will ensure it looks its best.
• Q: Can I grow purple fountain grass in a container? A: Absolutely! Its compact size and dramatic appearance make it an excellent choice for container gardening, especially when contrasted with other plants.