fountain grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head'
Cycle:
Perennial
Watering:
Frequent
Propagation:
Seed Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
6 - 9
Flowers:
Silvery to pinkish-white Flowers In Summer
Sun:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil:
Acidic, Well-drained
Fruits:
Fruits In Autumn Ready In Fall
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green,red
Growth Rate:
High
Maintenance:
Low
Drought Tolerant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head') should be watered frequently during its active growing season (spring and summer). The soil should be kept consistently moist, but not soggy- so about 1-2 inches of water per week should be enough. In the fall and winter, water less as the grass may go dormant and won’t require as much moisture. Checking the soil’s moisture level with a finger is usually the best way to determine how much watering is needed.
sunlight
Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head') grows best in full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can also tolerate some partial shade, as long as it gets adequate bright light for most of the day. In the summer months, when the days are long, the full sun should be avoided midday, as this can cause scorching of the foliage. Early morning sun and late afternoon sun are best for this plant species.
pruning
Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head') should be pruned in early spring, before the beginning of new growth. Remove dead, damaged, and weak foliage as needed; and reduce it, if necessary, to encourage strong, healthy foliage. Following that initial pruning, you may want to wait until late summer or early fall to do any additional pruning. Prune fountain grass again by cutting back up to 1-third of the foliage (from the top down). This will result in lush, full, healthy foliage during the next season.
