Species African feather grass
gold-orange spikelets with gold-orange foliage and stems

African feather grass

Pennisetum macrourum

African Feather Grass (Pennisetum macrourum) is an elegant ornamental grass native to Southern Africa. With delicate, fine-textured blades that wave in the slightest breeze, the plant is a living piece of art. It adds texture and movement to any garden, its narrow foliage transitioning from yellow to green before maturing to a deep purple shade. Plants grow up to four feet tall, making it a great specimen for a container or garden border. In late summer, plumes of feathery pink inflorescences appear adding even more interest. African Feather Grass is drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant, and able to take some shade. It's an ideal accent plant to bring life to any outdoor space.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

8 - 10

Flowers:

Green to yellow-green sometimes tinged with purple, yellow or brown Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

African feather grass is very drought-tolerant and should be watered only when the soil is completely dry. During spring and summer, you should water it deeply about once a week to keep the soil evenly moist. In autumn and winter, watering should be reduced or stopped altogether, as the plant will naturally go dormant during these seasons. Make sure to always check the soil first before watering; if the top inch is relatively dry, then it’s time to water.

sunlight

African feather grass thrives in full sunlight, with at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight to show its best growth. During the summer months, the grass can benefit from morning and late afternoon sun, giving it more even light exposure throughout the day. However, in winter months African feather grass should receive full sun during the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. In non-tropical climates, African feather grass should be protected from the frost if possible, as the cold has the potential to damage the plant.

pruning

African feather grass (Pennisetum macrourum) should be pruned once a year in late spring, just as new growth is beginning to emerge. Pruning should aim to remove old, dead, and/or weak foliage, in order to maintain air circulation within the plant and encourage new growth. In addition to pruning, African feather grass should be cut back to a more manageable size once the flowers appear, after which the foliage can be left alone.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

African feather grass typically starts flowering in late spring or early summer, usually between May and July.

Starts Flowering

African feather grass typically starts flowering in late spring or early summer, usually between May and July.

Hardiness Map