pennisetum setaceum seeds
LATIN NAME: Cenchrus setaceus (formerly Pennisetum setaceum)
COMMON NAME: Crimson Fountaingrass, Purple Fountaingrass, Tender Fountaingrass
The crimson fountaingrass is one of the most beautiful of the ornamental grasses, and its plumes of soft rose-purple floss sway and glow in the sun. It grows as a clump-forming, perennial bunch grass, reaching up to a metre and a half, with a fountain of narrow, arching, green leaves and, from midsummer to autumn, a profusion of soft, cylindrical, feathery flower heads in rich crimson, rose-purple or cream, which catch the light and wave in the wind. It is a native of the dry, open habitats of East Africa, tropical Africa, the Middle East and southwestern Asia, and it is grown around the world as a beloved ornamental grass, while in some warm regions it has become invasive.
The crimson fountaingrass belongs to the grass family, Poaceae, and it is native to open, scrubby habitats in East Africa, tropical Africa, the Middle East and southwestern Asia. It has been introduced to many parts of the world as an ornamental plant, and it has become invasive in some warm regions.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The crimson fountaingrass has a genuine and growing place in both horticultural and ecological research. It is one of the most widely grown ornamental grasses, prized for its beautiful rose-purple plumes and its graceful form, and researchers have studied its cultivation, its varieties and its value in garden design. The grass has also been studied in ecology and in research on invasive species, since it has become invasive in some warm regions, where it spreads aggressively through dry habitats, and researchers have examined its spread, its biology and the management of the invaded areas, making it a subject of real interest in invasive species research. The species has also been studied in plant science for its C4 photosynthetic pathway, which gives it its toughness and its ability to thrive in hot, dry conditions. For a grass of such beauty and such ecological impact, the crimson fountaingrass has a steady and growing record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the crimson fountaingrass is a striking grass of the dry land. Its plumes feed and shelter insects, and its dense clumps give cover for wildlife, while in its native range it is a valued member of the dry scrub, and in some regions it must be managed where it has spread.
Its economic value lies mainly in horticulture. It is one of the most beloved ornamental grasses in the world, prized for its rose-purple plumes and its long season of interest, and it is used in borders, in containers and in dried arrangements, while its toughness makes it valuable in hot, dry gardens. For a grower, the crimson fountaingrass is an easy and rewarding grass, and for a gardener it brings glowing rose-purple plumes to the summer border. The seeds are easy — sow them in a pot of moist, free-draining compost in spring, keep them lightly watered in a warm, sunny spot, and they’ll sprout within a couple of weeks, growing on quickly into graceful clumps that will carry their crimson plumes by the end of summer.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Pennisetum Setaceum
BLOOM TIME: Summer
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Sun
SOIL & WATER PREFERENCES: Average