Pennisetum alopecuroides seed
LATIN NAME: Cenchrus alopecuroides (formerly Pennisetum alopecuroides)
COMMON NAME: Chinese Fountain Grass, Foxtail Fountain Grass, Swamp Foxtail Grass
The Chinese fountain grass is one of the most graceful of all the ornamental grasses, and its plumes of silvery floss sway beautifully in the wind. It grows as a clump-forming, perennial grass, reaching sixty to a hundred centimetres, with a fountain of narrow, arching, bright green leaves and, from late summer to autumn, a profusion of soft, cylindrical, bottlebrush-like flower heads, which open greenish and fade to a rich, silvery-bronze, nodding and waving in the breeze. It is a plant of great and lasting beauty, and it is one of the most beloved ornamental grasses of the garden, valued for its graceful form and its long season of interest.
The Chinese fountain grass belongs to the grass family, Poaceae, and it is native to Asia and Australia. Its culms are erect, and it grows as a perennial grass in moist, open ground, and it is widely grown in temperate gardens as an ornamental.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Chinese fountain grass has a genuine and growing place in both horticultural and ecological research. It has been studied in horticulture for its value as an ornamental grass, prized for its graceful, arching form and its beautiful silvery plumes, and it is one of the most widely grown ornamental grasses of the temperate garden, so researchers have examined its cultivation, its varieties and its value in garden design. The grass has also been studied in ecology, since it is a native of moist, open ground in Asia and Australia, and its spread and its value to wildlife have been examined, while its dense clumps give cover for insects and small animals. The species has also been studied in botany, since the genus Cenchrus, which includes the species formerly known as Pennisetum, is of interest in the classification of the grasses. For a grass of such graceful beauty, the Chinese fountain grass has a steady and growing record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the Chinese fountain grass is a generous grass of the moist ground. Its plumes feed and shelter insects, its seeds feed small birds, and its dense clumps give cover for wildlife, while it brings movement and light to the late summer garden.
Its economic value lies mainly in horticulture. It is one of the most widely grown ornamental grasses in the world, prized for its graceful form, its beautiful plumes and its long season of interest, and it is used in borders, in containers and in dried arrangements, making it a valuable plant for gardeners and for the ornamental nursery trade. For a grower, the Chinese fountain grass is an easy and rewarding grass, and for a gardener it brings a fountain of silvery plumes that sways in the wind. The seeds are easy — sow them in a pot of moist, free-draining compost in spring, keep them lightly watered in a bright, sunny spot, and they’ll sprout within a couple of weeks, growing on quickly into graceful clumps that will carry their plumes by the end of summer.
Description: These densely tufted upright grasses are ideal for adding year round interest to most any garden space. Plants grow to a mature height of 2-3 feet tall with a spread up to 3 feet and are capped by many feather-like silvery plumes from mid- summer through fall. Provides an excellent architectural element when planted in groups of 5 or more. The ½ inch wide green leaves turn yellow in the late season and persist through winter. Packet contains approximately 20-25 seeds.
Plants perform best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. Plants are adaptable to a variety of soil conditions and are reasonably drought tolerant once established. Excellent for adding form, movement and winter interest to any garden space. Works well as an accent planting and also in combination with late season bloomers such as Asters, Black Eyed Susan, Yellow Coneflower, Stonecrop Corepsis, Echinacea and other ornamental grasses.