Red Fountain Grass Live Plant 10 Pack Bare Root Perennial Ornamental Pennisetum

Overview

Transform your landscape with the captivating beauty of red fountain grass live plant. This offer provides 10 bare-root starter plants of Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’, ready to infuse your garden with vibrant color and graceful movement. Known for its stunning burgundy foliage that deepens in full sun and elegant, feathery flower plumes, red fountain grass live plant creates an unparalleled focal point in any outdoor space. These fast-growing perennial grasses are remarkably easy to establish and offer continuous visual interest throughout the year, making them a favorite among gardeners seeking both aesthetic appeal and simplicity. Ideal for mass plantings, borders, or as a striking accent, this ornamental grass brings dynamic texture and rich hues to your garden design.

This variety, often referred to as pennisetum setaceum rubrum, typically grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet with a similar spread, forming a lush, fountain-like shape. Its slender, arching leaves boast a deep red to purple coloration that intensifies dramatically when exposed to ample sunlight. In late summer and early fall, airy, fluffy flower spikes emerge in a soft pinkish-tan hue, swaying gently in the breeze. These plumes mature to a silvery appearance, extending their visual appeal well into autumn and providing long-lasting beauty. The clumping growth habit of this ornamental grass perennial makes it incredibly versatile, fitting seamlessly into various landscaping schemes from modern to xeriscape gardens.

Key Benefits

The allure of Red Fountain Grass extends beyond its stunning appearance, offering numerous practical benefits for any gardener. Its adaptability and striking features make it a superb choice for enhancing outdoor spaces.

• Vibrant Color: Enjoy the dramatic visual interest provided by deep red to purple foliage, which becomes even more intense with abundant sunlight. This rich coloration ensures your garden stands out.
• Graceful Movement: The distinctive feathery plumes sway elegantly in the breeze, creating a dynamic and soothing display that adds life and motion to your landscape.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, this red fountain grass live plant is remarkably drought-tolerant and requires minimal care, making it an excellent choice for busy gardeners or those seeking an easy-to-manage garden.
• Versatile Use: Its clumping growth habit and striking appearance make it suitable for a wide range of garden styles and landscaping applications, from borders and mass plantings to accent features.
• Year-Round Interest: Provides continuous beauty from spring through fall, with its colorful foliage and long-lasting flower plumes, ensuring your garden remains captivating for many seasons.
• Deer Resistant Grass: Generally considered deer resistant grass, making it a reliable option for gardens in areas where deer browsing is a concern.
• Adaptable: Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, tolerating a variety of soil types and suitable for modern, coastal, and xeriscape gardens.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your red fountain grass live plant is straightforward, ensuring a vibrant and healthy addition to your garden with minimal effort. This beautiful ornamental grass thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to intensify its signature deep red and purple hues. Proper light exposure is crucial for both foliage color and abundant plume production. It prefers well-drained soil, though it is quite adaptable and can tolerate a variety of soil types, making it a robust choice for many garden conditions. Once established, it becomes wonderfully drought-tolerant, significantly reducing its watering needs and contributing to its status as a low maintenance garden plants option.

When it comes to watering, ensure the soil dries out slightly between waterings, especially for newly planted bare roots. Overwatering can lead to root rot. For optimal growth, avoid heavy, waterlogged soils. The ideal temperature range for this perennial is typically within USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11, though it can be grown as an annual in cooler climates. Fertilization is generally not heavily required; a light application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring can promote vigorous growth, but avoid over-fertilizing as this can encourage leafy growth at the expense of color or plumes. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges, cutting back the old foliage to about 6 inches from the ground to encourage fresh, robust development. This simple regime helps maintain the plant’s health and appearance, making pennisetum setaceum rubrum a truly rewarding plant to cultivate.

Size & Details

This offering includes 10 individual red fountain grass live plant bare roots. Each bare root is a starter plant, ready for immediate planting upon arrival. When mature, these plants typically grow to a height of 3 to 4 feet with a similar spread, forming a graceful, fountain-like mound. The growth rate is considered fast, allowing you to enjoy a mature display relatively quickly after planting. The slender leaves boast a rich burgundy to purple coloration, complemented by soft pinkish-tan feathery plumes that appear in late summer and autumn. These plumes mature to a silvery shade, extending their decorative interest into the cooler months. The clumping growth habit ensures a neat and manageable presence in your garden, ideal for creating strong visual impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How tall will my Red Fountain Grass grow? A: This ornamental grass perennial typically reaches a mature height of 3 to 4 feet, creating a striking vertical element in your garden. Its spread is usually similar, forming a dense, fountain-like shape.
• Q: What type of soil is best for Red Fountain Grass? A: While it prefers well-drained soil, this adaptable grass can tolerate a variety of soil types, making it suitable for many different garden conditions. Good drainage is key to preventing root issues.
• Q: How much sunlight does Red Fountain Grass need for optimal color? A: For the most vibrant red and purple hues, your red fountain grass live plant requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. More sun generally leads to more intense coloration.
• Q: When is the best time to prune Red Fountain Grass? A: Pruning is recommended in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. Cut back the old foliage to encourage vigorous new development and maintain its attractive form.
• Q: Is Red Fountain Grass deer resistant? A: Yes, this perennial ornamental grass is generally considered deer resistant grass, making it a great choice for areas prone to deer activity without fear of significant damage.
• Q: What condition will the plants arrive in? A: You will receive 10 bare-root starter plants, carefully packaged and ready for planting. Bare roots are dormant and designed to establish quickly once planted.
• Q: Can I grow this plant in a container? A: Yes, red fountain grass live plant can be successfully grown in large containers, provided they have good drainage. Ensure the container is large enough to accommodate its mature size.
• Q: Is this a good choice for a low-maintenance garden? A: Absolutely. Once established, this grass is drought-tolerant and requires minimal care, qualifying it as one of the best low maintenance garden plants.
• Q: What USDA Hardiness Zones is Red Fountain Grass suitable for? A: This plant thrives as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11. In colder zones, it can be grown as an annual or overwintered indoors.
• Q: Can the plumes be used for floral arrangements? A: Yes, the beautiful feathery plumes can be cut for both fresh and dried floral arrangements, adding to the versatility and appeal of this ornamental grass.