Cenchrus setaceus
fountain grass
Northeast Africa, Arabian Peninsula, southwest Asia
Overview
Cenchrus setaceus, fountain grass (long grown as Pennisetum setaceum), is a clump-forming perennial grass 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) tall, with a fountain-like spray of narrow, arching green to grey-green leaf blades. From summer into autumn it sends up nodding, bottlebrush-like flower spikes 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long in shades of pink, purple, and copper, held above the foliage on slender stems. The plumes fade to buff and shed many seeds. It tolerates heat, drought, and poor, rocky soils once established and stays tidy with little care, which made it a common landscape grass in warm regions. The straight species self-seeds aggressively, however, and has become an invasive weed in California, Hawaii, Australia, and southern Africa, where it crowds out native plants and adds dry fuel that carries wildfire. For this reason it is restricted or banned in several areas, and sterile cultivars are used in its place. It is frost-tender and grows as a hardy clumping perennial only in mild, frost-free climates, behaving as an annual in cold-winter regions.
Native Range
Native to northeastern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and southwestern Asia, in open, rocky, and disturbed dry ground. It has been planted widely and has naturalized far beyond its range.Suggested Uses
Planted as a specimen grass, in mass plantings, and in containers for its arching form and summer plumes in warm, dry gardens. Sterile selections are used along drives and in borders. The fertile species is avoided in regions where it has naturalized.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 5'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to coppery purple plumesFoliage Description
green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Cenchrus setaceus grows in full sun on well-drained soils, including sandy, rocky, and lean ground, and tolerates heat, drought, and coastal exposure. Once established it needs little water and no feeding. Old foliage is sheared near the base in late winter before new growth begins. Because the species self-seeds and spreads into wild land, fertile plants are taken out where it is invasive and replaced with sterile cultivars. It is frost-tender and is lifted or grown as a seasonal plant in regions with cold winters. Dividing crowded clumps in spring keeps them vigorous.Pruning
Cut the clump back to a few inches above the ground in late winter to remove old growth before the new season. Shear spent plumes to limit self-seeding where the species is invasive. Divide overgrown clumps in spring.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons