Description
Pennisetum alo. ‘Hameln’
perennial
blooms in late summer
comes in 1, 3, or 5 gallon container
P. alopecuroides – P. compressum – Chinese Pennisetum – Fountain Grass – Swamp Foxtail – This clump forming, densely tufted, evergreen perennial grass found from Eastern Asia to Western Australia grows 2-5′ feet tall and 2-4′ feet wide. It produces flat, linear, pointed, mid to dark green leaves, 12-24″ long. From summer to autumn it bears bristly, yellow-green to dark purple spikelets in cylindrical to narrowly oblong panicles, to 8″ long.
‘Hameln’ – is compact growing to 18″ tall and bears early summer flowering, of greenish white spikelets, gray brown when mature, in panicles to 5″ long. Dark green leaves, to 6″ long, turn golden yellow in autumn.
Other Varieties include
‘Little Bunny’ – This dwarf species grows 10-12″ tall
Grow in preferably light, moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Cut back dead top growth by early spring. Where not hardy, protect with a dry winter mulch. Divide in late spring or early summer.
Zones 6-9
