Purple Fountain Grass

Pennisetum 'Rubrum'

Design with this plant

Overview

Pennisetum 'Rubrum', commonly known as Purple Fountain Grass, is a perennial ornamental renowned for its striking, burgundy foliage and cascading, fox-tail-like flower plumes. With a growth habit of 3-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide, this heat-tolerant grass thrives in full sun, adding movement and rich color to any landscape. It's non-invasive, requiring minimal care, and is drought-resistant once established, making it a popular choice for low-maintenance gardens.

Sun FullWater LowZones 9–11Climate Subtropical

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — commonly known as Purple Fountain Grass

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — is a perennial ornamental renowned for its striking

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — burgundy foliage and cascading

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — fox-tail-like flower plumes

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — With a growth habit of 3-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — this heat-tolerant grass thrives in full sun

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — adding movement and rich color to any landscape

Culture

Sun: Full
Water: Low
USDA zones: 9–11

Shape & size

Classification

Family: Poaceae
Climate: Subtropical

See full data, regional cultivation notes, full-resolution photos, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (35)

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — commonly known as Purple Fountain Grass

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — is a perennial ornamental renowned for its striking

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — burgundy foliage and cascading

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — fox-tail-like flower plumes

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — With a growth habit of 3-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — this heat-tolerant grass thrives in full sun

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — adding movement and rich color to any landscape

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — and is drought-resistant once established

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — making it a popular choice for low-maintenance gardens

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — scientifically known as Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — is a popular ornamental grass prized for its graceful texture and richly colored foliage

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — feathery plumes that offer an alluring visual impact in a landscape design

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — Reaching heights of 3 to 4 feet with a similar spread

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — requiring a minimum of 6 hours of direct rays each day to maintain its vibrant coloration

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — It prefers moderately fertile

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — well-drained soils but is notably adaptable and can tolerate a range of soil conditions

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — Pennisetum 'Rubrum' is drought-tolerant once established

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — making it a smart choice for water-conservation landscapes.<br><br>Though a perennial in warm climates

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — it is often grown as an annual in cooler regions due to its intolerance to cold temperatures

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — It is generally pest and disease-resistant, ensuring ease of maintenance

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — Purple Fountain Grass does not typically reseed itself

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — alleviating concerns of unwanted spread.<br><br>To maintain its striking appearance

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — With its dazzling movement and color

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Rubrum') — purple flowers in the garden

Related plants

June Grass (Koeleria Macrantha) — June Grass (Koeleria macrantha) is a perennial cool-season bunchgrass featuring fine-textured foliage

June Grass

Koeleria Macrantha

Full · Zones 5–10

Gold Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa Macra 'All Gold') — Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold', or Gold Japanese Forest Grass, is a vibrant, golden-yellow ornamental

Gold Japanese Forest Grass

Hakonechloa Macra 'All Gold'

Half · Zones 5–9

Silver Arrow Miscanthus (Miscanthus Sinensis 'Silberfeder') — is a striking ornamental grass standing up to 7 feet tall and 4 feet wide

Silver Arrow Miscanthus

Miscanthus Sinensis 'Silberfeder'

Full · Zones 5–9

Florida Gamagrass (Tripsacum Floridanum) — commonly known as Florida Gamagrass

Florida Gamagrass

Tripsacum Floridanum

Full · Zones 5–10

'Blue Paradise' Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) — ‘Blue Paradise’ Little Bluestem

'Blue Paradise' Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Full

Boulder Blue Fescue (Festuca 'Boulder Blue') — Boulder Blue Fescue (Festuca 'Boulder Blue') is a striking ornamental grass with vibrant steel-blue foliage

Boulder Blue Fescue

Festuca 'Boulder Blue'

Full · Zones 8–10