Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Family Poaceae
Some plants you look at; Fountain Grass you touch. Its soft foxtail plumes rise over tidy green fountains from summer into fall, beg to be run through a hand, and then the whole plant turns warm gold as the season closes. Texture is the pitch, and it delivers daily.
Two to four feet of easy, drought-tolerant good manners, it lines a walk in drifts, softens containers, and keeps working after frost — juncos pick the seed heads all winter. Repeat it along the path you walk most and enjoy brushing past it every day.
Full Sun
Low water
Fast growth
From the print shop
Growing fountain grass? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries fountain grass — Pennisetum alopecuroides, print Nº 191, “Fountain Grass.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what fountain grass actually needs.
Hardy inZones 5-9Fountain Grass · Common problems
Common fountain grass problems
Pests
1 problem on file
- None
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Rust (rare)
Fountain Grass · Growing & propagation
Growing fountain grass
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Low
Soil- Any drained · pH 6.0 - 7.0
Fertilizer- None
Pruning- Cut to 4 in late winter
The one haircut; divide when centers hollow.
Spacing- 2-3 ft
How to plant & propagate fountain grass
- Propagate
- Division or seed
Fountain Grass · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Fountain Grass · Yearly calendar
The fountain grass year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
BloomPruneBloomJuly to October
PruneFebruary to March
What each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Fountain Grass · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Fountain Grass in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer grass
Attracts- Birds
Moisture- Upland / dry
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What fountain grass is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Use- Edging drifts
- Use
- Containers
- Use
- Soft texture
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Fountain Grass · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a fountain grass variety
'Hameln' (compact standard); 'Little Bunny' (edging mini); 'Karley Rose' (orientale, longest bloom); purple 'Rubrum' (annual thriller)
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Pennisetum alopecuroides
- Plant family
- Poaceae
- Growth habit
- Grass · Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- PEAL
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
Questions
Fountain Grass questions, answered straight.
Is fountain grass safe for kids and pets?
Fountain Grass is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate fountain grass?
Division or seed.
Elsewhere
Where fountain grass sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily