The illustrated growing guide
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Family Poaceae
Est. zones 5-9
The friendly fountain — foxtails that beg to be stroked, gold fall color, juncos working the seeds all winter. 'Hameln' along a walk is the easiest good decision in landscaping.
Full Sun
Low water
Fast growth
From the print shop
Growing fountain grass? Hang it.
Our Ornamental Grasses collection carries fountain grass — Pennisetum alopecuroides, print Nº 8, “Fountain Grass.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
I
Overview
Will fountain grass suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
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 at a glance
Common fountain grass problems
- None
- Rust (rare)
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow fountain grass: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate fountain grass
III
The year
What fountain grass asks for, month by month.
The fountain grass year, month by month
BloomPruneWhat 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.
The fountain grass year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb pruning
- Mar pruning
- Apr quiet month
- May quiet month
- Jun quiet month
- Jul bloom
- Aug bloom
- Sep bloom
- Oct bloom
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
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.
IV
Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Fountain Grass in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer grass
What fountain grass is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
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.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of fountain grass, ruled as a catalogue.
Best fountain grass varieties & cultivars
'Hameln' (compact standard); 'Little Bunny' (edging mini); 'Karley Rose' (orientale, longest bloom); purple 'Rubrum' (annual thriller)
VI
Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to fountain grassyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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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.
IX
Elsewhere
Where fountain grass sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily