PENNISETUM alopecuroides 'Red Head'

Description

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head'

Height x Spread:  80cm x 80cm

This form of Chinese fountain grass has particularly attractive bottlebrush-like flowers.  Produced in late summer over arching narrow green foliage, they initially open dark red before fading to smoky purple and then buff .

Easy to grow in full sun in a free draining soil, its dramatic form lends itself to many styles of planting and gardens from prairie to gravel and even coastal as it can tolerate salt-laden air.  Beautiful throughout summer and autumn, its ability to stay upright through the winter lends the garden valuable structure and birds a source of food. On a cold morning it looks amazing kissed by frost.  One word of caution, do not be tempted to cut the grass back until the winter frosts have finished as it needs the protection of its stems.  Then it can be cut close to the ground ready to shoot again.