Red Fountain Grass Live Plant – Perennial Ornamental Grass for Fall Color

Overview

Transform your garden with the stunning beauty of a Red Fountain Grass live plant. This captivating perennial ornamental grass, scientifically known as Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’, is celebrated for its vibrant burgundy foliage and graceful, arching form. Ideal for adding movement and texture to any landscape, this plant creates a lush, fountain-like appearance that becomes a focal point from spring through fall. Known for its adaptability and relatively low maintenance, Red Fountain Grass live plant is a favorite among gardeners seeking both aesthetic appeal and ease of care. It’s a striking choice for those looking to introduce dramatic color and elegant plumes into their outdoor spaces.

The Red Fountain Grass live plant is a versatile addition, whether used as an accent, in mass plantings, or as part of a mixed border. Its intense coloration intensifies under full sun, providing a dynamic backdrop for other garden flora. As a perennial ornamental grass, it offers year-round interest in warmer climates and can be grown as an annual in cooler regions. Its distinctive feathery plumes emerge in late summer, adding an ethereal quality to its already impressive display, making it a true garden standout.

Key Benefits

The Red Fountain Grass live plant offers numerous advantages for any landscape, combining visual appeal with practical resilience. Its striking features make it a valuable asset for diverse garden designs.

• Vibrant Foliage & Fall Color: Enjoy rich burgundy to purple leaves that deepen in color with ample sunlight, providing exceptional visual interest and spectacular fall color grass that extends well into autumn. This plant ensures your garden remains vibrant long after other flowers fade.
• Graceful Movement & Texture: The slender, arching leaves and feathery plumes sway gently in the breeze, adding dynamic movement and a soft texture to your garden, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.
• Low Maintenance & Drought Tolerance: Once established, this ornamental grass perennial is highly resilient to dry conditions, making it an excellent choice for water-wise gardening and reducing the need for constant watering. It’s a truly drought tolerant grass.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Perfect for a variety of applications, including accent plantings, mass groupings, borders, modern gardens, coastal landscapes, and even xeriscapes, offering flexibility in design.
• Attractive Flower Plumes: Produces delicate, pinkish-tan to silvery plumes in late summer and early fall that are not only beautiful in the garden but also suitable for fresh or dried floral arrangements, adding an extra dimension of beauty.
• Pest Resistant: Generally resistant to common garden pests, contributing to its low-maintenance profile and ensuring a healthier plant with less intervention.
• Hardy & Adaptable: Thrives in a range of well-drained soil types and full sun conditions, making it a robust and adaptable plant for many different garden environments, particularly in USDA Zones 9-11.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Red Fountain Grass live plant is relatively straightforward, ensuring a vibrant and healthy addition to your garden with minimal effort. This Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum thrives when its basic needs for sunlight, water, and soil are met.

For optimal growth and the most intense burgundy coloration, plant your Red Fountain Grass live plant in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. While it can tolerate some partial shade, too little sun will result in less vibrant foliage and fewer plumes. It prefers well-drained soil and is adaptable to various soil types, though it flourishes in sandy to loamy conditions. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils, as this can lead to root rot. Once established, this drought tolerant grass requires infrequent watering; allow the soil to dry out between waterings. During prolonged dry spells, occasional deep watering will help it maintain its vigor.

This ornamental grass perennial is hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11. In cooler climates, it is typically grown as an annual or can be container-grown and brought indoors during winter. Annual pruning is beneficial and should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Cut back the old foliage to about 4-6 inches from the ground to encourage fresh, strong shoots. Fertilization is generally not heavily required; a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring can support robust growth, especially if your soil is poor. Keep an eye out for common garden pests, though Red Fountain Grass is generally quite resilient. Proper air circulation also helps prevent fungal issues.

Size & Details

This Red Fountain Grass live plant is provided as a starter plant, typically bare-root, ready for immediate planting in your garden or a larger pot. While specific dimensions can vary based on the growth stage, this perennial ornamental grass typically matures to a height of 3 to 4 feet with a similar spread, creating a magnificent fountain-like display. The slender leaves can reach lengths of 2 to 3 feet, and the feathery plumes, which appear in late summer to early fall, can grow up to 12 inches long.

The growth rate of Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum is considered fast, allowing it to quickly establish and fill out your garden space. It forms dense clumps, providing a strong structural element in the landscape. Expect to see significant growth and the development of its characteristic burgundy foliage and graceful plumes within its first growing season, especially when planted in optimal conditions. This fall color grass will provide continuous beauty and interest through multiple seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Red Fountain Grass live plant get? A: This ornamental grass typically grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet with a similar spread, forming a lush, fountain-like mound. Its plumes can reach up to 12 inches long.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Red Fountain Grass live plant is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in full sun. In colder climates (below USDA Zone 9), it can be grown as an annual or brought indoors for winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum need? A: It requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily (full sun) to achieve its most vibrant burgundy foliage and abundant feathery plumes.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, this ornamental grass perennial is considered low-maintenance. Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant and benefits from an annual pruning in late winter or early spring.
• Q: What condition will the Red Fountain Grass live plant arrive in? A: The plant is typically shipped as a bare-root starter plant, carefully packaged to ensure it arrives healthy and ready for planting. It does not come with a pot.
• Q: When is the best time to plant fall color grass? A: The best time to plant is in spring after the last frost, allowing it ample time to establish before the summer heat. It can also be planted in early fall in warmer zones.
• Q: Will this drought tolerant grass survive winter in my zone? A: It is hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11. In zones below 9, it is best treated as an annual or protected indoors during colder months.
• Q: What type of soil does Red Fountain Grass prefer? A: It prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate a variety of soil types, but it flourishes best in sandy to loamy conditions. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils.
• Q: Can I use the plumes for arrangements? A: Yes, the airy, feathery plumes are excellent for both fresh and dried floral arrangements, adding a unique texture and natural elegance.
• Q: Is it pest-resistant? A: Generally, Red Fountain Grass live plant is quite resistant to most common garden pests, contributing to its ease of care.