purple fountain grass
Cenchrus setaceum 'Rubrum'
USDA zones9 to 11
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles moderate to wet soil
Size2.5 to 5 feet tall2.5 to 5 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- Silvery to pinkish-white
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Purple fountain grass (Cenchrus setaceum 'Rubrum') is a grass for borders, containers, and accents. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 9 and warmer, down to about 20°F (-7°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. This plant likes full or part sun and average to wet, sandy, loamy, or chalky soil. Silvery to pinkish-white blooms attract birds. It is not a favorite of deer, though hungry deer will eat almost anything. It also tolerates drought.
Pairs well with Karl Foerster feather reed grass, French marigold, and Bobo hydrangea.