Pennisetum 'Rubrum'
"Fountain grass"
Orders placed until 29 February 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025
Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025
Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
UK orders over £50
Free shipping
UK orders under £50
£4.99
Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99
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Description
Enjoy the ruby glow and gently swaying stems of ever-popular Pennisetum 'Rubrum' in your own garden. It’s easy to grow and in the right spot it will thrive, gradually forming a clump which will produce a mass of soft, fluffy flowers which waft in the breeze and fill the space with tranquil energy through summer and autumn. Its sumptuous, dark chocolate-burgundy, soft, grassy foliage provides colour for an incredibly long season, starting in spring and continuing into autumn. This perennial ornamental grass loves to bask in the sun. To add to the show, try combining Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' with other sun-loving perennials like Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Sedum, heleniums and Verbena – watch as the display matures over the years into a perfect prairie patch!
If you prefer to keep things simple and contemporary, Pennisetum 'Rubrum' can do that too. Plant these fountain grass in groups in large containers, gravel areas or modern troughs and it will look incredible through the season all by itself. When mature this ornamental grass grows to approximately 1m tall. Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' is perfect for coastal areas or places with light soil and mild winters. It can tolerate temperatures down to around -5°C, so you may need to offer it protection, such as a thick layer of mulch, during winter cold snaps. In cold climates, a hardier ornamental grass like Panicum would be a good alternative.
Key features
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Good for cutting
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Comes back every year
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Attractive to wildlife
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In peat-free compost
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Low maintenance
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RHS Award (AGM)
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Drought tolerant
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May need winter cover
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Rodent resistant
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum'
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Flower colour
Red, purple, brown
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Plant size
3/5
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Established height
70cm-1m
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Established spread
70cm-1m
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Plant spacing
5 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Green
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Habit
Upright
Clump-forming -
Life cycle
Perennial
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Hardiness
Half hardy
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Years to establish
2-3 years
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Sunlight
Full sun
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Position
Sheltered
Exposed -
Suitable for
Borders
Coastal gardens
Cottage gardens
Gravel gardens
Large containers
Low maintenance gardens
Cut flower gardens
Wildlife gardens -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Free draining
Dry -
Soil type
Loam
Sandy
Loam-based compost
Multipurpose compost
Stony -
Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
No
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Pollinator-friendly
No
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Mouse resistant
Yes
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak the Pennisetum 'Rubrum' roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting
Plant your "Fountain grass" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost in spring and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed until 29 February 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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