East Asian native ornamental grass forming arching fountain-shaped clumps with fluffy bottlebrush flower spikes in late summer, ageing through caramel to tan and persisting through winter.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 5–9 | −28.9 °C to −1.1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H6 | −20 °C to −15 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 5–8 | −23 °C to −1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 2–6 | −10 °C to 15 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Plant as a specimen or in informal groups — fountain habit and fluffy flower spikes are the defining features
- Choose hardy cultivar (‘Hameln’, ‘Little Bunny’ for compact form) in cooler climates — the species is hardier than the related African fountain grass (P. setaceum)
- WARNING: P. setaceum and P. setaceum ‘Rubrum’ (purple fountain grass) are listed as INVASIVE in California, Hawaii, parts of Australia, and Mediterranean Europe — do not confuse with the hardier P. alopecuroides
- Cut down to ground level in late winter
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Fountain grass against your zones