Overview

Transform your garden or landscape with the stunning beauty of a purple fountain grass live plant. This offering includes two vibrant perennial clumps, ready to bring a touch of dramatic color and elegant texture to any outdoor setting. Known scientifically as Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’, purple fountain grass live plant is highly prized for its gracefully arching, burgundy-purple foliage and soft, feathery seed heads that sway gently in the breeze. These ornamental grasses create a focal point in flower beds, borders, or containers, providing visual interest from spring through fall. Their striking appearance makes them a favorite for gardeners looking to add dynamic movement and rich color without extensive maintenance. Each plant is carefully nurtured to ensure it arrives healthy and ready to thrive in its new home, promising to be a captivating addition to your outdoor oasis.

Key Benefits

Investing in purple fountain grass live plant for your outdoor space offers a multitude of advantages, combining aesthetic appeal with practical resilience. These plants are celebrated for their adaptability and low-care nature, making them suitable for both novice and experienced gardeners.

• Stunning Visual Appeal: The deep burgundy-purple foliage and arching form provide a striking contrast and sophisticated touch to any garden design. The feathery plumes emerge in summer, adding an extra layer of beauty.
• Low Maintenance: These perennial grass plants are remarkably easy to care for, requiring minimal attention once established. They are known for their ability to tolerate various conditions, simplifying your gardening routine.
• Drought-Tolerant: Once mature, purple fountain grass live plant exhibits excellent drought resistance, making it an ideal choice for water-wise landscaping and regions with drier climates.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Perfect for creating bold accents, defining borders, mass plantings, or adding height and texture to mixed containers. Their compact growth habit allows for flexibility in garden design.
• Attracts Wildlife: While not a primary food source, the seed heads can provide cover and interest for small birds, adding to the biodiversity of your garden space.
• Deer Resistant: Generally, deer tend to avoid fountain grass, making it a good option if deer are a concern in your area.
• Year-Round Interest (in suitable zones): While the foliage is most vibrant during the growing season, the dried plumes can offer architectural interest well into the winter months in milder climates.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your purple fountain grass live plant is straightforward, ensuring a beautiful display with minimal effort. These resilient ornamental grass specimens thrive in conditions that mimic their natural habitat, requiring ample sunlight and well-drained soil. For optimal growth and the most intense purple coloration, plant your fountain grass in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, too little sun may result in less vibrant foliage color and fewer plumes.

When it comes to watering, purple fountain grass live plant prefers moderate moisture initially. Water regularly after planting to help establish a strong root system. Once established, it is notably drought-tolerant, requiring less frequent watering. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensuring good drainage is crucial. The ideal soil type is well-draining, moderately fertile soil, which can be amended with compost to improve structure and nutrient content. These grasses are adaptable to a range of soil pH levels.

This perennial grass is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. In colder zones (5-6), it may be treated as an annual or require significant winter protection. In warmer zones, it typically returns reliably each spring. Fertilization is not usually necessary for established plants, especially in rich soil. If growth appears slow or foliage is pale, a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can be beneficial. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Cut back the entire clump to about 4-6 inches from the ground. This encourages fresh, vigorous growth and helps maintain a tidy appearance. Watch out for common pests like spider mites in very dry conditions, though they are generally quite pest-resistant. Proper spacing, allowing for good air circulation, will also help prevent fungal issues.

Size & Details

This offering includes two healthy purple fountain grass live plant clumps, each typically arriving 4-9 inches in height. These plants are carefully grown and shipped in a manner that ensures their vitality upon arrival, ready for immediate planting in your garden. As they mature, these purple grass for landscaping can reach an impressive height of 2-4 feet with a similar spread, forming a graceful, mounded clump. The growth rate is moderate to fast, allowing them to quickly fill in spaces and provide significant visual impact within their first growing season. They are shipped as established plants, not bare root or seeds, ensuring a head start in your landscape. Expect to see the characteristic burgundy foliage and feathery plumes develop beautifully as the season progresses, providing a continuous show of color and texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this purple fountain grass live plant get? A: Each purple fountain grass live plant typically grows to a mature height of 2-4 feet and spreads to a similar width, forming an attractive, mounded clump. The plumes can add extra height.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This ornamental grass is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in full sun conditions. While it can be grown in containers, it’s best suited for garden beds and landscape applications.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Purple fountain grass live plant requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, to achieve the best color and vigorous growth.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, this perennial grass is considered low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
• Q: What condition will the plants arrive in? A: Your two purple fountain grass live plant specimens will arrive healthy and well-packaged, typically 4-9 inches tall, ready to be planted in your garden or containers.
• Q: When is the best time to plant purple fountain grass? A: The best time to plant purple fountain grass live plant is in spring after the last frost, allowing it ample time to establish before the heat of summer or the cold of winter.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This purple grass for landscaping is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. In colder zones (5-6), it may act as an annual, or require heavy mulching for winter protection. In warmer zones (7-9), it typically returns reliably.
• Q: What type of soil does fountain grass prefer? A: Purple fountain grass live plant thrives in well-draining soil. It’s adaptable to various soil types but prefers moderately fertile conditions.
• Q: Can I grow purple fountain grass in a container? A: Yes, these ornamental grass plants are excellent for containers, especially on patios or as an accent piece. Ensure the container has drainage holes and is large enough to accommodate the mature size.
• Q: Is purple fountain grass drought-tolerant? A: Absolutely. Once established, purple fountain grass live plant is highly drought-tolerant, making it a water-wise choice for many landscapes.