Overview

Introduce a touch of elegance and vibrant color to your outdoor spaces with our stunning purple fountain grass live plant. This offering includes two robust, actively growing plants, each standing approximately 5-9 inches tall, ready to bring dynamic movement and rich hues to your garden. Known scientifically as Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’, purple fountain grass is celebrated for its graceful arching form and distinctive burgundy foliage topped with soft, feathery, purple-pink plumes that sway beautifully in the breeze. These ornamental grasses are highly prized by landscapers and home gardeners alike for their striking visual impact and relatively low maintenance requirements. Perfect for adding texture, color, and a focal point to various landscape designs, these plants are a fantastic choice for anyone looking to enhance their garden’s aesthetic appeal.

Whether you’re looking to create a dramatic border, fill containers with eye-catching foliage, or establish a beautiful mass planting, this purple fountain grass live plant set provides an excellent foundation. Its unique coloration and feathery seed heads offer year-round interest in warmer climates and provide a spectacular show from summer through fall. These plants are grown with care to ensure they arrive healthy and ready to flourish in their new environment, making them an ideal choice for both experienced gardeners and those just starting their landscaping journey.

Key Benefits

Choosing our purple fountain grass live plant for your garden offers a multitude of advantages that go beyond just visual appeal. These plants are not only beautiful but also incredibly versatile and beneficial for various garden settings:

• Stunning Visual Impact: The deep burgundy leaves and arching, feathery, purple-pink plumes create a dramatic and sophisticated look in any garden. This unique coloration adds depth and contrast, making it a standout feature.
• Dynamic Movement: The slender foliage and soft plumes gently sway with the slightest breeze, adding a captivating sense of movement and tranquility to your outdoor space. This natural motion enhances the garden’s lively atmosphere.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, purple fountain grass live plant requires minimal attention. It is relatively drought-tolerant and pest-resistant, making it an excellent choice for busy gardeners seeking beauty without constant upkeep.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Perfect for a variety of applications, including borders, mass plantings, specimen plants, container gardening, or as an accent in rock gardens. Its adaptability makes it suitable for diverse garden designs.
• Extended Seasonal Interest: These grasses provide continuous beauty from summer through fall, with their vibrant foliage and attractive plumes. Even in winter, the dried plumes can add textural interest to the landscape.
• Erosion Control: The fibrous root system of fountain grass outdoor can help stabilize soil on slopes, making it a functional choice for preventing erosion in certain areas of your garden.
• Attracts Wildlife: While not a primary pollinator plant, the seed heads can provide a food source for some bird species, subtly contributing to local wildlife support.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To ensure your purple fountain grass live plant thrives and provides years of beauty, understanding its specific care requirements is crucial. While generally low-maintenance, a few key practices will help it reach its full potential. This ornamental grass prefers a position with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Although it can tolerate some partial shade, full sun exposure is essential for developing the most intense purple foliage and abundant plumes. Insufficient sunlight can lead to greener leaves and sparser flowering. When considering planting, remember that fountain grass outdoor varieties perform best when given ample light.

Watering needs are moderate. During its establishment phase, typically the first growing season, water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once established, purple fountain grass live plant becomes quite drought-tolerant, requiring less frequent watering. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings. Sandy soil with good drainage is ideal, as these plants do not tolerate heavy, waterlogged conditions. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage before planting. For optimal growth, fertilize lightly in early spring with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer, but avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of plumes.

In terms of temperature, purple fountain grass is typically hardy in USDA Zones 9-11. In these warmer climates, it often behaves as a perennial. In cooler zones, it is typically grown as an annual. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Cut back the entire plant to about 4-6 inches from the ground. This rejuvenates the plant and encourages fresh, vigorous growth and abundant plumes. Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids, though they are rarely a significant problem for this robust plant. Proper spacing will ensure good air circulation, preventing fungal issues. Following these ornamental grass care tips will help you enjoy a spectacular display from your purple fountain grass.

Size & Details

This offering includes two individual purple fountain grass live plant specimens, each carefully cultivated to ensure health and vigor upon arrival. Each plant typically measures between 5-9 inches tall from the base of the plant to the tip of its foliage or emerging plumes, providing a good starting size for rapid establishment in your garden. These plants are shipped in their nursery pots, complete with established root systems, ensuring a smooth transition to your chosen planting location. The mature size of this purple fountain grass live plant can vary; it typically grows 3-5 feet tall and spreads 2-4 feet wide, forming an elegant, mounding habit. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing it to establish quickly and provide a full display within its first growing season.

The bloom time for the characteristic purple-pink plumes is generally from late summer to early fall, offering a beautiful seasonal highlight. These plants are well-suited for outdoor environments and are hardy in USDA Zones 9-11, where they can thrive as perennials. In colder regions, they are best enjoyed as annuals or overwintered indoors in containers if desired. The plants are carefully packed to protect them during transit, ensuring they arrive ready to be planted and admired in your landscape. This provides a convenient way to add the beauty of Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum to your home garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this purple fountain grass live plant get? A: This ornamental grass typically reaches a mature height of 3-5 feet and spreads 2-4 feet wide. The plants you receive will be 5-9 inches tall, ready to grow into their full size.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Purple fountain grass live plant is primarily an outdoor plant, best suited for garden beds, containers, and landscaping. It thrives in full sun conditions.
• Q: How much sunlight does purple fountain grass need? A: For optimal growth and vibrant purple color, these plants require full sun exposure, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Less light may result in greener foliage and fewer plumes.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, ornamental grass care for purple fountain grass is relatively easy once established. It is drought-tolerant and requires minimal attention, making it suitable for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
• Q: What condition will the plants arrive in? A: Your purple fountain grass live plant will arrive as two healthy, actively growing plants in their nursery pots, with established root systems, carefully packaged to ensure safe transit.
• Q: When is the best time to plant purple fountain grass outdoor? A: The best time to plant is in spring after the last frost, or in early summer, allowing the plants ample time to establish before cooler weather.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Purple fountain grass live plant is perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11. In colder zones, it is typically grown as an annual or can be overwintered indoors if protected from freezing temperatures.
• Q: What type of soil does purple fountain grass prefer? A: It prefers well-draining soil, ideally sandy loam. Avoid heavy clay soils that retain too much moisture, as this can lead to root rot.
• Q: How often should I water my fountain grass outdoor? A: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and needs less frequent watering; allow the top soil to dry out between waterings.
• Q: Can I grow Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum in a container? A: Yes, purple fountain grass makes an excellent container plant, especially in colder climates where it can be brought indoors or treated as an annual. Ensure the container has good drainage.