Purple-leafed fountain grass. A warm season grass with bold, burgundy colored foliage forming upright, arching clumps 5’ tall. Purple-red flowers form continously through the warm season on nodding 12” plumes. In the late season the rich foliage is topped with the fuzzy soft brown heads of mature flowers adding another season of interest. The foliage turns straw-colored with the first frost and the entire mass seems to melt as the storms and winds of winter tear at their form. Useful as an accent, massed in groups, or in containers. We have a large grouping of Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’ in our garden which the neighbor children use for a number of engaging games. Prefers well-drained soil in full sun. Produces only occasional seedlings. Rapid growth in the warm season and can be used as an annual color in colder areas. Hardy to 25F. Garden origin.
