Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides

flower

Fountain grass is a graceful, mounding perennial grass 2 to 6 ft tall, depending on cultivar, with cascading foliage and soft, bottlebrush-like flower spikes that shift from green to reddish-purple to golden brown over the season. It is drought and salt tolerant and works beautifully massed, in borders, and in containers. The species self-seeds and has escaped gardens to become weedy in some areas, so sterile cultivars are the safer choice; it should not be confused with the more aggressively invasive crimson fountain grass, a different species.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Sedum — Autumn-blooming sedums pair with the fall plumes and share full sun
• Coneflower — A prairie perennial that contrasts with the soft grass texture
• Russian Sage — Airy blue spikes that complement the grass in dry, sunny borders

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Rust →

  Orange pustules on blades in wet weather; give airflow and remove affected foliage

• Leaf spot →

  Spots in wet conditions; avoid overhead watering and thin crowded clumps

• Root rot →

  From soggy soil; plant in well-drained ground and avoid overwatering

🌸 Blooms & cutting

The fluffy plumes are popular for fresh and dried arrangements, so cut them as they mature, which also helps prevent self-seeding. Leave the clump standing for winter interest, then cut it back to a few inches in late winter before the new blades appear.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Fountain grass is an ornamental, not edible. Its value is soft texture, movement, and long-lasting plumes in sunny borders and containers, with good drought and salt tolerance. Choose sterile cultivars and remove seed heads, since the species can self-seed and escape. Have a different variety? Cultivars of the same species share the same basic care, so this guide still applies even if your exact form is not shown.