How to Grow and Care for Purple Fountain Grass

Purple fountain grass is aptly named for the arcing spikes of nodding purplish flowers that gracefully spray out of its mass of long, slender, burgundy-colored leaves. It has a fast growth rate and is best planted in spring where there's at least partial sun. Although it is winter-hardy in Zones 9 and above, this ornamental grass makes a lovely annual addition to northern gardens. The autumn seed heads are very attractive and preferred in fall flower gardens. Read on for our care guide.

Purple Fountain Grass Care

Here are some of the most important things to do for your purple fountain grass to thrive:

• Plant in spring when it establishes best, although it can be planted nearly any time of year like most ornamental grasses
• Use a stake for support and plant in an area protected from strong winds
• Give them plenty of room in the garden with at least 3 feet between plants since mature plants can reach about 5 feet tall and nearly as wide
• Plant in a hole both deep and wide enough to accommodate the roots
• Water thoroughly after planting and thereafter at least twice a week
• Fertilize regularly to add nutrients to the soil
  

Light

Purple fountain grass willtolerate some light shade, but it prefers to be planted in full sunlight. Look for an area in your garden where it will receive bright light at least six to eight hours a day.

Soil

Luckily, purple fountain grass isn't too picky about its soil conditions. Loamy soil often provides the best results, but the plant can do well in many types of mixtures, so long as they're well-draining.

Water

While purple fountain grassis considered a drought-tolerant ornamental grass, it should still be watered consistently as it's getting established in your landscape. Give new plants water once or twice a week, about an inch total, allowing time for the soil to dry to the touch between each watering. In areas that receive rain occasionally, you will not need to water the grass once it has become established—areas that are particularly dry or hot may need occasional watering.

Temperature and Humidity

It's cold weather hardy down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so if your area remains about that temperature, then you can grow the grass as a perennial and cut it back in early spring each year. New growth will initiate as the temperatures begin to climb.

In colder zones, gardeners will have to make do with enjoying purple fountain grass's vivid color and striking, vase-shaped form throughout the late spring, summer and fall—unless they don't mind going through the trouble of overwintering it indoors. Additionally, the grass has no special humidity needs.

Fertilizer

Fountain grass grows fairly well in poor soil, but fertilizer will boost its growth and provide the additional nutrients it needs when flowering. During that time (typically the summer), feed it monthly with ageneral-purpose, slow-release food according to the directions on the fertilizer's label.

Types of Purple Fountain Grass

Fountain grass has a variety of cultivars that each bring something different to the garden. Here are a few of the most popular.

• Pennisetumsetaceum 'Fireworks': One cultivar of the purple fountain grass species, this plant has variegated leaves with burgundy in the middle andhot pink at the edges.
• P. alopecuroides 'Burgundy Bunny':A cultivar of a relatively cold-hardy species of fountain grass in the Pennisetum genus, this variety stands16 inches tall. The foliage has hints of red in summer, but the color intensifies to a deepreddish-purple in fall.
• P. alopecuroides 'Little Bunny': Another cultivar of P. alopecuroides, 'Little Bunny' stands 12 inches tall with a slightly greater spread.This variety lacks the colorful foliage of 'Burgundy Bunny' but featuresbuff-colored flowers.

Pruning

The standard way to prune ornamental grasses, like purple fountain grass, is to cut it back severely in late winter or early spring before it begins its new growth. This eliminates dead foliage and improves air circulation and sun exposure to stimulate the growth of new leaves. You can also selectively trim dead foliage and perform some light shaping on the plant any time of the year.

To cut back the grass in the spring, gather the leaves of each plant, and bind them with a rope, masking tape, or bungee cord. Use pruners or a scythe to cut the leaves straight across, 4 to 6 inches up from the base of the plant. Comb through the trimmed leaves by hand to remove any additional dead blades and debris.

Propagating Purple Fountain Grass

Purple fountain grass can be propagated through division or seeds. The plants may readily self-seed in the garden, but root division is a faster and more reliable form of propagation than waiting for seeds. Division should be done in the fall after flowering when the plant is going into dormancy. Take these steps for propagating by division:

1. Dig up the plant when it is going dormant.
2. Use a clean, sharp cutting tool to cut it into two or more sections that contain healthy roots and leaves.
3. Discard any rotten or dead plant matter and roots.
4. Replant immediately and keep the soil moist as the division settles into its new home.

How to Grow Purple Fountain Grass From Seed

It's easy to plant purple fountain grass from seed though it takes time to see results. Collect the seeds from the flowering stems when they're dry, usually in the fall. Then take these steps to grow the grass from seeds:

1. Take the whole stem and allow the flower stalk to dry out in a cool place. Collect the dry seeds from the flower plume.
2. Surface sow the seeds in good potting soil with just a dusting of sand on top.
3. Water until the container is evenly moist.
4. Place the pot in a plastic bag or cover it with a plastic dome. Cut a couple of small slits on top of the bag so seeds can breathe.
5. Once you have seedlings with two sets of true leaves, transplant them to larger pots.
6. Harden off the plants in the spring and install them in prepared containers or beds.
   

Potting and Repotting Purple Fountain Grass

The beauty of this plant makes it a popular focal point in a mixed bed, and also in container gardens. You can mass several of the plants together to create a visually beautiful border or privacy screen.

Plant purple fountain grass in a pot with flowering plants or by itself. Make sure the container is large enough to accommodate the roots and that it has enough drainage holes so the soil will not become waterlogged. Place the containers in plenty of sunlight and move indoors when temperatures fall.

Overwintering

You can dig up the grass and place it in any type of planting container and bring it inside during the winter to survive. Cut the plants down to 3 inches tall.. They won't look ornamental over the winter, but they should come back in the spring.

Place the container in a cool area or room where the temperature will not reach freezing. The plant's shallow roots won't tolerate freezing temperatures. Also, offer the plants a moderate amount of light during the winter. Keep the them watered, but not soggy, and do not let them dry out. Once the weather turns warmer in the spring, take a week to acclimate the plant by bringing it outdoors for a while during the day and indoors at night.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

The good news is that the rugged purple fountain grass is pretty resistant to pests and diseases. That being said, there are a few more common issues you should keep an eye out for when planting this ornamental in your landscape.

You may notice slugs and snails around your grass, but don't stress—while they may occasionally eat the foliage, they're unlikely to cause serious, long-lasting damage.

Rust fungus can commonly occur with purple fountain grass because of trapped moisture or humidity between the dense clumps. Make sure to place your plants several feet apart from one another to increase airflow.

How to Get Purple Fountain Grass to Bloom

Bloom Months

Purple fountain grass blooms from late spring to early fall.

What Do Purple Fountain Grass Flowers Look Like?

Purple fountain grass produces purple flowering stems, which are full of feathery seeds. The feathery seed heads (or "plumes") can also later be cut for dried flower arrangements.

How to Encourage More Blooms

In order to encourage bloom, make sure your plant is getting full sun. If weather is too cool or sunlight is lacking, the plant may not flower.

Common Problems with Purple Fountain Grass

For the most part, this is a grass with few issues but like any ornamental grass, it may become a challenge if growing conditions aren't right.

Browning of Grass

If the grass is browning, it may be from watering or feeding excessively. It could also be browning from excessive sun and the blade tips becoming scorched. Prune away the brown grassto allow for healthy growth and make sure the grass is receiving some afternoon shade.

Yellowing of Grass

Yellowing leaves on purple fountain grass can be due to nutrient deficiencies, usually nitrogen. Make sure to fertilize regularly and choose a nitrogen-based fertilizer if you notice yellowing.

From: thespruce