Pennisetum orientale

Oriental Fountaingrass

Pennisetum orientale
Oriental Fountain Grass

Pennisetum orientale is a warm-season ornamental grass perennial with narrow, arching green to gray-green foliage and soft, fuzzy flower plumes that rise above the clump. The bottlebrush-like plumes are often pink, copper-pink, silvery pink, or pale tan as they mature, giving the plant a light, airy texture from summer into fall. It forms a compact fountain-shaped mound and is valued for a longer bloom season than many ornamental grasses. The plant is also listed botanically by some sources as Cenchrus orientalis.

Type: Warm-season ornamental grass / perennial
Mature Size: 2–3 ft. wide × 2–3 ft. tall; RHS lists about 0.5–1 m tall and wide.
USDA Zones: 6a–9b; may be marginal in colder zone 5 sites without winter protection.
Form: Compact, arching, fountain-shaped clump
Light: Full sun; tolerates light part shade, but best flowering is in sun
Soil / Water: Well-drained soil; adaptable to chalk, loam, or sandy soils; average water, drought tolerant once established.
Bloom Time / Length: Summer into fall; fuzzy pink to silvery plumes bloom over a long season.
Wildlife: Seed heads may attract birds; dense clumps provide seasonal cover for small wildlife

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for sunny borders, mass plantings, meadow-style gardens, rock gardens, slopes, containers, low accents, and mixed perennial beds. Its compact size makes it easier to place than larger fountain grasses, while the pinkish plumes add soft movement and late-season color. It pairs well with coneflowers, salvia, catmint, sedum, yarrow, Russian sage, alliums, and other drought-tolerant perennials.

Care:
Cut old foliage back to a few inches above the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Avoid heavy fertilizer, which can cause weak or floppy growth. Plant in a well-drained site, especially in winter, because cold wet soil can reduce hardiness. Divide in spring if clumps become too large or the center begins to thin.

Plant type

Ornamental Grass

Height

2-3'

Width

2-3'

Hardiness zones

6–9

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Early Fall, Late Summer, Summer

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Green

Attracts

Birds

Soil

Average, Highly Adaptable, Well Drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Foundation, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Compact, Upright

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

Yes