3 Red Fountain Grass Plant – Bare Root Burgundy Ornamental Grass, 3-4 ft Tall Outdoor

Overview

Transform your garden with the captivating beauty of the red fountain grass plant. This offer includes 3 starter plants, provided as bare roots, ready to establish and flourish in your landscape. Known botanically as Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’, this ornamental grass is celebrated for its dramatic foliage and elegant, feathery plumes. It’s a striking perennial that brings dynamic movement and a rich color palette to any outdoor space, making it a favorite among gardeners seeking both visual impact and ease of care. The vibrant burgundy and deep red hues intensify under full sun, creating a spectacular focal point in mixed borders, mass plantings, or as a standalone accent.

The red fountain grass plant typically reaches a height of 3 to 4 feet with a similar spread, forming a lush, fountain-like mound. Its arching leaves and swaying plumes add an architectural element, softening hardscapes and complementing other plants. This particular variety, ‘Rubrum’, is prized for its consistent deep coloration and robust growth, quickly establishing itself to provide season-long interest. Whether you’re designing a modern garden, a coastal retreat, or a xeriscape, this versatile grass is an excellent choice for adding texture, color, and natural grace.

Key Benefits

The red fountain grass plant offers numerous advantages for both novice and experienced gardeners, enhancing landscapes with its unique characteristics and low-maintenance appeal. Discover why this ornamental grass is a must-have:

• Stunning Visual Appeal: Features vibrant burgundy to deep red foliage that darkens in full sun, providing a dramatic contrast and year-round interest. Its arching leaves and feathery plumes create a graceful, fountain-like silhouette.
• Dynamic Movement: The airy, pinkish-tan flower plumes emerge in late summer and sway elegantly in the breeze, adding life and movement to your garden. These plumes mature to a silvery hue, extending their beauty into autumn.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, this drought tolerant grass requires minimal care. It’s relatively pest-resistant and benefits from simple annual pruning to encourage fresh growth.
• Versatile Landscaping: Ideal for use as an accent plant, in mass plantings, along borders, or in mixed containers. Its clumping habit makes it suitable for a variety of garden styles, from contemporary to naturalistic.
• Fast Growing: As a fast growing ornamental grass, it quickly establishes itself, providing substantial impact and filling garden spaces with lush foliage and plumes in a relatively short period.
• Hardy & Adaptable: Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, adapting to various soil types. It is hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11, and can be grown as an annual in cooler climates.
• Cut Flower Potential: The beautiful plumes can be cut for fresh floral arrangements or dried to create lasting bouquets, bringing the garden’s beauty indoors.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your red fountain grass plant is straightforward, ensuring a vibrant and healthy addition to your landscape. This resilient ornamental grass thrives with minimal intervention once established. For optimal growth and the most intense foliage color, plant your pennisetum rubrum in a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Full sun exposure is key to developing its characteristic deep burgundy hues. While it tolerates a range of soil conditions, well-drained soil is crucial to prevent root rot. Sandy to loamy soils are ideal, but amending heavy clay soils with organic matter can improve drainage significantly.

When it comes to watering, the red fountain grass plant is notably drought-tolerant once mature. During its establishment phase, typically the first growing season, provide consistent moisture, watering deeply a few times a week. After establishment, reduce watering frequency, allowing the soil to dry out between irrigations. Overwatering is a common mistake and should be avoided. Fertilization is generally not heavily required; a light application of a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring can promote vigorous growth, but avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to excessive green growth at the expense of its distinctive burgundy color. This fast growing ornamental grass benefits from annual pruning in late winter or early spring, cutting back the old foliage to about 4-6 inches from the ground to make way for new growth.

Red Fountain Grass is hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11. In these warmer climates, it will return year after year as a perennial. In cooler zones, it can be successfully grown as an annual, providing seasonal color and texture. Alternatively, some gardeners choose to pot their plants and bring them indoors during winter in colder regions. While generally pest-resistant, keep an eye out for common garden pests, though serious issues are rare. Good air circulation and proper watering practices will help maintain a healthy plant. The striking appearance of this burgundy ornamental grass makes it a rewarding choice for any garden design.

Size & Details

Each order includes 3 red fountain grass plant bare root starters. These plants are shipped without pots to ensure healthy root development and reduce transplant shock. Upon planting, these pennisetum rubrum specimens will quickly establish themselves. Mature plants typically reach a height of 3 to 4 feet (approximately 90-120 cm) with a similar spread, creating a beautiful, arching, fountain-like form. The slender leaves can grow 2 to 3 feet long, providing a lush and full appearance. Flower plumes, which emerge in late summer to early fall, can extend up to 12 inches (30 cm) in length, adding to the plant’s overall grandeur.

This fast growing ornamental grass offers a medium to fast growth rate, allowing you to enjoy its full beauty within the first or second growing season. It forms dense clumps, making it an excellent choice for creating natural focal points or borders. The hardiness of this drought tolerant grass is suitable for USDA Zones 9 to 11 as a perennial, and it can be cultivated as an annual in cooler climates. Its adaptability to various well-drained soil types and preference for full sun exposure ensures a robust and visually stunning addition to your outdoor living space.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How tall does the red fountain grass plant get? A: This ornamental grass typically grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet (90-120 cm) with a similar spread, forming an attractive fountain-like shape. Its arching leaves contribute to its overall impressive stature.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The red fountain grass plant is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in full sun in garden beds, borders, or large containers. In colder climates (below USDA Zone 9), it is often grown as an annual.
• Q: How much sunlight does pennisetum rubrum need? A: For the best foliage color and vigorous growth, this grass requires full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Insufficient light can result in less intense burgundy coloration.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, red fountain grass plant is considered low-maintenance. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and relatively pest-resistant, making it a great choice for gardeners seeking an easy-care option.
• Q: What condition will the plants arrive in? A: The plants are shipped as bare root starters, meaning they will arrive without soil or a pot. This method helps reduce transplant shock and allows for healthy root establishment in your garden.
• Q: When is the best time to plant burgundy ornamental grass? A: The best time to plant bare root ornamental grasses is generally in the spring after the last frost, or in early fall in warmer climates, allowing them ample time to establish before extreme temperatures.
• Q: Will this drought tolerant grass survive winter in my zone? A: This grass is hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11 as a perennial. In zones below 9, it is typically grown as an annual, or can be potted and brought indoors during winter.
• Q: Does fast growing ornamental grass need special soil? A: It thrives in well-drained soil and is adaptable to various soil types, including sandy or loamy conditions. Good drainage is more important than specific soil composition.
• Q: Can I use the plumes for arrangements? A: Absolutely! The feathery plumes are excellent for both fresh and dried floral arrangements, adding a touch of natural elegance to indoor decor.
• Q: Is the red fountain grass plant deer resistant? A: While no plant is entirely deer-proof, ornamental grasses like Red Fountain Grass are generally considered to be deer resistant, making them a good option for areas with deer activity.