S & J Nursery’s Guide to Growing
Red Fountain Grass
/ Pennisetum setaceum
in the Northeast Florida St. Augustine | Jacksonville area Landscapes
Red Fountain Grass Origins:
– These boldly colored ornamental grasses belong to the Pennisetum
setaceum classification that originate in the tropical African areas, southwestern Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.
Red Fountain Grass Preferred Exposure:
– Red Fountain Grass will prefer a full sun location in the North Florida
| Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscape.
Red Fountain Grass Foliage:
– Thin foliage is a deep dark maroon color and is most often a herbaceous plant in the North Florida landscape. When planted farther south into St. Augustine area these plants may remain reliably evergreen in the winter season.
Red Fountain Grass Soil Preference / Salt tolerance:
– Red Fountain Ornamental Grass Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum will
tolerate a wide range of soil components providing the soil is well drained
– Salt tolerance is unknown, have it successfully growing at seaside, let us
know!
Red Fountain Grass Size Variance:
– Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum can be expected to reach 3-4 ft in height and 2 ft wide.
Red Fountain Grass Growth Habit:
– Evergreen, upright, clumping habit of Red Fountain Grass forms an attractive dense mound of fine textured deeply red colored foliage that tends to droop over toward the top third portion of the plant, much resembling a fountain, giving it its common name.
Red Fountain Grass Growth Rate:
– Red Fountain Grass is a fairly fast grower, expect them to reach their full size the first season after planting and regrow quickly the following season from the ground.
Red Fountain Grass Bloom:
– Red Fountain Grass has rather showy rose colored bloom in late summer to the first frost. Inflorescence may reach 12 inches in length and can be used in cut flower arrangements.
Red Fountain Grass Water Requirements:
– Low water needs make Red Fountain Grass ideal for Xeroscapes plantings as they are relatively drought tolerant once established into the landscape.
– Red Fountain Grass plants will require supplemental irrigation after being planted in the ground from the S & J Nursery container but will survive on their own with little help after establishing itself into the landscape.
Butterfly or Bird Attracting:
– Red Fountain Grass is not touted as a butterfly or bird attracting plant. .
Best Uses For Red Fountain Grass in the North Florida | Jacksonville | St.
Augustine area garden:
– They are an ideal landscape plant for low maintenance, low water, low trim landscaping.
– Red Fountain Grass is an excellent foliage color plant selection
for the North Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscape.
– Plant in masses around a bird bath, palm, or other accent for a little added color and texture in the garden.
– Red Fountain Grass makes a great stand alone potted accent plant for patios and pools.
Care of Red Fountain Grass in the North Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area
landscape:
– When planted in the more Northern portion of our North Florida | Jacksonville |St. Augustine area, these plants will require trimming the foliage off at ground level each spring when fertilizing for best results.
– Water every day during the establishment period after planting in the garden from a nursery container.
– Fertilize each spring with a handful of garden compost or a mixture of Milorganite and a slow release poly coated plant food such as Osmocote or Stay Green general purpose plant food or 10-10-10.