TEST MODE

Graceful Grasses Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum')
pen-nih-SEE-tum sah-TAY-see-um ROO-brum

Deciduous Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Mounded-clump, arching in the Poaceae Family
Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' showcases stunning bronze-purple foliage topped with graceful arches of burgundy-toned seed heads. This striking ornamental grass adds vibrant color and texture to any landscape.

Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum', commonly known as Purple Fountain Grass, is a striking ornamental grass prized for its graceful, arching foliage and vibrant burgundy color. This perennial grass can grow up to 3 feet tall, producing beautiful feathery flower spikes that bloom from late summer to early fall. Its drought-tolerant nature makes it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens, while its dramatic appearance adds texture and movement to landscapes. Best suited for USDA zones 9 to 11, it is often used in borders, mass plantings, or as a focal point in garden designs.

Cons

This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 30 - 36 inches tall. 12 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 9a - 10b (Usually hardy to 20° F)
Tags Annual in Chicago, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Birds, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Formal Garden, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Grasses, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Native to Africa, Naturalizing, Normal Soil, Partial Sun, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Rabbit Resistant, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden Full Sun Perennials, Ornamental Grass, Summer Blooming Perennials
Bloom Period July to October
Flower Color Pink
Foliage Color Dark Purple
 

Most Popular Plants

 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Sedum, Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Achillea, Coreopsis, Lavender, Ornamental grasses, Heuchera, and Verbena.

Photos of This with...

Graceful Grasses Purple Fountain Grass, Vermillionaire Firecracker Plant, Goldilocks Creeping Jenny, Colorblaze Golden Dreams Coleus, Plum Dandy Alternanthera, Superbells Grape Punch Calibrachoa, Superbells Yellow Million Bells, Toffee Twist Bronze Curly Sedge, Silver Falls Dichondra, Mezoo Trailing Red Livingstone Daisy, Proven Accents Yellow Ripple Ivy, Tuscan Sun Ox-Eye Daisy, Margarita Sweet Potato Vine, Spotlight Black Heart Ipomoea, Laguna Sky Blue Lobelia, Blood Orange Nemesia, Supertunia Latte Petunia, Supertunia Vista Bubblegum Petunia, ColorBlaze Strawberry Drop Coleus, Superbena Purple Verbena, Japanese Maple, Angelface Blue Summer Snapdragon, Serenita Purple Angelonia, Serenita Raspberry Summer Snapdragon, Serenita Sky Blue Summer Snapdragon, Golden Butterfly Marguerite Daisy, Pure White Butterfly Marguerite Daisy, Dragon Wing Pink Begonia, Dragon Wing Red Begonia, Whopper Rose With Bronze Leaf Begonia, Surefire Rose Begonia, Campfire Fireburst Bidens, Campfire Flame Bidens, Superbells Double Orange Million Bells, Superbells Double Ruby Calibrachoa, Superbells 'Double Smitten Pink', Superbells Dreamsicle Calibrachoa, Superbells Pink Calibrachoa, Superbells Plum Calibrachoa, Superbells Rising Star Calibrachoa, Superbells Saffron Calibrachoa, Superbells Tangerine Punch Calibrachoa, Superbells Tropical Sunrise Calibrachoa, Flambe Yellow Strawflower, Pequena Rosalita Spider Flower, Senorita Rosalita Spider Flower, Totally Temped Frosted Violets Cuphea, Totally Tempted Vivid Violet Cuphea, Fairy Dust Pink Cuphea, King Tut Papyrus, Virtuoso Pinkerific Dahlia, Diamond Frost Spurge, Berried Treasure Pink Strawberry, Karalee Petite Pink Gaura, Truffula Pink Globe Amaranth, Patricia English Ivy, Aromagica Purple Heliotrope, Lime Light Hydrangea, Fire Light Hardy Hydrangea, Hippo Rose Polka Dot Plant, Sunpatiens Compact Coral Pink Impatiens, Sunpatiens Compact Deep Rose Impatiens, Sunpatiens Compact Magenta, Sunpatiens Compact Neon Pink, Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight Sweet Potato, Sweet Caroline Kiwi Sweet Potato Vine, Sweet Caroline Medusa Green Sweet Potato, Sweet Caroline Raven Improved Sweet Potato, Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Lime Sweet Potato, Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple Sweet Potato, Blackie Sweet Potato Vine, Illusion Midnight Lace Sweet Potato, Illusion Emerald Lace Sweet Potato, Proven Accents Tricolor Sweet Potato Vine, Sweet Caroline Red Hawk Sweet Potato Vine, Fiber Optic Grass, Live Wire Fiber Optic Grass, Luscious Citrus Blend Lantana, Bandana Cherry Sunrise Lantana, Luscious Goldengate Lantana, Luscious Marmalade Lantana, Purple Falls Lantana, Luscious Lemonade Lantana, Laguna Ultraviolet Lobelia, White Knight Sweet Alyssum, Waikiki Sunset Loosestrife, Cat's Meow Catmint, Bright Lights Berry Rose African Daisy, Daredevil Claret Zonal Geranium, Graceful Grasses Vertigo, Fireworks Variegated Red Fountain Grass, Lucky Star Lavender Pentas, Easy Wave Velour Berry Petunia, Easy Wave Violet Petunia, Supertunia Black Cherry, Supertunia Bordeaux Petunia, Honey Supertunia, Supertunia Lovie Dovie Petunia, Supertunia Mini Vista Plum Veined, Supertunia Morning Glory Charm, Supertunia Royal Magenta Petunia, Supertunia Royal Velvet Petunia, Tiara Blue Supertunia, Supertunia Trailing Rose Veined Petunia, Supertunia Trailing Strawberry Pink Veined Petunia, Supertunia Violet Star Charm, Supertunia Vista Fuchsia, Supertunia Vista Silverberry, Supertunia White Petunia, Itsy Magenta Petunia, Intensia Red Hot Phlox, Tiny Wine Ninebark, Mojave Red Purslane, Fine Line Alder Buckthorn, Playin' the Blues Salvia, Stardiva Pink Fan Flower, Lemon Coral Stonecrop, Cirrus Dusty Miller, ColorBlaze Apple Brandy Coleus, ColorBlaze Chocolate Drop Coleus, ColorBlaze Dipt in Wine Coleus, ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon Coleus, ColorBlaze Torchlight Coleus, ColorBlaze Velveteen Coleus, Colorblaze Sedona Sunset Coleus, Flamethrower Salsa Verde Coleus, Gay's Delight Coleus, Kong Jr. Rose Coleus, Colorblaze Royale Cherry Brandy, Sky Fire Coleus, Snowstorm Glacier Blue Bacopa, Snowstorm Pink Bacopa, Snowstorm Snow Globe Bacopa, Superbena Large Lilac Blue Verbena, Superbena Red Verbena, Superbena Royale Plum Wine Verbena, Meteor Shower Verbena, Lime Variegated Periwinkle, Wojo's Gem Greater Periwinkle,
 
Graceful Grasses Purple Fountain Grass
Graceful Grasses Purple Fountain Grass
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Pricing and Availability History

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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