cosmetic skunk are one of the few types of plants that can survive the excessive summertime heat while adding endearing texture , stature , and even colors to your landscape painting . And high on thelist of most popular decorative grassesis purple fountain grass .
Its deep purple foliage and long fluffy flower make a statement in any landscape . Purple fountain Gunter Grass , like most in the cosmetic grass family , is very well-heeled to care for , flourishing under a broad range of conditions .
Despite how easy - break purplish spring supergrass is , knowing a routine more about it wo n’t ache , see to it that it thrive in your garden whether institute as a natural screen , in containers , or in garden beds .
Plant Overview
majestic fountain grass , orPennisetum setaceum‘Rubrum ’ , belongs to the Poaceae family . This family is the fifth - great plant family and it touch to grasses – which includes all cereal grasses , your ‘ typical ’ lawn grasses , and even bamboos . The genus to which Rubrum belong isPennisetum , which quite literally imply ‘ fountain dope ’ .
Is Purple Fountain Grass A Perennial?
majestic fountain grass is atenderperennial . This means that it ca n’t survive cold winters like some others in the ornamental skunk class , boom in USDA zone 9 - 11 .
But you may still delight purple fount supergrass , with its foresightful , curve spike , slant with royal feather , in cooler climates . you could well grow purplish outflow grass as an yearly , or supply protection over winter to help oneself it flourish year after year .
Purple jet grass is a beautiful plant that adds texture and splashes of – as you guessed it , purple or Bourgogne – to your garden . It can grow to between three and five foot high , adding height to your place as well .
It ’s important to note that fountain grass is considered an invasive specie in certain areas . However , the ‘ Rubrum ’ cultivar is largely nontaxable from this categorization as it does n’t set seed . If you ’re looking to plant fountain grass but do n’t want to imperil the surrounding landscape painting , Rubrum is your answer .
Planting Purple Fountain Grass
Like most ornamental locoweed , you’re able to plant royal jet grass around fall or spring . However , it ’s recommended to imbed it in leap to take advantage of the eyeshade growing season .
Given that mature plants can grow to about 5 foot improbable and almost as wide-eyed , purple spring smoke ask tidy sum of space to catch one’s breath . You ’ll take to space them three to five feet apart , with a hole deep and full enough to reconcile its roots . Ensure you irrigate soundly and profoundly once planted .
Choose a spot protected from very strong winds to help the plant keep its natural spring - like shape .
Purple Fountain Grass Care
Light
Purple fountain grass loves enjoy in the sunlight , where its purple parting and downlike spike can take in the rays . For it to sincerely flourish , Rubrum needs at least eight hours of sunshine a day . However , it can survive in some lite shade , so do n’t be afraid to engraft it along paries if you ’re all right with a slower - growing plant .
Water
As mentioned , purple fountain grass needs a beneficial , recondite tearing once it ’s establish . You ’ll need to water your outflow weed often until the etymon are established . Once or double a week should do . Always let the soil become teetotal to the touch before you water next .
Once it ’s frozen in your chosen spot , purple natural spring grass is drouth tolerant . If you inhabit in a hot and dry climate , it ’ll need to be watered somewhat more often , but is n’t incredibly thirsty .
Soil
Purple spring skunk is n’t a particular plant , as I ’m sure you ’ve deduced . This easy - give-up the ghost nature extends to the soil in which it ’s planted . purplish jet green goddess thrive in most grime types , as long as it ’s well - draining .
Climate and Temperature
Purple fountain grass prosper in warmer clime , but does n’t have any specific requirements beyond that .
Even though it ’s dauntless in USDA zone 9 - 11 , you ’ll encounter that your jet grass can tolerate curt bout of cold snap .
Cooler climates with especially inhuman winters will have to savor regal spring locoweed as an annual , best planted in spring to delight its beauty until fall .
That is unless you do n’t bear in mind put in protective measure like rime blankets to keep the low temperature from getting your plant . Or , you could simply bestow your purple outpouring grass indoors if imbed in a pot , although it will not grow as well as it would under optimal stipulation .
Fertilizer
As majestic fountain gage thrives in most soil type and under a variety of circumstance , it does n’t need a help hand to flourish .
You may take to give it a dim - dismissal fertiliser in spring to give it an extra encouragement of nutrients over summertime if its growth is slow .
Maintenance
Pruning purple fountain pot is perhaps the only matter you ’ll need to do when it comes to sustentation . Throughout the twelvemonth , snip away any idle foliage around the industrial plant . This increases airflow around the plant and allows for sunlight to reach every inch of the industrial plant .
Or , you could do a big chop in previous winter or early natural spring to further sweet growth during the young growing season .
The big chop involves gathering all the leaves of the industrial plant and bind them together . With your trusty secateurs , cut across the bound leaves , about five inch above the root of the plant life .
Always carefully comb and pick through your purple fountain grass for any stray dead foliage and junk to keep it looking its best .
Growing Purple Fountain Grass in Containers
Purple fountain grass does n’t need to be planted in absolutely manicured beds . They calculate slap-up and thrive just as well in containers too .
you’re able to develop your purple fountain grass in a container with a bunch of flowering works , or as a financial statement flora on its own .
The most important measures to take when planting your purple fountain grass in containers are the size of said container and its drain properties .
As majestic fountain grass is comparatively turgid , you ’ll ask a big enough deal to gayly oblige its roots . You ’ll also need a jackpot with drainage mess so the dirt is n’t waterlogged .
Your purple outpouring grass should thrive as long as it gets enough sunlight and has distance to grow .
Growing fount grass in containers get it easier to bring it indoors during unexpected cold piece . It also permit for interesting ways to play with the design of your landscape , without committing to planting in the ground .
Propagating Purple Fountain Grass
propagate your imperial fountain Gunter Wilhelm Grass is quite simple by sectionalization .
prod up the plant as it set about to go hibernating . but cut the works into multiple section , solution and all , and replant them as quickly as possible . Water well , as you would with a novel , youthful , fountain Gunter Grass plant .
Pests and Diseases
Another wonderful thing about purple fountain grass is its resistance to pests and disease . It ’s also among the few works that are cervid repellent too . However , if you ’re unlucky in this section , you may still hail across a few issues to address .
Slugs and escargot jazz to nibble on grasses , and purple fountain grass is no exception . However , they wo n’t cause any serious damage , and can be picked off by hand .
to boot , purple outpouring grass is susceptible to fungus . You ’ll often find fungus concealment between the blades of pasturage , especially in the densest parts of the industrial plant .
The good room to battle and prevent fungus from taking hold is set with enough spatial arrangement and trim often to improve airflow . Sufficient sunlight is also important , so the ray can dry out even the densest part of the plants .
Purple Fountain Grass Uses
In the Garden…
Make the most of purple fountain grass ’s pinnacle by creating a instinctive ‘ bread and butter ’ screen for impart privacy in your garden . This make a unparalleled privateness rampart that makes more of a affirmation than other hedge . It may be forgetful than a traditional hedging , but add plenty of style .
But , you do n’t have to have a whole rampart of smart burgundy to make a command . One or two tuft of purple fountain green goddess can be plant as main focal item of your design , or to complement surrounding plants .
You could also plant them in containers and site them on either ending of your porch or balcony . They stand out amongst a change of plants , even if pose at the back of a efflorescence seam , as their color and textures break up the monotony of peak and dark-green foliage .
In the Home…
Even though royal fountain grass is n’t cold hardy , you’re able to still delight its soft plumes in the cold months .
Simply snip the stems off in summer and tot up them to your cut flower bouquet . These grass are anideal candidate for drying , create long - lasting Instagram - suitable bouquets .
