Fountain grass ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’)

Fountain grass ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’) is a grass plant that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 50cm – 1.5m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Fountain grass ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’).

This plant is commonly known as fountain grass ‘Rubrum’.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 1-2 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: fountain grass ‘Rubrum’
Scientific name: Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’
Plant type: Grasses
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 50cm – 1.5m
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Coastal, Informal Garden, Patio & Container Garden
Planting type: Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance
Other characteristics: Drought resistant, RHS Award of Garden Merit

Seasonal colors

How to plant Fountain grass ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’) – Mokkie, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Fountain grass ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Fountain grass ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’ likes to grow in well drained soil.

Sunlight

Fountain grass ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’) should be grown in full sun places.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Fountain grass ‘Rubrum’ (Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’) – Mokkie, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons