'Karley Rose' Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)
Perennial
- Exceptional smoky-pink plumes last summer through fall!
- Flowers and foliage effortlessly sway in the breeze.
- Easy to grow & deer resistant perennial grass.
- Subtle straw color adds winter interest.
- Zones 5-9, sun, 40" tall x 36" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Patent #: USPP 12,909
Common name: Oriental fountain grass
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 36-40" tall X 24-36" wide
Flower color: Smokey-pink
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Year-round, but notably from summer to fall.
Bloom time: Summer, midfall
Features: Winter interest, rain gardens, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, deer resistant
Uses: Background, border, cottage gardening, foundation planting, massing, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Sun (> 6 hours sun). It can be grown in part-sun, but it won't flower as well.
Water: Average. Once established, it can handle occasional drought.
Spacing: 2 - 3 feet
Fertilizing: Fertilizer is generally not recommended, as excess nutrients can cause lodging or flopping over. If you do need to fertilize, wait until early spring to apply.
Winterizing: Can leave foliage standing for winter. Trim the foliage back in the spring to 3-6 inches to prepare for new growth.
Maintenance & pruning: Thin out clumps by discarding any dead portions.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
I understand the shipping process but one arrived broken over from its roots. I planted all three with great care but the one may not make it. Look forward to what may come but have reservations about the third.
Thank you for yuor feedback! We’re sorry that you received plants that are not up to our standards. This grass was a part of a trial for a more sustainable solution to plastic pots. That’s why we have a 60-day guarantee on all of our orders, and we'll happily send you replacements. Please email your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
Doing Great! At first when the plant arrived it was a little droopy and small and I wondered how it would do. The original leaves died back and new ones grew in. Now it is full of life, full of blooms, doing very well in a not so great soil situation. Definitely hardy. I will be buying more!
Planted a couple of these in the fall, a bit closer than recommended to each other, trying to fill a space with a visually interesting ornamental grass. i love looking out the window and seeing dozens of light rose to deep magenta fuzzy tops blowing in the wind. I had serious doubts about it surviving the winter but they have grown in so full. blew away my expectations!
Disappointed! These had so much hope -
They did not survive! It did not take long before they died, they did not knit into soil, and were attended to bc they were new to my property. Did everything right , I am a 35 year gardener -
I know what to do, zone 7A sun & water done properly. I recd plants by mail they were a bit dry but that wasn’t an
issue . Bought 2 by mail. Idk what’s wrong with the specimens sent.
I have amended garden soil as well , with irrigation & these were placed in mostly southwest sun 🌞 with a bit of shade daily.
I won’t be buying again .
We're sorry you're having trouble with your plants. Our team of horticulture experts would love to take a closer look! Please contact us at [email protected] with your order number and photos of the plants so we can better assist you. All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
Well packaged and in great shape!
Glad we choose these grasses for the boundary planting.
Will really be impressive in three years growing time.
Also ~ ANY maintenance will be minimal.
Love my Karly Rose , she is Healthy and Thriving 🥰
Planted behind some annual grass as a permanent addition to flowerbed. Plants are green and healthy but not growing larger.
Hello! Thank you for leaving feedback. When transplanting young plants from a nursery pot to a garden, the plant allocates more energy to root development instead of shoot development (above ground). It's important for them to develop a robust root system so they can actually absorb the nutrients and water in the soil around them. Then after their root system is more developed they'll invest in their shoots and flower development. They generally spend their first year growing roots in their new home, the second year they have more energy to put into growth, and the third year, they are growing and flowering vigorously. This applies to plants in the garden center as well as plants you purchase online. We hope this helps. Happy Gardening!
Plants were well packaged and arrived in great shape. All plants are in the ground and thriving. I just love this type of grass - nice height and lovely arch with very pretty blooms. These will always be a part of my garden in various areas.
Easy to order, great selection, package arrived quickly and intact, plants are thriving. Highly recommend.
The came packaged wonderfully. Waited 24 hr to plant outside. They receive 6ish hr of sunlight, only 4 have survived out of 6. I am going to contact Great Garden Plants to see about a refund for the 2 that died.
Hello! Thank you for leaving a review. We're sorry to hear that you've had trouble with some of your plants. We do offer a 60-day guarantee on all of our plants! If you received your order within this time frame, we'd be happy to refund or replace your plants. Please email [email protected] photos of the plants in question. Please make sure to include if your last name and order number in the subject line so that our customer service team can provide the best assistance possible. Happy Gardening!
'Karley Rose' Fountain Grass
I planted 3 of these in a triangle shape in May 2021 looking to get impact from planting multiples. I've ordered from Great Garden Plants before and knew the size and quality of the plants I would be receiving. When I put them in the ground I thought if I get some decent growth on them this year, I'll be happy and I'm sure they would fill out over the years and I would eventually get the look I was going for. It's now mid September 2021 and these plants have put on some amazing growth for their first year. They have filled out very nicely and have so many flower spikes. I ended up getting the look I wanted in the first season. Very pleased.
Plants always in good condition, but I've had a few die I can't get out the way I use to so this helps a lot being delivered. How about some better prices. Also packed pretty good
I ordered 3 bunny fountain grasses and 2 Karley rose fountain grasses. After reading the directions on how to care for my new plants, I planted them and they all died. This will be the last time I buy plants online.
Purchased this grass in late spring and it grew quickly! I hope to have it for years to come.
I loved this grass, pretty soft puple flowers on the ends, and a great texturey grass blowin in wind,I put it at the end of my shrubs
Plant arrived healthy looking but a little droopy which was expected since it had travelled for 2 days in the dark. It perked up quickly and was planted 2 days later per the enclosed instructions. It now has multiple blooms which was an unexpected surprise. The 2 Karley Rose plants I bought locally earlier this spring have yet to bloom! Great service and great plant’s. Have already ordered from you again and will definitely be placing more orders in the future.
What is shipping time?
Our shipments go out within five to seven business days of the date you select. Amount of time for you to receive your order after it ships depends on your distance from Grand Haven, Michigan.
depending on when to plant it, when should i order karley rose grass?
Hello! We begin shipping plants at proper planting time in your area, which is determined by your USDA Hardiness Zone. This means you can order plants now and select the shipping date that works for your growing zone. Follow this link to view our 2025 shipping schedule:
https://www.greatgardenplants.com/pages/shipping-policy
Is the Karley rose grass a perineal?
Hello! 'Karley Rose' Fountain Grass is a perennial grass in zones 5-9.
Will this grass survive in soil that gets inundated when it rains?
Typically, 'Karley Rose' Fountain Grass prefers well-draining soil, as do many ornamental grasses. If your soil tends to hold water or gets inundated after rain, you may want to consider amending the soil with organic material to improve drainage or planting the grass in a raised bed or a location where water does not accumulate.
Does this do well in wet soil?
Karley Rose fountain grass prefers to grow in moderately moist soils. As long as the soil is well draining, it should be able tolerate a moist environment.