'Hameln' Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)
Perennial
- Dwarf ornamental grass with fluffy plumes of flowers in late summer.
- Low maintenance, deer resistant, and easily grown in heat.
- Offers texture in winter, plus creates habitat for wildlife.
- Often used in borders, mixed beds, or small spaces!
- Zones 5-9, sun, 24" tall x 24" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
'Hameln', like other fountain grasses, offers multi-season interest in the landscape. Its green foliage transitions to a rich gold hue in fall, continuing to add texture well into winter. It can be used as a striking border, and its dwarf size makes it versatile for a variety of landscapes, big or small. As an added bonus, it's easy to grow, thriving in full sun gardens. It's unbothered by deer, heat, and drought, making it an excellent low-maintenance option for gardeners of any skill level.
Details
Common name: Dwarf fountain grass
Zone: 5-9
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun)
Height x width: 18-24" X 18-24"
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of Interest: Summer- Fall
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Suitable for slopes, space savers, rain gardens, privacy & screening, heat tolerant, deer resistant, container plants, best sellers
Uses: Accent, alpine and rock, container gardening, edging, erosion control or embankment, ground cover, massing, ornamental, rock garden, slopes, small spaces, under planting
How to Grow
Light: Full sun to part-sun. Best in full sun. Tolerates part sun, but may not flower in too much shade.
Water: Medium. Once established, will adapt to poorer soils with occasional drought. Occasional deep watering is needed during periods of drought in summer to keep the foliage from rolling and twisting, and it is common to see the tips of the foliage turn brown during these times.
Spacing: 18 - 24 inches
Fertilizing: Small amounts of fertilizer are needed for ornamental grasses. Too much fertilizer will increase the nitrogen level and that can lead to lodging or flopping over. The best time for applying fertilizer is in the spring, just as growth is resuming. About one -quarter cup, per item, of a 10-10-10 slow release fertilizer is enough to take care of the plant needs throughout the entire summer. For best results, make sure you thoroughly water in the fertilizer.
Winterizing: Can leave foliage standing for winter. Shear the dead portions back to 3-4 inches above the ground by late March to allow the new growth to emerge unhindered.
Maintenance & Pruning: About every 3-4 years, propagate by division of the clump into several pieces in early spring (after shearing the dead foliage away) and discard the center of the clump (and any other peripheral portions which have died).
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.