'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.
