Chinese Fountain Grass Cenchrus alopecuroides
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cenchrus alopecuroides
- Pennisetum alopecuroides
- Phonetic Spelling
- SEN-krus al-oh-pek-yur-OY-deez
- Description
-
Fountain Grass is a clumping herbaceous perennial utilized in massing, as a specimen plant, or in bed borders. Leaves are strongly arching and turn yellow in the fall. This plant needs 3-4' spacing between plants. It is not as weedy as Pampas or Maiden Grass, and this plant will not flower in dense shade. This plant prefers full sun in moist, well-drained soils. However, it is tolerant of light shade and has no serious pest or disease problems. This plant is also highly resistant to deer grazing and is slightly salt tolerant.
Quick ID Hints:
- Clumping erect grass with arching green-brown leaves
- Inflorescence a reddish-brown raceme of spiklets
- Bottlebrush raceme reddish brown
- Spiklets awned with bristles
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. NOTE the plant currently known as Cenchrus alopecuroides was formerly known as Pennisetum alopecuroides.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Hameln'
- 'Hush Puppy'
- 'Little Bunny'
- 'National Arboretum'
- 'Red Head'
- 'Viridecesens'
Compact with dark green foliage
Dark purple-black inflorescences in late summer-fall - 'Hush Puppy'
- 'Hameln', 'Hush Puppy', 'Little Bunny', 'Moudry', 'National Arboretum', 'Red Head', 'Viridecesens'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Hameln'
- 'Hush Puppy'
- 'Little Bunny'
- 'National Arboretum'
- 'Red Head'
- 'Viridecesens'
Compact with dark green foliage
Dark purple-black inflorescences in late summer-fall - 'Hush Puppy'
- 'Hameln', 'Hush Puppy', 'Little Bunny', 'Moudry', 'National Arboretum', 'Red Head', 'Viridecesens'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cenchrus
- Species:
- alopecuroides
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Asia, Western Australia
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer browsing.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Seed is in the form of brown grain which break open after a hard freeze and naturalizes readily.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence is a raceme of spikelets that are elongated cylindrical resembling a bottlebrush or fox tail. Spikelets yellow-green to reddish-brown, or silvery pink, and have 1-2 flowers. Bracts are awned with elongate bristle. Good in fresh or dry arrangements and shatters before winter.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves grow near the base of stems, are alternate, simple, sheathing, linear, scabrous, bright green, and up to 2' long and .25" wide. Amber yellow fall color.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Problems:
- Weedy
