PlantFiles: Red Fountain Grass
Pennisetum setaceum 'Cupreum'

I have researched this plant and my info shows that this particular cultivar in not invasive. The seeds are sterile unlike most, if not all, of the other varieties. I intend to use this plant in Barbados and it is vital that it does not become a weed.

Orlando, FL.
I planted a small clump 6x6 inches of red fountain grass and found that it grew to a height of about 4 feet tall. With proper handling and plant maintenance, it has not "spread" to any other parts of my yard or neighbors yard. I edge the base of the ground ball of the plant about every 6 months, it is a quick grower in height but not in width spread. It's pretty, dark cranberry red stalks with a hint of light tan grass at the base. The cranberry red and green seed (or bloom wisps) blow in the wind and give a slight rustling sound that I find soothing.

This plant is a real gem for added background landscaping. . I never water it and it seems to do quite nicely. The seasonal rains seem to do it quite nicely also. It seeds itself very well. Very hardy in zone 9a.

06/11/05: I changed the rating from positive to negative because I just learned that this grass is a noxious weed in Arizona and other places. There is a group of people who go around pulling this grass out anywhere they find it. It is requested that we pull out this grass if we have it in our yards or if we see it along roadsides. It is not native to Arizona and chokes out the native vegetation.