Pennisetum macrourum
£6.95
Out of stock
Pennisetum macrourum
An elegant ornamental grass with slender green foliage and distinctive, upright bottlebrush flower spikes that bring wonderful movement to a border.
Pennisetum macrourum produces neat clumps of narrow, arching green leaves, followed from summer onwards by long, pale cream-green flower spikes held on fine stems above the foliage. The flowers move beautifully in the breeze and catch low autumn light particularly well. Although grasses are wind-pollinated rather than grown for pollinators, its long-lasting flowerheads provide valuable texture and interest as flowering perennials begin to fade.
Thriving in full sun and free-draining soil, this is an excellent grass for sunny borders, gravel-style planting and more naturalistic schemes. It forms an upright but softly moving clump and looks particularly effective repeated through a planting rather than used as a single specimen. Once established it has good drought tolerance, although it benefits from watering while establishing.
Specifications
Height: Approx. 100–150cm in flower
Spread: Approx. 50–75cm
Flowering: July–October
Position: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained soil
Habit: Upright, clump-forming ornamental grass
Interest: Summer, autumn and winter structure
Maintenance: Leave flowerheads standing through winter, then cut back old growth in early spring before fresh growth appears
🌿 Note for Isle of Wight planting
Well suited to sunny, free-draining Island gardens and particularly effective in exposed or coastal-style planting where its flower spikes can move in the breeze. Good drainage is important over winter, especially on heavier ground.
🌿 Ideal Companion Plants from The Green Standard Range
Verbena ‘Bampton’ – dark, wiry stems weave through the grass without competing with its elegant shape.
Gaura ‘The Bride’ – floating white flowers create a wonderfully light, moving combination.
Achillea ‘Lilac Beauty’ – broad, flat flowerheads provide an excellent contrast to the narrow grass spikes.
Salvia ‘Caradonna’ – deep violet flowers and dark stems give stronger colour and vertical structure earlier in the season.
Eryngium planum ‘Fluela’ – steely-blue flowers work beautifully amongst the pale grass heads and enjoy similarly sunny, dry conditions.
Aster ‘Lady in Black’ – dark foliage and clouds of autumn flowers extend the display as the Pennisetum reaches its peak.
🌟 The Green Standard Tip
Use Pennisetum macrourum in groups or repeat it at intervals through a sunny border. Rather than creating a solid block of grass, allow Verbena, Gaura and Achillea to intermingle between the clumps. The result is a much more natural planting with layers of flowers, grasses and movement that carries beautifully into autumn.