Pennisetum spathiolatum (Slender veldt grass)

Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Botanical Name: Pennisetum spathiolatum pen-nih-SEE-tum spath-ee-oh-LAY-tum Common Name: Slender veldt grass Synonyms: Fountain grass Genus: Pennisetum
Native to South Africa, this non-invasive evergreen species produces showy pink flowers in spring, which are held 2 to 3 feet above the foliage on stiff, wiry stalks.
Care: Grow in light, average, well-drained soil in full sun. Cut back previous year's foliage by early spring.
Propagation: Divide in late spring or early autumn. Sow seed in early spring at 55° to 65°F.
Problems: Rust, eye spot, leaf spots.
Height 3 ft. to 6 ft.
Spread 1 ft. to 3 ft.
Growth Habit Clumps
Growth Pace Moderate Grower
Light Full Sun Only
Moisture Dry to Medium
Maintenance Low
Tolerance Deer Tolerant;Drought Tolerant
Characteristics Attracts Birds; Showy Flowers; Showy Foliage; Showy Seed Heads
Bloom Time Spring
Flower Color Brown Flower; Pink Flower
Uses Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Cut Flower, Dried Flower, Naturalizing
Style Meadow Garden, Formal Garden
Seasonal Interest Winter Interest, Spring Interest, Summer Interest, Fall Interest
Type Grasses

Plants you might also like

Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila” Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila”
(Pampas grass)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This dwarf cultivar has mid-green leaves and densely tufted plumes atop tall, upright stalks and arching mid-green leaves. Masses of silvery yellow plumes appear in late summer.

no image available Cortaderia selloana
(Pampas grass)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This stunning grass has 1- to 3-foot-long, densely tufted plumes atop tall, upright stalks and arching mid-green leaves. Plumes come in white, cream, or beige-pink and appear in late summer.

Pleioblastus variegatus Pleioblastus variegatus
(Dwarf white-stripe)
Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Dwarf white-stripe has 5-inch-long, upward-pointing green leaves strongly variegated with white. It grows up to 3 feet tall in either sun or shade, forming a striking contrast to less flamboyant neighbors.

Pleioblastus viridistriatus Pleioblastus viridistriatus
(Golden bamboo, Kamuro-zasa )
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This bamboo has showy variegated leaves of green and gold in an irregular pattern of stripes. It is a running bamboo, making it good for naturalizing and filling in or for hedging, but it may need to be controlled by underground barriers. It grows to about 5 feet high.

Cortaderia selloana 'Gold Band' Cortaderia selloana 'Gold Band'
('Gold Band' pampas grass)
Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This clumping, drought-tolerant grass is one of the best pampas grasses you could grow. It has the showy, late-summer plumes common to this group, but they grow straight up, not willy-nilly like many other varieties; they eventually stand 4 to 6 feet above the foliage. Even better news is that this cultivar does not set seed, so it is noninvasive. The foliage features distinct golden edges, which, for a grass, usually menas that it loves shade or moisture. But 'Gold Band' tolerates heat and drought, making it great for large containers, and it can handle coastal conditions, too.