African Feather Grass Plant Care
Pennisetum macrourum Trin.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Cenchrus caudatus,, commonly known as African feather grass, is a C4 perennial bunch grass native to tropical and southern Africa, extending to the Arabian Peninsula.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for African Feather Grass?
Water African Feather Grass every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the African Feather Grass Native To?
- Angola
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Qatar
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- UAE
- Uganda
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the African Feather Grass?
African Feather Grass (Pennisetum macrourum) belongs to the Poaceae family within the Pennisetum genus. African Feather Grass is native to tropical and southern Africa, extending to the Arabian Peninsula. African Feather Grass is also known as Kikuyu Grass.
African Feather Grass displays an upright, clumping grass growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. African Feather Grass produces showy, feathery flower spikes in various colors.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a African Feather Grass?
Pennisetum macrourum requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the African Feather Grass Need?
African Feather Grass thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the African Feather Grass Prefer?
Pennisetum macrourum grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. African Feather Grass prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a African Feather Grass?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for African Feather Grass to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a African Feather Grass?
Feed African Feather Grass every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a African Feather Grass?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a African Feather Grass?
African Feather Grass can be propagated through division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to fountain grass plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the African Feather Grass Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list African Feather Grass, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the African Feather Grass?
African Feather Grass is susceptible to aphids, grasshoppers, cutworms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the African Feather Grass Need?
African Feather Grass grows outdoors in USDA Zone 7a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 7a. African Feather Grass is native to tropical and southern Africa, extending to the Arabian Peninsula.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 7a – 10b
Keep exploring plants
African Feather Grass is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Pennisetum genus — compare its care with other Pennisetum species on PlantoScan.
Pennisetum is part of the Poaceae plant family — browse all Poaceae genera and species.
African Feather Grass thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Pennisetum Species
Other Pennisetum species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Pennisetum macrourum Trin., family Poaceae (first published in Gram. Panic. : 64 (1826)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list African Feather Grass, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 7a – 10b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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