Purple Fountain Grass Plant Care

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum) belongs to the Poaceae family within the Pennisetum genus. Purple Fountain Grass is native to open, scrubby habitats in East Africa, tropical Africa, the Middle East and south-western Asia. Purple Fountain Grass is also known as Fountain Grass, Crimson Fountain Grass, African Fountain Grass.

Purple Fountain Grass displays an upright, clumping grass growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Purple Fountain Grass produces showy, feathery flower spikes in various colors.

Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.

Pennisetum setaceum 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.

Purple Fountain Grass thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Pennisetum setaceum grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Purple Fountain Grass prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Purple Fountain Grass to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Purple Fountain 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.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

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.

Purple Fountain Grass can be propagated through division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to fountain grass plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Purple Fountain 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.

Purple Fountain Grass grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8a. Purple Fountain Grass is native to open, scrubby habitats in East Africa, tropical Africa, the Middle East and south-western Asia.