Fountain Grass care — light, water, toxicity and hardiness
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) wants full sun and a drink about every 7 days once established. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. It is safe to have around pets.
| scientific name | Pennisetum alopecuroides |
|---|---|
| family | Poaceae |
| category | grass |
| plant type | perennial |
| light | full sun |
| water cadence days | 7 |
| min zone | 5 |
| max zone | 9 |
| frost tolerant | true |
| toxic to pets | false |
| edible | false |
How often should I water Fountain Grass?
Drought-tolerant once established; water young clumps.
Who eats it
Palatable to browsing animals such as deer: low. Palatable to grazing animals: low. Palatable to people: no.
What it needs
Its shade tolerance is high. Its moisture use is low. Its drought tolerance is medium. It wants at least about 32 inches of rain a year. Above roughly 60 inches of annual rain it struggles. It tolerates soil down to pH 5.0. It tolerates soil up to pH 7.0. Its fertility requirement is medium. Adapted to coarse, sandy soils: yes. Adapted to medium, loamy soils: yes. Adapted to fine, clay soils: no. It needs at least 160 frost-free days. Its tolerance of chalky soil is low. Its fire tolerance is low. Fire resistant: no. It has been recorded down to -18°F. It suppresses neighbours chemically: no.
How it grows
It grows as a bunch form. Its growth rate is moderate. Its lifespan is moderate. It puts on most of its growth in summer. It spreads by seed at a slow rate. It spreads vegetatively at a slow rate. It resprouts after damage: no. Coppices: no. At maturity it reaches about 3.0 feet. Its roots go down at least 10 inches. Its shape is erect. It holds its leaves through winter: no.
What it looks like
It blooms in mid summer. The flowers are yellow. Conspicuous in flower: no. The foliage is green. The foliage texture is medium. In summer the canopy is dense in porosity. In winter it is moderate in porosity. Fall colour: yes. The fruit or seed is brown. Fruit begins in summer. Fruit finishes by fall. It fruits high. The fruit persists on the plant: no. The fruit is conspicuous: no.
Growing more of it
Propagated by seed: yes. Propagated by cuttings: no. Propagated by container: yes. Propagated by bare root: no. Propagated by bulb: no. Propagated by corm: no. Propagated by tubers: no. Cold stratification required: no. Seedling vigour is medium. Commercial availability: routinely available.
Source: USDA PLANTS Database; US Cooperative Extension horticulture publications · ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List · 2026-09-02