Description
| Scientific name | Pennisetum setaceum |
| Common name | Pennisetum grass, Fountain grass |
| Temperature requirement | 25-35 °C |
| Humidity | 40-50% |
| Light | Full sun,part sun |
| Watering | Water everyday &keep moist |
| Pests | No serious insect or disease problems |
| Pet friendliness | Not hazardous |
| Maximum plant height | 90-150cm |
| Potting mix | Potting soil/red soil/manure/perlite |
| Pot requirement | Good drainage&repot every 1-2 years |
| Nutrition | Apply manure for first 15 days and npk for next 15 days |
| Pruning&training | Remove dead & diseased leaves with sterile shears |
| Common color & season | Red, Green |
| Description | Pennisetum setaceum is called by its common name fountain grass, while in arabic it is often referred to as halfah. Its area of distribution ranges from northern africa, to tropical africa, the arabian peninsula, the middle east and southwest asia. This perennial grass grows between 90 cm and 1.5 Metres high, with a spread of up to 1.5 Metres. The flowers arrive in early summer as spikes up to 20 cm long. This grass is a very attractive ornamental plant that requires only low maintenance. Occasionally, pruning will densify the clump and cause it to rejuvenate better. Propagation is recommended by seeds and through division. Fountain grass can be used in open country, for hillside planting and as a slope or bank stabiliser. In urban planting design, it is well known in many locations in gulf regions. It provides light and beautiful images as groundcover, linear planting and grouped or massed planting. Another variety, pennisetum setaceum ‘cupreum’, is not as hardy as the green variety, but just as attractive. Its leaves are dark or purple red, and the flower spikelets are light pink. Soil and irrigation requirements are comparable to those of the main species, i.E. Very low, but stagnant water is not well tolerated. |
