How big does Purple fountain grass grow?

About 1.2 m × 90 cm after ten years (height × width).

Is Purple fountain grass hardy?

Hardy down to -7 °C (USDA zone 8, RHS H4). Outdoors in this country it only survives with winter protection, or in a pot overwintered frost-free.

When does Purple fountain grass flower?

Flowering: July–October, purple, red.

How much water does Purple fountain grass need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Purple fountain grass cost?

It sells for roughly €8.80 to €19 in local shops, depending on size.

What should I plant instead of Purple fountain grass?

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. For a similar purpose we recommend: Feather reed grass, Fountain grass, Hameln dwarf fountain grass, Maiden grass 'Gracillimus'.

Purple fountain grass

Pennisetum advena

Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum advena) is an ornamental grass that reaches 1.2 m × 90 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -7 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €8.80. We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens.

Illustration of Purple fountain grass — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

In Central Europe this is an ornamental grass grown as an annual or as a seasonal container plant: the first hard frost kills it and it does not overwinter outdoors. It is planted for its arching burgundy leaves and the nodding purple-red plumes that last from midsummer until the frosts, in pots, in summer bedding or as a colour accent among perennials. Give it sun and well-drained soil after the spring frosts and water it regularly in summer heat. To keep it, cut it back in autumn and overwinter it in a large tub somewhere bright, cool and frost-free, but it is slow to restart in spring, so most people simply buy new plants each year.

We do not recommend this plant

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. Further down we show what to plant instead.

Watch out for

It is not hardy in Central Europe and frost kills it, so it has to be replaced each year or overwintered frost-free. Shops often sell it as Pennisetum setaceum, although the true Pennisetum setaceum has been on the European Union list of invasive alien species since 2017 and may not be sold, kept or planted. The burgundy-leaved garden forms (such as Rubrum) were identified by morphological and genetic studies as a separate species, Pennisetum advena, and in December 2017 the member states' committee on invasive species decided that the EU ban does not apply to them. This species hardly ever sets viable seed and no escapes have been recorded. When buying, look for the burgundy-leaved form, not the green-leaved, seed-raised species.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 1.2 m × 90 cm
Hardiness: down to -7 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D July–October, purple, red

Group	Ornamental grass
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1.2 m × 90 cm
Ultimate size	0.9–1.5 m × 0.6–1.2 m
Hardiness	down to -7 °C (USDA 8, RHS H4)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Clay
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	July–October, purple, red
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	60 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €8.80

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

What to plant instead

Recommended plants that do the same job, with similar characteristics.

Feather reed grass

Calamagrostis × acutiflora 1.5 m × 60 cm after 10 years

A narrow, strictly upright ornamental grass that flowers as early as the start of summer and keeps its straw-coloured stems standing all winter, so it…

Ornamental grass

Full sun

Part shade

from about €4.30

Fountain grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides 90 cm × 90 cm after 10 years

An ornamental grass forming a hemispherical, arching clump that carries soft bottlebrush plumes from late summer into autumn and turns golden yellow…

Ornamental grass

Full sun

Part shade

from about €4.10

Hameln dwarf fountain grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln' 90 cm × 90 cm after 10 years

This compact ornamental grass works well in small groups, mixed perennial borders or a large container. Soft bottlebrush flower heads appear in late…

Ornamental grass

Full sun

Part shade

from about €4.10

Maiden grass 'Gracillimus'

Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' 2 m × 1.2 m after 10 years

Its narrow, arching leaves form a fountain-shaped clump that works well at the back of a border or as a standalone accent. Give it a sunny position,…

Ornamental grass

Full sun

Part shade

from about €6.20

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €8.80 – €19

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made