Pennisetum ‘Red Head’

Description

Pennisetum ‘Red Head’ is one of the most beautiful forms of Pennisetum, or Chinese fountain grass. And, along with its sibling, P. ‘Hameln’, deserves a place in any garden. It’s a gorgeous, clump-forming grass with gracefully arching, narrow, deep green leaves. These turn gold in autumn, and then buff in winter.

Some people grow it just for its foliage—but there are flowers, too! Striking smoky, pink-red, bottlebrush-like flowers, resembling foxtails, are produced from mid- to late summer; Pennisetum ‘Red Head’ is one of the first of the ornamental grasses to bloom. In the autumn, these flowers turn brownish, and they stay in place for many months, lasting well throughout winter. But you can cut them; they make excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements.

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Red Head’ is most impressive when planted en masse, but it’s also useful as a specimen accent plant, either in the garden border or in a patio pot.

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Red Head’ is so highly regarded that the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has awarded it the coveted Award of Garden Merit.