Pennisetum alopecuroides
Lampshade grass
Common names: Feathered brush grass
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 20 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Aug–Oct
- Hardiness
- Hardy
Photo: Daderot · Public Domain · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Lampshade grass is a tufted ornamental grass that, from late summer, displays its striking, bottlebrush‑like flower panicles. From August to October, the soft, often reddish‑hued panicles sway in the wind, adding movement to the bed. Botanically, the species is Pennisetum alopecuroides, but the German name is sufficient for everyday gardening. Cultivars such as "Hameln" remain compact and are suitable for smaller beds, while "Herbstzauber" features especially long panicles. The grass is bee‑friendly and remains a structural element through winter.
Care instructions
Plant Lampshade grass in a full‑sun location with well‑drained, not overly wet soil; it does not tolerate winter waterlogging. Water newly planted clumps regularly during the first weeks, then the species copes well with dryness. Cut back the dried stems only at the end of February or early March, just before new growth begins; this protects the rootstock over winter. In very cold, heavy soils, a mulch layer of leaf litter or wood chips provides additional winter protection. Every three to four years, the clump can be divided in spring; this keeps the plant vigorous and yields new specimens for other beds.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringAug–Oct
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, sandy, dry, lean
Fountain grass likes loose, free-draining soil and puts up poorly with heavy, waterlogged ground. A sunny spot with a sandy-loamy subsoil is ideal, and even lean sites do not bother it. When planting in heavy garden soil, it is best to loosen it with sand or fine gravel so that winter wet drains away quickly.
Feeding
Light feeder
As an undemanding ornamental grass, fountain grass needs hardly any extra nutrients. A thin dressing of compost in spring when you cut it back is quite enough; overly generous feeding makes the clumps soft and prone to flopping. On lean, sandy soils the plant is the sturdiest anyway.
Overwintering
Leave the stems standing over winter: they protect the heart of the plant from frost and wet and look magical with hoar frost. In very cold, wet sites, a loose layer of mulch or horticultural fleece over the base helps. Only in early spring, shortly before the new growth comes, do you cut the old stems back close to the ground.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
The simplest and most reliable method is division in spring, as soon as the new growth becomes visible. Dig up the clump and divide it with a sharp spade into several strong pieces with their own roots. Replant the pieces straight away in a sunny spot and keep them evenly moist for the first few weeks until they have established well. Sowing is possible, but it takes much longer to reach a presentable plant and does not always give offspring true to the cultivar.
For your garden
Grow Lampshade grass yourself
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