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Oriental Fountain Grass

Cenchrus orientalis

Also called Oriental Pennisetum, White Fountain Grass

Oriental Fountain Grass
Photo: Erhan yelekci, CC BY-SA 4.0

Oriental fountain grass is a clump-forming ornamental perennial grass with pale pink plumes that age to brown, reaching about 60 cm tall and wide. It does best in a sunny, sheltered spot with protection from prolonged freezing.

Family
Poaceae (Grass family)
Grows as
Grass, Perennial
Light
Full sun
Water
Water moderately while establishing, then allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Soil
Well-drained soil or a gritty potting mix.
Temperature
Comfortable in mild to warm conditions; protect from prolonged freezing, especially in colder areas.
How easy
Easy
Safety
Not known to be toxic
Native range
N. Africa to Caucasus and Indian Subcontinent
Climate
subtropical

About

Cenchrus orientale, previously Pennisetum orientale, commonly known as the oriental fountain grass, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, native to North West Asia and North Africa. Growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall and broad, this decorative perennial grass forms clumps with multiple tufted panicles up to 14 cm (5.5 in) in length. The panicles are pale pink, maturing to brown.

The plant is not entirely hardy, disliking prolonged freezing temperatures. In cultivation it requires a sheltered position and some winter protection in colder areas. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Other Cenchrus plants

Pearl millet · Indian sandbur · Buffel grass · Kikuyugrass · Southern sandbur · Mat sandbur · Annual Mission Grass · Elephant Grass · Cenchrus riparius · Crimson Fountaingrass · Birdwood grass · Sandbur

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Cenchrus orientalis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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